The films that David Cronenberg has written as well as directed have always been a special treat for me. This is especially true of his earlier horror efforts, from the sex-zombie-parasite styling of Shivers to the heads-a-poppin' action of Scanners, they're all very potent horror cocktails with a splash of sci-fi for flavor. One of his best films (one of the better horror films of the 70's, even) is his kids-run-amok spooker The Brood. Recently released to DVD by MGM (who, if they were a woman, I'd ask them to marry me...well, only if Blue Underground turned me down) as a value-priced disc, it's a great way to spend your leftover beer money.

The Brood opens with a session of groundbreaking therapy called psychoplasmics. Mixing hypnotherapy with anger management techniques, the subject is able to release their previously pent-up rage through role-play with Dr. Raglan (pompously played by Oliver Reed), the creator of the treatment. However, problems arise when those who have angered his star patient, Nola Carveth, start getting savagely murdered. Even stranger, the murders are perpetrated by feral hare lipped children, who seem to take particular glee in bludgeoning their victims with whatever blunt object is within reach. Everything comes to a head when Nola's estranged husband Frank is attacked by one of the children and he decides to launch an investigation into his institutionalized wife and the good doctor. What he discovers is genuinely creepy and not just a little gross, but best of all, it's pretty damn original.

The best part of The Brood is Cronenberg's ability to throw genuine twists into the story. When you think you've got it all figured out (through the most obvious path), he brings out the completely unexpected, yet still manages to slyly foreshadow events without being too obvious. Dialogue is tightly written and thought provoking, and the pacing is painfully tense. The use of color is also great, with the nearly monochromatic scenes enhanced by bold dollops of color. The killings are cringe inducing and deeply disturbing: the sight of the pretty schoolteacher brutally beaten to death while her young students watch helplessly is incredibly scary and intensely creepy. Even the ending is strong, with difficult decisions, hands being forced, and a final shot that chills to the bone. This is top notch horror, folks!

This is top-notch presentation as well. Picture quality was simply gorgeous, with rich, deep colors (dig those primary reds) and even blacks. Virtually no grain or artifacts, and print damage was almost nonexistent. Audio is the original mono mix, and was clear as can be. MGM really puts care into the presentation of their discs, and it shows. Of course being so inexpensive (about ten bones at most retailers) means extras are virtually nonexistent. While this may be the trend across most of their value priced horror discs, feature loaded movies like Killer Klowns From Outer Space show us what they can do when they want to. Quit being a tease MGM! Give us more than a trailer!

Barebones disc or not, The Brood is a wholly satisfying and original film that is well worth the money. MGM has been great to us so far with their horror releases, and let's hope they continue the streak for many releases to come...hell, maybe they'll even throw in some extras. One can dream...