This one took me by surprise. Happened to see it in a shop and bought it having never heard of the film. Truth is I bought it because it was Clive Barker and had Vinnie Jones in it.
Lets have a look at a brief synopsis…
A community of mutant outcasts of varying types and abilities attempts to escape the attention of a psychotic serial killer and redneck vigilantes with the help…
Sorry that’s the synopsis for Nightbreed. On the DVD cover it tells you it’s the best Clive Barker adaptation since the first Hellraiser. We all know that should be Nightbreed but thanks to the studio that didn’t happen. If the rumours are true then come October we will have the version of Nightbreed we always wanted but that’s another story.
The film follows photographer Bradley Cooper as he stumbles across serial killer Vinnie Jones. I don’t put much stock in quotes on DVD covers telling you how good the film is. Anyone remember “You’ll love this” Funday Times on the cover of Thunderbirds? So saying the best adaptation since Hellraiser is quite a boast.
One the film lives up to. It’s stylish and doesn’t hold back on the gore. Check out Ted Raimi’s now infamous scene.
It moves along at a nice steady pace keeping you interested until it explodes in an adrenaline fuelled action packed final 10 minutes but manages to remain a horror film and not become A-team 2. It helps to read the short story the film is based upon, it’s in Books of blood vol. 1, to fully understand the ending but not doing so won’t hurt your enjoyment of this film that ticks all the right boxes to become a cult classic.
This is definitely one to catch. Clive Barker himself said “The fact that The Midnight Meat Train was never given its chance in theatres, it’s a beautifully stylish, scary movie, and it isn’t going anywhere. People will find it, and whether they find it in midnight shows or they find it on DVD, they’ll find it.”
I happened to find it on DVD and haven’t regretted it.
Here’s another classic scene of Ted Raimi for your enjoyment
Directed by Ryûhei Kitamura
Written by Jeff Buhler (screenplay), Clive Barker (short story)
Starring Bradley Cooper, Vinnie Jones and Leslie Bibb