Book Review: CLIVE BARKER’S NIGHTBREED: THE MAKING OF THE FILM

For those wanting to know more about the debacle of what became of author and director Clive Barker’s infamous film Nightbreed then look no further than his book Clive Barker’s Nightbreed: The Making of the Film which he wrote the Forward for and contains the screenplay within.  Nightbreed, being Barker’s second feature film and one with a significant budget increase, the final version of this film was hampered by Studio politics.  In Barker’s Forward he hints at some of this but more importantly he wants audiences to step into the world that he has created and sympathize with the monsters of Midian.  The book contains what appears to be the script for the final theatrical version of the film rather than Barker’s complete original screenplay as it indicates places where scenes were cut or missing (but there is no differentiation from scenes cut from the final version of the film verses those never filmed). 

An Introduction by Mark Salisbury and John Gilbert allows some of the stars of the film to give their take on the experience of making the film.  This allows readers an inside look at the making of the film (especially before reading the screenplay).  Not only does the book contain the screenplay but there is a plethora of production stills and behind the scenes stills as well as stills of the cast & crew just chilling on the set and having a good time.  At over 230 pages the book has a wealth of added bonus to the reader.

The book will be a great addition for any Barker or Nightbreed fan whereas the book is just a curiosity for all others especially those who find reading the screenplay to a film a tad boring but this being said there are a lot of pictures contained within that you will not have seen anywhere else.    Barker also spreads much of his artwork for the film throughout its pages so it can also be seen as another one of his art books so there is a lot to be said for this book.