Roger Ebert didn’t mince his words about the sci-fi horror films he didn’t like, including some that are now considered classics. In 1979, David Cronenberg’s “The Brood” was born, offering viewers a twisted tale of divorce and custody that involves experimental therapy, mutant children and body horror. It’s one of Cronenberg’s most personal films – he made it after a divorce – but Roger Ebert dismissed it as just another disgusting horror film.
“The Brood” is a sleazy exploitation film, camouflaged by the presence of several big-name stars but still nauseating,” Ebert wrote. “It’s afterward that it first bores you.” Ebert elaborated on his point, saying that nothing interesting happens until the last 15 minutes of “The Brood.” Additionally, he dismissed the film’s violence and shocking moments. “It’s disgusting in a way that is not entertaining; unlike, for example, the big disgusting moments of ‘Alien’ or ‘Dawn of the Dead’ (1979).”
Ebert praised HP Lovecraft’s low-budget adaptation “Re-Animator”, so he was not inherently opposed to shocking exploitation films. However, “The Brood” received plaudits for its thought-provoking ideas that complement the shocks. Ebert clearly wasn’t a fan, but enough critics believe the film deserves its classic status.
What other reviewers have said about The Brood
David Cronberg has directed some of the best horror films of all time, with “The Fly” and “Videodrome” among the many classics in his oeuvre. “The Brood” is living up to his best work in the eyes of critics, as evidenced by its 84% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With that in mind, why is this ’70s shocker so beloved? “Cronenberg’s film was one of the first showcases of his taut formal style and intellectual Grand Guignol,” according to the New Yorker. “He demonstrates a true shock-master’s instinct in saving the worst for last. The result is a bad cinematic dream that generates recurring nightmares.”
Alan Jones of the Radio Times was also complimentary, praising “The Brood” for its thematic strengths. “This truly chilling and heartbreaking stomach-churning from David Cronenberg offers an intriguing metaphor for both unexplained bodily changes and the mental abuse some parents inflict on their offspring.”
Was Ebert wrong about this? It’s hard to say. He wasn’t wrong that “The Brood” was disgusting and that the slow approach might turn off horror fans looking for something more exciting. However, it is considered a classic by many for a variety of reasons, so viewers should watch it for themselves and form their own opinions.
