Nightbreed

Aaron Boone's existence was beset by an unrelenting barrage of disturbing dreams, each one a vivid portrayal of Midian, a mystical realm where creatures were granted solace and acceptance. In a desperate bid to exorcise the haunting visions, Boone turned to Dr. Phillip K. Decker (David Cronenberg), a therapist whose unorthodox methods would soon prove to be as unsettling as the nightmares themselves. His girlfriend Lori's pleas for him to seek help had prompted this journey into the depths of his psyche, and Decker's diagnosis was both shocking and devastating: Boone was responsible for a series of heinous murders. Or so Decker claimed.

In reality, Decker was a calculating serial killer who donned a grotesque mask to conceal his true nature, methodically targeting families he deemed "breeders" - their very existence an affront to his twisted sensibilities. As Boone's therapist, Decker cleverly manipulated the young man into accepting blame for his own crimes, then presented him with an impossible ultimatum: confess to the murders within 24 hours or face the consequences.

Under the influence of a hallucinogenic substance masquerading as lithium, Boone stumbled through the streets in a daze, his perceptions distorted and reality blurred. His fate was sealed when he was struck by a truck and rushed to the hospital, his fragile grip on sanity hanging precariously in the balance.

As Boone lingers in the hospital corridors, he is suddenly thrust into a world of madness when Narcisse (Hugh Ross), his mind fogged by addiction, unleashes a torrent of frenzied pleas for Boone to take him to Midian. Narcisse's tortured cries lead Boone down a path of revelation, as he learns that the deranged man believes him to be a messenger from Midian, sent to test his mettle. With an unhinged ferocity, Narcisse strips away his own skin with razor-sharp blades, revealing his grotesque visage, and then dispatches Boone to follow the winding path to the mystical city of Midian. This foreboding metropolis rises from the very earth itself, a graveyard of monumental scale that seems to loom over all who dare enter its gates.

As Boone navigates this eerie landscape, he encounters two enigmatic denizens: Kinski (Nicholas Vince) and Peloquin (Oliver Parker), whose unearthly forms seem to defy explanation. The latter's words carry an ominous tone as he warns Boone that the Nightbreed will not take kindly to his presence. Peloquin's skepticism is fueled by a primal instinct, which declares Boone a "natural" - a mortal who should be consumed and eliminated. Yet Boone persists, pleading for acceptance, claiming his own dark past has prepared him for this journey among the monsters. The tension simmers as Peloquin transforms into an even more terrifying manifestation of his true self, sinking fangs deep into Boone's shoulder with an intention to devour.

Boone manages to escape the clutches of death and flees Midian's hallowed grounds, only to find himself confronting a phalanx of law enforcement officials, led by the relentless Decker. Decker's shrill cry that Boone wields a gun sends a hail of bullets raining down upon him, striking true and ending his mortal life.

However, in a bizarre twist, Boone's body is resurrected at the morgue, thanks to Peloquin's bite having awakened his Nightbreed heritage. The reanimated Boone returns to Midian, where Narcisse has also regained his footing. As Boone begins to grasp the laws of this mystical realm, he is formally inducted into Midian's society by Dirk Lylesburg (Doug Bradley), the revered leader of the Nightbreed. With a solemn ritual, Lylesburg imprints the sacred blood of Baphomet upon Boone's chest, sealing his transformation and solidifying his place within the ranks of the mysterious Midnighters.

Lori, driven by a burning desire for answers, embarks on a perilous journey to unravel the enigma of Boone's departure. Her quest leads her to form an unlikely bond with Sheryl Anne (Debora Weston), who becomes her guide as she ventures into the eerie landscape of Midian. As Lori wanders through the cemetery, she stumbles upon a dying creature, whose pitiful plea for help awakens a maternal instinct within her. With a deep sense of compassion, Lori cradles the being in the shadows, where it transforms into a vulnerable young girl named Babette (Catherine Chevalier), who is tragically susceptible to sunlight.

As Lori's curiosity about Boone grows, she is met with an unexpected rebuff by Lylesburg, who coldly informs her that her beloved has transcended into the world of Nightbreed, severing all ties to their mortal lives. Undeterred, Lori attempts to infiltrate Midian but is brutally repelled by Peloquin's menacing presence.

Just as she flees the cemetery, Lori is confronted with a gruesome discovery - Sheryl Anne's lifeless body, accompanied by her new lover, Decker (whose true identity is revealed). His sinister intentions soon become apparent as he sets out to lure Boone from his hiding place. A desperate chase ensues, culminating in Decker's attempt to take out Lori, only to be thwarted by Boone's sudden appearance.

