A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, amidst a series of brutal murders.A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, amidst a series of brutal murders.A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist's therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, amidst a series of brutal murders.
- Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations
Robert A. Silverman
- Jan Hartog
- (as Robert Silverman)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDavid Cronenberg wrote the film following the tumultuous divorce and child-custody battle he waged against Margaret Hindson. Cronenberg also said that Samantha Eggar's character, Nola Carveth, possessed some of the characteristics of his ex-wife.
- GoofsJust after the first murder, the deformed/mutant child who committed it leaves very large, bloody handprints on the stair railing just near the dead body. These handprints are never mentioned again, in particular by the police, who insist later that they were "never looking for anything that small." It would have been impossible to miss these handprints at the crime scene, and such child-sized handprints would have certainly tipped off the police in a different direction upon discovery.
- Quotes
Juliana Kelly: Thirty seconds after you're born you have a past and sixty seconds after that you begin to lie to yourself about it.
- Crazy creditsSpecial thanks to Dr. Denton: Sleepware.
- Alternate versionsThe 2005 R2 UK DVD by Anchor Bay, features the 92min Unrated Cut (in addition to the 88min UK edited cut). This is the first time the Unrated Cut has been released in the UK on a home entertainment format, and includes an additional 28 seconds of footage from the ripping and licking of the foetus, the mallet murder of the old lady and shots of the dead schoolteacher's battered face.
Featured review
OK first I have to say, I watched this movie thinking how bizarre thanks in part to Oliver Reed's sometimes campy and in my opinion sometimes over the top performance as a strange doctor of mental health helping patients deal with anger, and childhood abuse. There are moments of unintentional humor most notably is a headline in a news article that appears midway in the movie when whats behind some of the murders occurring is brought to light...no spoilers here...but the moment appears as Art Hindle, who portrays Samantha Eggar's estranged husband, is drinking some coffee and reading the paper. It was just so out there in a way that it made me laugh....This is not to say this movie isn't downright scary. Basic plot is Samantha Eggar is this loony tunes who may or may not be abusing her young daughter and is in therapy. As she lets out her pent up anger from childhood and adulthood in sessions with Reed, playing her doctor, these little mutant children dish out murderous and gruesome vengeance on her enemies. Just why these little monsters are on a killing spree and where they come from is at the top of horror heights and be assured the last 15 minutes of this flick is pretty damn scary and disturbing as father, daughter, and doctor all face mother's rage and a little something else. Lets just say "Alien" ain't got nothing on Samantha Eggar. Creep-out city.....rent this and watch it in the dark....and ignore the noise coming from your kitchen...
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Los engendros del diablo
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- CA$1,400,000 (estimated)
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