Film & Water #170 – The Brood

THE FILM & WATER PODCAST

Episode 170 – The Brood

Rob welcomes writer and podcaster Sara Century to discuss David Cronenberg’s 1979 horror classic THE BROOD, starring Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar.

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6 responses to “Film & Water #170 – The Brood

  1. Havent listened yet.

    Thrilled you are covering this movie which I loved.

    Sad I am not covering it with you.

    #NoBellyButtons

  2. This week in Robert’s Novelization Corner, I want to admit that while I have never seen THE BROOD, I have listened to a novelization on YouTube from an uploader called ‘Audiobooks of the Damned.’ They produce guerilla audiobooks of many favorites of a certain generation using amateur readers. They have uploaded a few Cronenberg films like RABID, VIDEODROME and of course, THE BROOD. XP

    Enjoy!

  3. RK, great show. The Brood is crazy but relatable. My wife also gave birth from her external sac.

    I’d recommend Cronenberg’s later films. He further develops these psychological themes in A Dangerous Method for example. And Oliver Reed was a fine actor. His collaborations with Ken Russell include some really good quasi-documentaries on classical musicians.

    I’d like to check out those Cronenberg-style short stories Sara mentioned.

  4. This movie is not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy learning about it. I just have to remember that, the next time you cover a Cronenberg film, I have to not listen to it while I’m eating lunch.

  5. Love love love this movie. I’d put it up there with The Fly and just above Scanners and Videodrome.

    The death scenes by the killer toddlers are chilling. But that autopsy scene is far and away my favorite. I can see why that coroner is so giddy. This thing is so weird with its powerful beak and lack of a belly button. But you didn’t say the most fascinating part. It’s energy source is a limited yolk sac. When the sac is empty, the thing dies! Freaking amazing!

    For me I actually think Reed isn’t completely a bad guy. His psychoplasmics can help people. For me, the degree of mutation seems to be related to the degree of mental trauma. Bullied by your dad (like first guy)? You break out in pustules. Generally crazy? You get a scrotum neck. Deep, severe trauma? Killer toddler Genesis. I honestly think he felt he was close to helping Eggar. He had gotten so deep into her mental illness, deep enough that she was so mutated, that he was close to a breakthrough. So he didn’t want his therapy interfered with. Also, it seemed like he tried to keep the toddlers caged in that bunkhouse.

    I’m not saying he was ethical or a saint. But I think he had the right ends in mind.

    I’m here when you wan pt to cover The Fly.

  6. I’ve never seen this, but it sounds fascinating. Great discussion. The school teacher being killed reminds me of a similar death in The Car. Yes, it’s a silly premise, but that movie is actually pretty engaging, and James Brolin’s girlfriend (who is also a school teacher) is a very likable character with an arc, and (SPOILER WARNING) the damn demonic car comes through her living room and just kills her! Very shocking and unsettling. But not as gruesome as this, it seems.

    Chris

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