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Stars: Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby, David Cronenberg
Director: Clive Barker
Distributor: Arrow Video

“What is below, stays below.”

The fourth feature film of Day Two at GASP! Horror Festival, and the last film to close out the evening, was the Mystery Queer Horror Classic. A complete mystery of a film, guests at Cutplex were encouraged to take a shot at guessing what the film could be. The previous year’s film was The Hunger. Directed by Clive Barker, and based upon his 1988 novel, Cabal, the 2026 Mystery Queer Horror Classic was: Nightbreed, the director’s cut.

Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer) suffers from recurring nightmares. He dreams of a mythical place called Midian. When therapy resumes with Dr Decker – played terrifically by DAVID CRONENBERG – Boone finds himself in a worse place both figuratively and literally. His girlfriend Lori, Anne Bobby, can only do so much as Boone’s physical and mental state worsens to the extent that he’s convinced of being a horrific serial killer. In his descents to and from madness, Boone is on the cusp of Midian. The out-of-this-world location that exists only in his dreams is more real than he’s been led to believe.

In terms of genre and style, Nightbreed – at first – does have the feel of a frightening slasher. Initially, as the story of Aaron Boone progresses, the tone feels so dark, that only when the underworld of Midian is discovered and begins to flesh out, does Nightbreed make its transition to a dark fantasy film. To a degree, the early viciousness of Nightbreed ultimately sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to the latter of the film.

Whilst the beginning is nasty and slightly routine for slasher, the latter half of the film and its presentation of dark mythical fantasy also establishes a great sense of intrigue, and subtext, towards the underground community and existence of Midian. The queer coding of Midian’s underground creatures and existence in general provides a great presentation of a marginalised community, on the verge of being both outed and murdered for their existence alone.

From start to finish, both Craig Sheffer and David Cronenberg are excellent in their respective roles. Sheffer excels in Boone’s journey of identity and self-discovery, whilst Cronenberg’s sadistic personality and coldness, is perfect in opposition to the existences of Boone and the inhabitants of Midian.

Ultimately, Nightbreed feels like a pick ‘n’ mix of horror. From slasher to creature to queer subtext, and even fantastical ridiculousness come the final showpiece, Nightbreed is quite accommodating, even if the film doesn’t entail the most clarity over what it actually wants to be in its existence, however, this can be varied based upon which version or cut of Nightbreed is consumed. Clive Barker did a fantastic job in his presentation of community and being different. In comparison to Hellraiser, this outing from Barker feels much more personal in its presentation.