The Brood (1979)
David Cronenberg's visceral body horror classic where rage takes terrifying physical form and no one is safe from the fury within.
The Brood - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Brood
- Release Year: 1979
- Directed by: David Cronenberg
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 25, 1979 (United States - R), June 1, 1979 (Canada - 18A), March 13, 1980 (United Kingdom), October 10, 1979 (France - 16), October 17, 1979 (Brazil), June 4, 1980 (Italy - 18+)
- Alternative Titles: Missfostret (NO), La clinique de la terreur (CA), Pomiot (PL), Chromosoom 3 (BE), Cromosoma tres (ES), Missfostret (FI), Engendros del mal (MX), Bывoдок (SU)
- Production Companies: Elgin International Films, Mutual Productions, Canadian Film Development Corporation
- Production Countries: Canada
The Brood - Plot
A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband's investigation.
The Brood - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see Cronenberg's terrifying vision unfold:
The Ultimate Experience in Inner Terror.
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The Brood - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- David Cronenberg
Main Cast
- Oliver Reed
- Samantha Eggar
- Art Hindle
- Henry Beckman
- Nuala Fitzgerald
- Cindy Hinds
- Susan Hogan
- Gary McKeehan
- Michael Magee
- Robert A. Silverman
Writers
- David Cronenberg
Producers
- Claude Héroux
The Brood - FAQs
What is The Brood about?
The Brood follows Frank Carveth, who grows suspicious of the radical psychotherapy being practiced on his institutionalized wife Nola by the charismatic Dr. Raglan. As Frank investigates, a series of savage attacks carried out by mysterious child-like creatures begins to threaten everyone close to him.
Where can you stream The Brood?
The Brood is available to stream on the Criterion Channel and Tubi TV (with ads) and Plex (free). It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. HBO Max and HBO Max Amazon Channel also offer it as part of their flatrate subscriptions.
Is The Brood based on a true story?
The Brood is not based on a true story, but director David Cronenberg has acknowledged that the film drew heavily from his own painful divorce and custody battle. The psychological horror at the film's core reflects real emotional trauma, giving it an unusually raw and personal intensity for the genre.
What does the ending of The Brood mean?
The film's ending reveals that Nola physically births her rage as external creatures. Frank strangles Nola to stop the brood, but the final shot shows their daughter Candice developing welts on her arm, suggesting the psychic trauma has been passed on to the next generation — a bleak statement on inherited emotional damage.
Who are the main actors in The Brood?
The Brood stars Oliver Reed as the magnetic and sinister Dr. Hal Raglan, Samantha Eggar as the deeply disturbed Nola Carveth, and Art Hindle as her increasingly desperate husband Frank. The cast also includes Cindy Hinds, Nuala Fitzgerald, Henry Beckman, Susan Hogan, and Robert A. Silverman.
Who directed The Brood and what is its genre?
The Brood was written and directed by David Cronenberg, the Canadian filmmaker renowned for his body horror films. The movie belongs to the Horror and Sci-Fi genres, combining psychological dread with visceral physical horror in a way that became a hallmark of Cronenberg's distinctive cinematic style.
How long is The Brood and what is its age rating?
The Brood has a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes (92 minutes). It is rated R in the United States for its disturbing violence, graphic body horror sequences, and intense psychological content. Viewer discretion is strongly advised, particularly for those sensitive to themes involving children in danger.
When was The Brood released?
The Brood was first released in the United States on May 25, 1979, followed by Canada on June 1, 1979. It later opened in France in October 1979, Brazil in October 1979, and reached the United Kingdom on March 13, 1980, and Italy on June 4, 1980.
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