Dating back to the great civilisation of Mesopotamia and documented in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the elixir of life has continually occupied the minds of man. The goal of harnessing natural life and outsmarting Death has driven men to commit some of history’s worst atrocities. This ‘Holy Grail’ has featured widely in popular culture, probably because it’s the one thing money can’t buy. The quest for immortality is the driving force behind Jens Dahl’s new film Breeder.
Thomas (Anders Heinrichsen) and Mia (Sara Hjort Ditlevsen) are unhappily married. The investment banker is distant and aloof whilst his wife wants to start a family, going to great lengths to get his attention. He finances Dr. Ruben’s (Signe Egholm Olsen) beauty clinic and her research into reverse the aging process. Whilst he doesn’t look to closely at what the institution does, this changes when Mia is drawn into her experimentations.
Influenced by early Cronenberg and the New French Extreme, Breeder melds domestic drama with survival thriller to create a film which has a lot going on under the bonnet. While there’s nothing particularly original on show, the choice to focus on the relationship between Thomas and Mia affords Dahl’s work extra depth. Although, at almost two hours, this also work slightly to its detriment. Breeder uses elements of horror and science fiction in a way which is quite unusual, creating and entertaining and bloody tale.
Special features:
- Limited Edition O-Card slipcase [2000 copies]
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray
- DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio
- Optional English subtitles
- Interview with director Jens Dahl and screenwriter Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen
- A collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by film historian Kat Ellinger
Breeder is released on Blu-ray by Eureka Entertainment on 15 February.
