The Brood – Second Sight Films Blu-ray Review
David Cronenberg has always had a knack for making the internal terrifyingly external but The Brood might just be his most personal, and disturbing, film to date. Originally released in 1979, it’s the kind of horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares or monsters in the dark. Instead, the monster is rage, grief, and the trauma we pass on, manifested in a way only Cronenberg could imagine.
I’ve seen The Brood a few times before, but watching it again in this stunning restoration from Second Sight Films, it felt like I was experiencing it properly for the first time. The image clarity is razor sharp, but it still retains that grainy, filmic texture that suits the world Cronenberg builds. The colours are dialled in beautifully, particularly in the scenes at the Somafree Institute where the plain, wood panelling and homeliness contrast with the creeping dread beneath.
Performance-wise, Samantha Eggar is magnetic—utterly unhinged and strangely sympathetic. Her portrayal of Nola, a woman undergoing experimental therapy that channels her rage into physical form, is both horrifying and tragic. Oliver Reed brings that quiet menace he was so good at, and Art Hindle anchors the chaos with a subdued, desperate performance as the father caught in the middle of it all. Cindy Hinds is a blonde kid in a horror movie, so instantly terrifying and frankly should be banned (even though she’s not even the evil one in it!).
The infamous “birthing” scene (you’ll know it when you see it) still packs a gut-punch. It’s as grotesque as ever, but it’s not played for shock it’s an extension of the film’s core themes: motherhood, repression, and the physical toll of unresolved pain. The Brood is less about monsters and more about what happens when you refuse to confront your inner demons. The final scenes will stay with you long after you’ve pressed eject.
As with other Second Sight releases, the extras are excellent. The new interviews and commentaries give a deeper context to the film’s creation and its emotional weight. You really get a sense of how close to the bone this was for Cronenberg, having made it while going through his own messy custody battle. It’s horror, yes, but it’s also heartbreak.
Speaking of Extras they really are special.
Audio Commentary by Martyn Conterio “film writer and journalist” and Kat Ellinger “author editor and critic”. These two clearly know their stuff and enjoyed making this commentary, a lot more than I did listening to it. Frankly, if there’s nobody involved in making the film available or willing to do a commentary then don’t have a commentary.
Audio Commentary by William Beard. As with the other commentary on this disc, it’s a perfectly decent chat about the film, a little more scene specific than the Conterio/Ellinger track but again, I can live without non cast or crew based commentary.
Meet The Carveths – 20 minute Fangoria interview with Art Hindle and Cindy Hinds. Shot in a cinema and Art’s rustling popcorn bag gets annoying pretty quick. Very interesting, some fun stories from the making of the film. Thankfully Cindy as an adult isn’t as terrifying as she is in the film although still blonde. They also go to the school from the film and the sound’s even worse there. Luckily the content outweighs the production values.
Producing The Brood – Short 11 minute interview with producer Pierre David. Discusses the way Canada makes films differently and some of the decisions made during filming. Talks a lot about the money side. Some discussion of the drunken escapades of Reed. He’s a watchable guy is our Pierre.
The Look of Rage – Cinematographer Mark Irwin discusses the look of the film in this 13 minute chat. Discusses the actors, on set relationships and more. Really interesting and Irwin is very easy to listen to.
Scoring The Brood – 7 minutes with composer Howard Shore. The Brood score is pretty memorable and Howard discusses it after talking about David Cronenberg for a bit. He discusses scoring the film live. I enjoyed this short interview.
Character for Cronenberg – 10 minutes with Robert A Silverman the actor who played Jan Hartog in the film. Not very well shot in a room with a dirty wall and a t shirt on the couch by his head that looks like it could be a pair of undies in the tighter shots. Shame as he’s quite interesting otherwise.
Cronenberg: The Early Years – A 13 minute archive interview with David Cronenberg. He’s a very interesting person and this interview shows a bit of his personality. Great addition to the disc.Shame it’s only short.
Anger Management – a video essay by Leigh Singer. For some reason these extras are often the longest on the discs, and I really can’t get on with them. They always remind me of how critics used to waffle on about films. It’s realise that’s my own odd problem, and this is a really well written piece on the film. I just can’t get over that feeling of being lectured to by a film snob (even though Singer doesn’t seem like one).
If you’re a fan of Cronenberg, body horror or just horror that’s willing to be weird, raw, and unapologetically psychological this is essential viewing. The Brood is a slow burn, but once it gets under your skin, it lingers.
This Limited Edition from Second Sight doesn’t just do the film justice it elevates it.
THE BROOD Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray Box Set & Standard Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray arrive March 31st 2025 from Second Sight Films.