Decker's attack leaves Lori unconscious, but she regains consciousness deep within Midian, where she is greeted by Rachel's somber account of the city's dark history. The monsters of myth and legend, once peaceful beings, were hunted to the brink of extinction by humanity's fear and superstition.

Boone and Lori are subsequently banished from Midian by Lylesburg, but not before Decker exacts a gruesome revenge on the local mechanic who had once sought to join the Nightbreed. This act of brutality reveals the key to killing the supernatural beings, which Decker uses to orchestrate a massacre at the hotel where Boone and Lori are staying.

Boone's discovery of the carnage awakens an insatiable thirst for blood within him, leading to his capture by the authorities. As Decker manipulates the local police and militia, led by the zealous Police Captain Eigerman (Charles Haid), they prepare to launch a brutal assault on Midian. A drunken priest, Ashberry (Malcolm Smith), is enlisted as their spiritual guide.

Meanwhile, Lori, Rachel, and Narcisse race against time to rescue Boone from his captivity. In a poignant moment, Lori's love for Boone transcends even the monstrous form he has taken on, imbuing her with the courage to free him. United in their quest, the four return to Midian, where Boone rallies the cowering Nightbreed to join forces and defend their city against the impending onslaught.

As the conflict rages on, Ashberry's revulsion turns to outrage upon discovering that women and children are among the Nightbreed, prompting him to futilely attempt to halt the assault, only to be brutally subdued by Eigerman. Seeking solace in the symbol of Baphomet, he abandons his cross and Bible, instead pledging allegiance to the mysterious entity. However, as he approaches the statue, Ashberry is doused in its blood, undergoing a transformation that leaves him disfigured and irreversibly changed. Meanwhile, Boone learns from Lylesburg that Baphomet's true intention is to eradicate Midian, prompting him to release the Berserkers, monstrous creatures imprisoned for their uncontrollable ferocity. As Lylesburg falls victim to the unfolding chaos, Boone takes matters into his own hands, unleashing the feral beasts upon the humans. The tide of battle swiftly turns as the Nightbreed launch a counterattack, sending the fleeing humans scattering in terror.

As the ruins of Midian smolder, Boone and Decker engage in a brutal duel amidst the devastation. Boone ultimately emerges victorious, claiming Decker's life before seeking out Baphomet (Bernard Henry). The latter reveals that the destruction of Midian was foreordained, but also charges Boone with finding a new sanctuary for the Nightbreed, renaming him "Cabal." With this solemn responsibility weighing upon his shoulders, Boone departs Midian alongside Lori. The remaining members of the Nightbreed convene in an abandoned barn, where Boone bids farewell to Narcisse, vowing not to forget his comrades and promising to secure a safe haven for them.

In a haunting parallel, Ashberry stands over Decker's lifeless form, consumed by a burning desire for vengeance against Baphomet and the Nightbreed. He seizes some of the latter's blood and injects it into Decker's mortal wound, sparking a miraculous resurrection as Ashberry chants "Hallelujah" in ecstatic triumph.

Alternate Ending:

In an alternate version of events (as presented in The Cabal Cut), Boone says his goodbyes to Lori, knowing that he must venture forth to find a new home for the Nightbreed. However, Lori's fears about growing old while Boone remains youthful drive her to take drastic action. With a heavy heart, she takes her own life, forcing Boone to revive her as another member of the Nightbreed. Initially, the attempt at resurrection seems futile, but Boone persists, eventually succeeding in bringing Lori back to life.

As the dusty remnants of the subterranean landscape stretch out before him like a desolate canvas, Captain Eigerman (actor's name) embarks on a solitary journey through the decaying ruins. His footsteps echo through the cavernous spaces as he navigates the labyrinthine tunnels, his thoughts consumed by a burning sense of vengeance. It is here that he unwittingly stumbles upon the enigmatic Ashberry, whose countenance has undergone a transformation so profound it borders on the macabre. The once-innocuous individual now radiates an aura of malevolence, their eyes aglow with an unquenchable thirst for retribution.

As Eigerman approaches, Ashberry's gaze fixes upon him like a cold, calculating weight, and for an instant, it seems as though time itself has been frozen. In this fleeting moment, the two share a kinship of sorts, united in their desire to exact revenge upon those who have wronged them. However, any notion of camaraderie is swiftly extinguished as Ashberry's demeanor darkens, his countenance twisting into a snarl of contempt. With calculating precision, he dispatches Eigerman, and with the latter's lifeless body as his cue, sets out on a relentless pursuit of the Nightbreed.