The Breed (2006) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

U.S. 2006
Director: Nicholas Mastandrea
Cast: Oliver Hudson, Taryn Manning, Michelle Rodriguez, Hill Harper, Eric Lively, Nick Boraine
Rating: R
Release Date: May 18th 2006
Running Time: 1 hour 27 minutess

The Movie Review

The Breed film still 1


THE BREED
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Horror movies and slasher in particular is already well known to have been accommodating any kind of animal they could think of to make that animal as the beast in their movies. Some used the wild ones, some used the tame ones. The latter is sometimes not just tame animals but everyday animals that are also pets, just like the Dogs. Interestingly, although we could easily pet-and-pat them, there is still something scary in them with their razor-sharp fangs and claws. Besides not everyone likes dogs, if not to say afraid of them.

The Breed is another entry in the animal-gone-wrong sub-genre. Its also Nicolas Mastandrea's directorial debut. Gladly to say for someone who is directing his feature film for the first time, The Breed is quite worth to watch. Although Wes Craven, the prominent name who directed The Hills Have Eyes, Scream, Red Eye, Nightmare on Elm Street etc. also sit on the producer chair. So I guess Mr. Craven presence brings something more precious to the whole movie.

Five rich college students, John, Noah, Sara, Matt and Matt’s girlfriend Nicki are having a supposed-to-be-a-blast vacation on an exotic island, presumably out of nowhere. John (Oliver Hudson) is the one who arrange this tour since he has a cabin on that island which actually belongs to his hermit-like uncle. Spending their time with hedonistic acts, suddenly one of them got attacked by dogs. The group think of it as a normal mishap and their friend is simply having a little of bad luck. But after they witness so many dogs that are not normal and extremely vicious, they just have to figure a way out to get back to the civilization before they got ripped apart.

In essence The Breed is anything but special. The storyline follows the Slasher Guidebook obediently. And this path has already been followed by a huge amount of slasher movies. What differentiate The Breed or more precisely keeps this horror movie from falling into the gutter is that the filmmakers executed The Breed seriously and nicely. The location is also beautiful. Michelle Rodriguez and the other actors are performing well with no exaggerated acting or whatsoever, but those five students still fall to the same old stereotypes that have been existed in many slasher flicks, such as the stereotypes, the silent one, the brother (African-American), and others. Their plan to go to a place where there isn't any signal for contacting the outside world is also a cliché. But the biggest drawback of all is not the clichés, but it's the beast. The dogs are not that scary enough to make you afraid and feel sympathize to those students, you could feel that one of the crew of the movies is standing there behind the camera and ordering the dogs what to do or what not to do. Besides the dogs are quite nice, they remind me of Lassie (from the old tv series).

Some minor flaws do exist anyhow. The musical soundtrack is a bit campy and used to be heard in low-budget movies or other animal-gone-wild cheap movies, but of course this is not a matter for general audience but definitely would irk fellow moviegoers who expect for some difference.

As I stated earlier this first film of Nicolas is worth to watch but only for those who are also new in watching slasher films.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com