The Brood Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Divorcing dude discovers his crazy ex-wife is literally birthing her rage, and those little rage monsters are NOT good for real estate values.

🍿 The Brood: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction of Psychoplasmics and the Carveth Family

Frank Carveth is concerned about his ex-wife, Nola, who is undergoing an unconventional therapy called “psychoplasmics” at the Somafree Institute under the care of Dr. Hal Raglan. Their daughter, Candice, visits Nola regularly, but Frank notices bruises and scratches on her, raising concerns about Nola’s mental state and the potential harm to their child. He attempts to limit Candice’s visits, leading to conflict with Dr. Raglan.

Escalating Violence and Unexplained Murders

A series of brutal murders begins to occur, targeting people close to Nola and Frank. These murders are carried out by strangely deformed children. Frank’s mother-in-law is the first victim, followed by Nola’s estranged father. The police are baffled, and Frank suspects a connection between these killings and Dr. Raglan’s experimental therapy. The violence escalates, creating a sense of dread and mystery.

Discovery of The Brood and Nola’s Condition

Frank investigates Dr. Raglan and the Somafree Institute, uncovering disturbing details about psychoplasmics and its effects on Nola. He discovers that Nola is the only patient at the institute. Ultimately, Frank confronts Dr. Raglan, who reveals the horrifying truth: Nola’s repressed rage and anger have manifested physically into “the brood,” parthenogenetically born children who carry out her violent impulses. These creatures are extensions of Nola’s psyche, acting on her unconscious desires.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dr. Hal Raglan (Oliver Reed): The eccentric and controversial psychologist whose experimental therapy inadvertently unleashes terrifying physical manifestations of rage.
• Nola Carveth (Samantha Eggar): A disturbed woman undergoing radical psychotherapy, whose repressed rage manifests as murderous, deformed children.
• Frank Carveth (Art Hindle): Nola’s estranged husband who fights to protect his daughter from the horrifying consequences of his wife’s treatment.
• Candice Carveth (Cindy Hinds): The young daughter caught in the middle of a horrifying custody battle with potentially inherited rage.
• Ruth Mayer (Susan Hogan): Candice’s teacher who becomes tragically entangled in the Carveth’s disturbing family situation.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Juliana Kelly: “Thirty seconds after you’re born you have a past and sixty seconds after that you begin to lie to yourself about it.” – Juliana speaks this line when talking about childhood and the distortions of memory.
• Dr. Hal Raglan: “I encourage my patients to give full rein to their emotions.” – Raglan explains the basis of his controversial psychoplasmic therapy to Frank.
• Dr. Hal Raglan: “There is no such thing as mental illness, there is only physical illness.” – Dr. Raglan explains the basis of his radical and controversial ‘psychoplasmic’ therapy.
• Pathologist: “This creature has never really been born… at least not the way human beings are born.” – The pathologist says this during the autopsy of one of the creatures, emphasizing their unnatural origin.

💰Box Office

• Budget: CA$1,400,000
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 The Brood Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, “The Brood” messed with my head! I wasn’t expecting it to be so disturbing. That scene where Nola ‘gives birth’… I can’t unsee it! It’s a truly twisted exploration of anger and the breakdown of a family, and honestly, it made me feel deeply uneasy. It’s like Cronenberg peered into the darkest corners of the human psyche and brought those fears to life on screen. Oliver Reed is great but Samantha Eggar’s performance is fantastic and terrifying.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of David Cronenberg’s body horror films”
  • “Viewers interested in psychological horror and themes of repressed rage”
  • “Those who appreciate cult classic horror films from the 1970s”
  • “Horror fans looking for something disturbing and thought-provoking”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing scenes of childbirth”
  • “Themes of child abuse”
  • “Psychological distress and mental illness”
  • “Body horror”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Cronenberg explores themes of divorce and rage in a visceral horror that’s both disturbing and thought-provoking. Samantha Eggar’s performance is chilling.
• AllMovie: “A chilling examination of the dark side of human emotions, elevated by Cronenberg’s signature body horror and a haunting score by Howard Shore. The film is a visceral and disturbing exploration of inner turmoil.
• Film4: “Cronenberg’s raw and disturbing vision of repressed rage manifesting in physical form is a landmark in horror. The film’s eerie atmosphere and shocking imagery leave a lasting impact.

Audience Reactions

The birthing scene is unforgettable – pure nightmare fuel!: Viewers consistently praise the shocking and disturbing imagery, especially the birthing scene, which is considered one of the most memorable in horror.

Samantha Eggar’s performance is absolutely chilling.: Many appreciate the acting, especially Samantha Eggar’s portrayal of Nola, which is seen as intensely committed and terrifying.

Overall Consensus: A disturbing and thought-provoking horror film that explores themes of repressed rage and family breakdown, featuring memorable imagery and strong performances.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “David Cronenberg wrote the film following a tumultuous divorce and child-custody battle, using the experience to explore themes of rage and family breakdown.”
• “Samantha Eggar’s character, Nola Carveth, was partly based on Cronenberg’s ex-wife, Margaret Hindson, adding a personal and unsettling layer to the performance.”
• “The scene where Nola gives birth to one of the brood and licks it clean was suggested by Samantha Eggar herself and was initially censored in several countries.”
• “Felix Silla and John Ferguson, the actors playing the creatures, also played masked Jawas in *Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope*”

🖥️ How to Watch The Brood?

As a classic horror film, “The Brood” (1979) is available to rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for potential streaming availability on services like Shudder or Criterion Channel, which often feature classic horror and arthouse films. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD are also widely available from online retailers and local stores, allowing fans to own and enjoy the film in its original format.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Brood, you might like these similar films:

• Possession (1981): Explores themes of marital breakdown and monstrous manifestations of inner turmoil, similar to *The Brood*, with intense performances and unsettling imagery.
• Shivers (1975): Shares Cronenberg’s body horror themes, exploring the destructive potential of invasive parasites that embody societal anxieties.
• It’s Alive (1974): Deals with the birth of monstrous children, echoing *The Brood*’s exploration of fears surrounding parenthood and genetic anomalies.
• Hereditary (2018): A modern horror film that delves into family trauma and its terrifying, supernatural manifestations, creating a similar sense of dread and psychological unease.

🛒 The Brood Related Products

• The Brood (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A pristine Blu-ray edition of “The Brood” from the Criterion Collection, featuring restored visuals, enhanced audio, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. It offers a premium viewing experience for fans of Cronenberg.
• David Cronenberg: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers Series): A collection of interviews with David Cronenberg, providing insights into his filmmaking process, themes, and inspirations behind “The Brood” and his other films. Get a deeper understanding of his unique vision.
• The Fly: Collector’s Edition [Blu-ray]: Collector’s Edition of The Fly (Cronenberg) – explore other iconic movies by the master of body horror
• Videodrome (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A pristine Blu-ray edition of Videodrome from the Criterion Collection, featuring restored visuals, enhanced audio, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Brood features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Shape of Rage” – performed by Howard Shore
• “Somafree Institute” – performed by Howard Shore

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

10 Terrifying 70s Horror Movies That Are Still Scary Today

Want to see if “The Brood” made the cut on a list of the scariest horror movies from the 70s? Trust me, this list will give you chills, and it’s interesting to see where The Brood ranks!

Top 10 Best David Cronenberg Movies Of All Time!

If you want a quick rundown of Cronenberg’s best work, this video is a must-watch! I love how they delve into his ‘body horror’ style, and it’s cool to see where ‘The Brood’ fits in his overall filmography.

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