The Brood
A desperate father investigates a secretive therapist after his daughter's abuse appears linked to a brood of murderous, deformed children.
Overview
A chilling exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche and the consequences of unchecked experimentation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- grotesque
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- late night horror viewing
- david cronenberg retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly recognize The Brood as a well-made, expertly acted, grotesque exploration of motherhood and psychological violence, though its extreme brutality and unpleasantness remain divisive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Brood uses deformed children, abnormal reproduction, and grotesque physical manifestations to externalize emotional violence within a Canadian setting.
The psychologist's techniques connect Nola's suppressed anger to tangible, lethal bodily creations.
Frank's attempt to protect Candice from Nola's treatment is inseparable from the escalating attacks on family members.
The Somafree Institute's secretive treatment environment transforms psychotherapy into an atmosphere of seclusion and menace.
Films like The Brood, and why
Shivers
shares psychological horror, grotesque bodily transformation, and fears surrounding institutional medicine
Rabid
shares canadian body horror, scientific experimentation, and unsettling mutation imagery
The Exorcist
shares domestic trauma, child endangerment, and surreal psychological horror
Village of the Damned
shares parental anxiety, disturbing children, and claustrophobic supernatural menace
Movie Details
- Director
- David Cronenberg
- Release Date
- 1979-05-25
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (846)
Cast
- Oliver Reed
- Samantha Eggar
- Art Hindle
- Henry Beckman
- Nuala Fitzgerald
- Cindy Hinds
- Susan Hogan
- Gary McKeehan
- Michael Magee
- Robert A. Silverman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Brew
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Brood about?
- A desperate father investigates a secretive therapist after his daughter's abuse appears linked to a brood of murderous, deformed children.
- What is The Brood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Brood as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Brood violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Brood as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Brood?
- Critics broadly recognize The Brood as a well-made, expertly acted, grotesque exploration of motherhood and psychological violence, though its extreme brutality and unpleasantness remain divisive.
- Which films are like The Brood?
- Films with a similar feel include Shivers, Rabid, The Exorcist, and Village of the Damned.
- How long is The Brood?
- The Brood runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Brood?
- In United States, The Brood streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Brew.
