Mike Flanagan's Take on Clive Barker's Underwhelming Adaptation

Article Key Points

Clive Barker's Nightbreed, a cult classic adaptation of his novella Cabal, explores the true horrors of humanity and the prejudice faced by those who look different.

Studio meddling and a misleading marketing campaign hampered Barker's original vision for the movie. Mike Flanagan, renowned for his skill in adapting stories and tackling complex themes, would be an ideal candidate to revive Nightbreed with a contemporary retelling.

Clive Barker is best recognized for his renowned horror franchise, Hellraiser, which originated from his novella, The Hellbound Heart. Initially, Barker directed the first two films in the franchise, which subsequently resulted in the creation of nearly a dozen sequels and a reimagining. Regrettably, his second venture as a director, Nightbreed, did not achieve the same level of success. However, over time, Nightbreed has acquired a cult following, particularly due to Barker's efforts in establishing a more faithful rendition of the source material.

Originally, Barker envisioned Nightbreed as the inaugural installment of a series of movies. Nevertheless, due to its disappointing performance at the box office, this vision was never realized. Fortunately, a studio enlisted the highly acclaimed Michael Dougherty, renowned for his work on Trick 'r Treat and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, to develop a television series based on Nightbreed. This endeavor potentially grants Barker's original intentions a chance to come to fruition. However, while Dougherty is undeniably talented, some may argue that Mike Flanagan would have been a superior choice for the directorial role.

What is Nightbreed?

Nightbreed is a unique blend of the X-Men and Lovecraftian horror. Adapted from Clive Barker's novella Cabal, this '90s cult classic follows the story of Aaron Boone, a tormented loner who dreams of a place called Midian, where monsters roam freely. Despite his girlfriend Lori referring to him as Boone, he has been attending therapy sessions with Dr. Decker since childhood. Little does Boone know, Dr. Decker is actually the one responsible for a series of gruesome murders plaguing the city.

As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Dr. Decker has hidden motivations. He prescribes pills to Boone, claiming they will aid his sleep, but instead they bring about disturbing hallucinations. Gradually, it is revealed that Decker, donned in a suit and a eerie button-eyed mask, is the true culprit behind the murders. He has been manipulating Boone to discover the location of Midian in his quest to eliminate the supernatural creatures dwelling within the network of subterranean tunnels.

Clive Barker, a master storyteller, skillfully portrays the true horrors of humanity. In his works, monsters are not the grotesque creatures with tentacles or deadly talons. Instead, it is the close-mindedness of humans that inflicts pain and ostracizes those who are different. Surprisingly, even the Cenobites from Hellraiser, initially perceived as villains, hold deeper meanings. These themes are exemplified when Decker seeks the assistance of the local Sheriff's department to attack Midian. The cruel treatment of the harmless creatures residing there reflects the actions of bullying high school students.

As a gay man who grew up in the repressive '50s and '60s, Nightbreed holds a profound personal significance for Barker. It sheds light on the experiences of those who are marginalized by society. Therefore, it is all the more infuriating when the studio, exerting its authority, imposed changes on his work.

Why Nightbreed Needs a Remake

Clive Barker's frustration with Nightbreed's production stemmed from the constant interference by the studio, which aimed to transform his original story into something different. Even before starting the film, Barker had resolved to have complete control over the adaptation. Notably, Barker's imaginative realm is unparalleled and captivating. He possesses a distinct vision in his narratives that other filmmakers struggle to comprehend fully. Sadly, the dominance of studios hinders even the most steadfast creators.

Nightbreed is available to stream on Prime Video

The movie depicts Dr. Decker as a serial killer who targets families, all while manipulating Boone into leading him to Midian. However, despite its relatively small role in the overall film, the movie's marketing department solely focused on this aspect. This lack of understanding is evident in how 20th Century Fox failed to appeal to a wider audience when promoting Nightbreed, which is known for blending horror with dark fantasy. Instead of highlighting the intriguing creatures of Midian, Boone's transformative journey, and the theme of a marginalized family living in fear of humanity and its prejudices, the marketing reduced the film's appeal to that of a typical slasher flick.

It is worth noting that the concept of Decker as a serial killer was not even originally conceived by Barker, nor was it a part of the novella from which Nightbreed originated. Although there are valid concerns about movie trailers revealing too much of the plot, potentially spoiling major twists or divulging the ending, the original trailer for Nightbreed only provided subtle hints about the overall story. Barker did have the opportunity to produce a director's cut for the film's Blu-Ray release, which improved upon the studio's interference. However, Nightbreed still warrants a modern retelling.

In a pre-release interview with Fangoria, Barker stated that 20th Century Fox tested the movie and it received positive feedback. However, they soon realized that the film's marketing campaign posed a challenge due to Nightbreed being a slightly challenging film to categorize. It encompassed elements of fantasy and horror fiction, making it a unique blend of both genres. While Barker and Fox Chairman Joe Roth viewed this as a strength, the marketing team perceived it as a weakness.

Why Mike Flanagan is a Good Fit

Although Michael Dougherty, the director of Trick 'r Treat, is currently developing a TV series for Nightbreed, Mike Flanagan would be a perfect choice to bring the novella to life. By looking at Flanagan's impressive filmography, one can easily observe the consistent success he achieves, almost effortlessly. This is not to undermine the talent of Michael Dougherty, but Flanagan has a unique ability to skillfully incorporate themes into his storytelling without overwhelming the audience. Moreover, he is no stranger to adapting various forms of literature, such as novels, novellas, short stories, and even poems.

Mike Flanagan, known for his successful series The Fall of the House of Usher, has taken Edgar Allan Poe's greatest hits and transformed them into captivating adaptations. From The Tell-Tale Heart to The Gold-Bug, each story is brought to life with gothic imagery and richly developed characters that evoke complex emotions. Flanagan's unique vision, reminiscent of Clive Barker, has even earned him the opportunity to adapt Stephen King's Doctor Sleep, a task once thought impossible. Now, Flanagan is busy working on The Life of Chuck, another Stephen King adaptation, and has his sights set on bringing King's epic The Dark Tower series to the screen. With his talent for tackling heavy-handed themes, Flanagan would have been the perfect fit to helm Clive Barker's Nightbreed. Each of Flanagan's projects goes beyond mere surface-level storytelling, often demanding multiple viewings to fully appreciate the depth of his work.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Mike Flanagan's potential take on Clive Barker's Nightbreed. On the one hand, I am excited about the prospect of a fresh take on this cult classic. Flanagan has proven himself to be a skilled director with a knack for adapting stories and tackling complex themes. I believe he could bring a new level of depth and nuance to Nightbreed.

On the other hand, I am concerned that Flanagan's vision for Nightbreed might not align with Barker's original intentions. Barker has stated that he envisioned Nightbreed as the inaugural installment of a series of movies, but this vision was never realized due to the film's disappointing performance at the box office. I worry that Flanagan's version of Nightbreed might stray too far from Barker's original concept.

Ultimately, I am cautiously optimistic about Flanagan's potential take on Nightbreed. I believe he has the potential to create a sensational blockbuster that both honors Barker's original vision and appeals to a new generation of fans. However, I will reserve my final judgment until I see the film for myself.