Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

gwnightscream David Cronenberg's 1979 sci-fi/horror film stars Art Hindle, Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar. Hindle (Black Christmas) plays Frank, an architect who learns his 5-year-old daughter, Candice is being physically abused by his ex-wife, Nola (Eggar) who is undergoing psychiatric treatment. The late, Reed plays psychologist, Raglan who uses Nola and others as test subjects of psycho-physical manifestations. Nola starts producing mutant dwarfs who start committing murder and they guard Candice. Frank discovers what's happening with Nola and tries to protect Candice from her. This isn't bad, the cast is decent, there's good make-up effects and Howard Shore's score is great as usual. I recommend this.

Nigel P This wonderfully disturbing film deals with some complex psychological themes, and pulls no punches in conveying them to the audience. In some ways, it shares similarities with 'The Omen (1976)' in that 'something evil' is out there, and anyone that gets too close to it suffers a brutal death in a series of memorable set-pieces.All of these scenes are unsettling, none more so than the graphic clubbing to death of the teacher Ruth Mayer (Susan Hogan) in front of a classroom of horrified pupils.The protagonists are a growing tribe of sexless, toothless infants with rarely glimpsed deformities and a fleshy sac between the shoulder blades which 'feeds' them. That these deformed and apparently very physical creatures can completely disappear after each killing is my only cause for question. They are dressed in hooded anoraks, which obscure their unfinished features.This is my favourite David Cronenberg film. His fascination with body horror is rarely more effective and although low budget, this features a terrifically talented cast. Art Hindle is the hero, Frank, whose estranged wife Nola (Samantha Eggar) is a patient of Doctor Raglan (played to perfection by a restrained and therefore very powerful Oliver Reed). Raglan's unconventional methods of therapy for his patients is extreme, and although he is hailed a genius by his students, could be seen as unscrupulous. As it turns out, despite their being links between his methods and the murders, every proclamation he makes is correct and of course, he pays the price. The scene towards the end, where he is making steady progress through a darkened room as Nola's condition is revealed in all its glory is a masterpiece of tension and grotesquery. Apparently, it was Eggar's suggestion that Nola should lick the blood off the latest new-born.Cronenberg wrote this whilst his recent divorce was still in his mind. Nola, he said, shared characteristics with his ex-wife. Whatever heartache compelled his writing and directing of 'The Brood', the result is surely one of horror cinema's greatest chillers. I love films recorded during the winter months, as is the case here. The bleakness, the flakes of floating snow and the skeleton trees really add another level of crisp gloominess to the proceedings.

Michael Radny It's original, I'll give it that and there are some very satisfying moments. I believe the initial idea was well done, but I can't help think that at least half an hour of this film was just to fill in the time. The kids are creepy, which is good and David Cronenburge does make a good horror film out of this. But it does lose its pace along the line and I felt like I was going in and out of the experience. Maybe a bit of a shame considering who was behind the camera, but it does have some promising qualities about it. It's not his greatest film, but it's also not his worst. Probably give it a skip if you're looking for his best. Only for die-hard Cronenburge fans.

Johan Louwet I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie but somehow I was attracted by its premise. I surely didn't regret watching it and it sure won't be my last visit. The movie goes definitely not go for gore or creepiness but excels in character development from all the leads. A gradual build-up of tension and strong scenes, questions arise what is really going on. Is it real or a dream? Is there an evil force behind it all? Regularly I was put on the wrong foot. All questions get eventually answered and the revelation was not only disturbing but quite effective and made sense (even if it wasn't realistic). Indeed an under-appreciated and overlooked gem.