Back in 2000, I became obsessed with a music video that was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It was dark, haunting, bloody, and even a bit sexy. I watched it repeatedly because it was so stylistically unique. The song was “From the Cradle to Enslave” by Cradle of Filth. That was my introduction to the band, and I’ve now seen them live maybe a dozen times in the past 26 years.
When I heard Alex Chandon, the director of the aforementioned music video, was doing a horror film with Cradle of Filth’s driving force, Dani Filth, I was immediately interested. Cradle of Fear (2001) was released on DVD in the U.K.; I had it imported instantly. It’s been quite a few years since I revisited, but Unearthed Films is releasing the cult classic on Blu-ray in a two-Disc set that doesn’t disappoint.
A savage, splatter-soaked nod to Amicus Productions’ Asylum, Cradle of Fear weaves together four twisted tales bound by the vengeful will of an imprisoned killer determined to punish those who put him away. Acting as his unholy instrument, the deranged dark angel (Filth) leaves carnage in his wake.
Victims include doomed lovers, desperate criminals, and morally bankrupt thrill-seekers, each pulled into escalating nightmares of violence and psychological collapse, told through four segments. What unfolds is an anthology of excess and depravity, where cruelty is relentless, fate is inescapable, and every path leads to madness.
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Cradle of Fear delivers everything it should: blood, gore, an excellent cast, and intriguing stories. The writing could have been a little tighter in spots, but that’s what’s always great with an anthology: if one story doesn’t work for you, then maybe the next one will. It also should be noted that cult favorites Eileen Daly (Razor Blade Smile) and Emily Booth (Evil Aliens) appear in the film and are killer as always.
Filth knows what he needs to do to deliver with a gleeful intensity, much like his stage presence. Cradle of Fear is certainly flawed, but it is a satisfying modern horror anthology.
On the first disc of the set, you get the full, two-hour version of the film, a making-of, some important words, a German DVD making-of, trailers, and a photo gallery. The second disc awards the viewer with six shorts from Alex Chandon, including Bad Manor, Night Pastor, and others, while also including outtakes, a photo gallery, and trailers for them.
It’s a great package for fans of the film. Cradle of Fear has received a lot of hate over the years, but I always felt that it was a perfect blend of horror and heavy metal, with solid effects work and a great cast. Hopefully, this new disc will allow a new audience to discover and appreciate it as I have for 25 years.
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