Hellbreeder (2004)
In the town of Ludlow somewhere in England, Alice see's her child murdered and is so desperate to find his killer she ends up in an institution. Several years later on hearing the news of a new spate of killings she escapes and vows to find the killer, a grotesque clown who may have been shat out of hell itself.
The story is fairly straightforward and is actually told in the films opening scenes, however following this it's almost impossible to call the film plot driven as it isn't. It's practically a tidal wave of often startling imagery that due to the quality of the editing process neatly slot into place like a jigsaw of weirdness as if drinking an intoxicating cocktail of hypnotic sound and imagery.
The film has a yellow graininess throughout along with an almost mesmerizing soundtrack which when added to the often dream like images onscreen give the impression of flashing in and out of some subconscious alternate reality.The film is low budget but the whole experience gives the impression of something much more than that.
The directing duo of James Eaves and Johannes Roberts make great use of repetition especially when it comes to Alice's fragile mental state and we hear the same voices over and over throughout the film. I can see this really annoying some viewers but i thought it added to the whole experience.
The film taken as a whole has the overall effect of a surreal Rollin-esq nightmare. Certainly not easy viewing but quite original and highly recommended. IMDB hates Hellbreeder. I loved it. Make up your own mind.
Thanks to Frankie Teardrop for originally writing about this film and bringing it to my attention.
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