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Clive Barker is one of few novelists to take their own written work and present it on the big screen, as both writer AND director.  In the mid 80's the Master of the Macarbe took his Novel, the book of Blood and transformed it into Hellraiser.  His most recent translation involved his favourite supernatural detective Harry DeSikva and gave us Lord of Illusions.  In between these 2 films he took freaky monsters novel Cabal, and delivered Nightbreed.

The one good thing i can see about a novelist scripting AND directing his own work is that HE knows it inside out, and from what I've read of Clive Barkers work he does it very well and remains faithful to the source (with only really "filmic" changes). 

Nightbreed sees Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer) at a terribly self destructive point in his life.  His relationship with his girlfriend Lori (Anne Brody) is falling apart, he's seeing a psychiatrist Decker (film-maker cum actor David Cronenberg).

During one of his many sessions Decker reveals to Boone (after having undergone several stints of hynosis) that he is quite possibly the visious serial killer who had been hacking up the towns people for the past few years!
It doesn't take much effort for Boone to believe Decker as he begins to remember names and faces of these victims!
However before Decker goes to the police he decides to take a few days to investigate the matter himself, meanwhile pescribing a pill to Boone to keep him under control so as he doesn't [potentially] kill any one else.

Things don't go too well for poor 'ol Boone as the drugs have a nasty side effect on him and he ends up getting hit by a truck and winds up in hospital.  Lucky for him it wasn't a bigger truck as he just ends up with some nasty bumps and scratches.

While at the hospital Boone runs into a strange little fellow Nacisse (Hugh Ross) who keeps pestering Boone about how to get the Midian.
Before you can say "this-guys-a-total-loon-and-so-slices-his-own-face-off-with-hand-made-finger-blades" Boone is compelled to head to Midian, with the police hot on his trail.

Upon his arrival at Midian, which is a Cemetary in the Middle of nowhere.  Boone is attacked by one of the creatures of Midian, Peloquin,   AND then killed by the Police of the near by town called Sheer Neck, headed by Gestarpo influenced Cheif xxx (another director cum actor John Hails).  But luck Must be on Boone's side as the bite from the creature of Midian resurrects Boone.

With Boone having "mysteriously" disappeared from the hospital morgue, Boone's g/f Lori is highly suspiscous not only at the possibilty Boone is the Serial Killer, but that his body has now vanished.  So She heads for Midian to seek some answers.

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VIDEO
The biggest disappointment with this Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer is that Warner have simply put an Australian DVD Cover on their Mexican Region 4 NTSC version.

However, there may be more to this particlar title getting no PAL treatment as Clive Barker himself is hoping to re-releases Nightbreed in a Director's Cut in 2002 (which when he initally cut the film ran 126 minutes!).  So "hopefully" if/when this new version happens, our NTSC region 4 version will get replaced by a nice new PAL director's Cut.  (finger's crossed)

Otherwise, this 101 minute version of Nightbreed has recevied a very respectible transfer to DVD.

Colour Saturation maintains a consistent and natural balance from start to finish, Black Level is quite good, perhaps a fraction low, resulting in some heavy looking blacks with a slight drop in detail level.  Even so, this film primarily takes place in darkness, and it still shows off some good shadow detail, so making out images in the dark isn't too much of a problem.
Sharpness is pretty good, never showing up and real signs of edge enhancement or oversharpness of the image as a whole. (and only on occasions a tad soft).
Grain tends to show up throughout, though is generally only just visible, and so is preferrable to too much noise reduction (which can result in image smearing if applied with a heavy hand).

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AUDIO
On offer is a remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 track and Dolby 2.0 mix (both in English)
the 5.1 mix sound quite good but is far too bass heavy for it's not really all that tight.   It's too boomy and wooly sounding, and quite dominant in the overall sound mix.   Danny Elfman's score still comes through nicely  and compliments the on-screen action very nicely).

Dialogue is clean and clear for the most part with perhaps a little more rubbery dialogue (from being Post Production Looped) than i'd like to see.

As a 5.1 remix the surrounds are used mostly for light ambience, with minimal directional effects.

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EXTRAS
Just a Theatrical Trailers and Cast and Crew Filmographies.

Nightbreed had been translated quite well to film by it's creator, differing only in a few areas to obviously cut back on screen time and to keep the characters on the move.   The main characters differed in no real way as to cause alarm :) 

This is another great little Clive Barker Flick, that was somewhat overlooked upon it's inital release and has garnered something of a cult following over the years.  It's been giiven a nice transfer in the video and audio department, but it's a real pity it's another NTSC DVD from Warner Australia.  c'mon guys we want you to be our PAL now!

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
     Mains: Quadral Amun
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Surrounds Left/Right: M&K SS500 (Dipole)
     Surrounds Back : Polk RT/fx (Diplole)
     Subby: M&K V125 

- Review Posted 6th November 2001

*  jpeg files for internet promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these files by Warner Home Video