Clive Barker’s Nightbreed Is Everything Buffy Wasn’t | CBR – CBR – Comic Book Resources

Clive Barker's Nightbreed manages to do something that Buffy never could -- humanize its monsters and show how violent and xenophobic humans are.

WhileBuffy the Vampire Slayer accomplished a lot in its seven-season run -- showing the first ongoing, loving lesbian relationship on-screen, having a woman character continually save the world-- it failed its monsters. Except for the comic-relief loose-skinned demon Clement, the only monsters that fansreally got to know were the ones Buffy dated -- namely, Spike and Angel. Otherwise, monsters were vanquished.Clive Barker'sNightbreed, on the other hand,decides to put the focus on the monsters, diving deep into the things that go bump in the night that might also have their own families, religion and codes to live by.

Hardcore horror fans probably think that idea sounds familiar because it's similar to the plot of 1954's novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. But what makes 1990's Nightbreed is how richly it delves into showing viewers the underground world of Midian and showcases "good" humans as meddlesome, destructive and lacking nuance.

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Similar to Buffy,Aaron Boone -- the hero ofNightbreed -- is a human who has disturbing dreams of monsters and an underground world. Initially, he doesn't understand what's happening and takes medication to dull his senses. However, through a chain of happenstance events, he becomes reborn as a Nightbreed. Later, it becomes clear that this change was destined to happen. The Nightbreed foretold his coming as it would mark when Midian -- their secret home built deep underneath an abandoned graveyard -- would be shattered and he'd rebuild it, saving them from humanity's violence. In their eyes, he is a hero. Eventually, humanity does discover them and its locals and police officers come running to set their home ablaze. Barker doesn't shy away from showing the sheer joy that humans have in throwing grenades, crushing skulls and stabbing these otherworldly breeds.

One of the most painful scenes to watch in the movie is when a gentle, Boston-terrier owning monster named Ohnaka is caught in the sun. He pleads to be brought back inside, but instead of helping him, the nearby police call him a freak, beat him up and watch him burst into dust.

RELATED: Buffy Theory: Angel Wouldn't Have Become a Hero If He Hadn't Met the Slayer

Buffy takes a different approach as fans know the titular character is "The Slayer," destined to save the world from vamps. Whedon makes it clear that vampires are soulless -- most of the time -- and therefore act without conscience. With this logic, it makes it easy to root for Buffy when she slays them in their nests. Viewers don't really even see an alternative kind of demon -- one that has a conscience, brainpower not controlled by urges to drink blood and desires -- until they meet Anya.

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Clive Barker's Nightbreed Is Everything Buffy Wasn't | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero