The many faces of Nightbreed – All Blu-ray and DVD releases explained

Almost just as interesting (and sometimes confusing) as the different versions or cuts of Nightbreed are the different releases. You’re pretty lucky when you’re living in the U.S. (or own a codefree player!), but you’re… not quite so lucky if you don’t. Simply because most of the best (legit) releases are in fact American ones.
Please note that the movie was actually called Cabal in Europe – this however has nothing to do with the actual Cabal Cut and is simply the title of the movie in those regions!
So let’s take a quick look at all of them, and why you should or shouldn’t get them.

The good…

The official ones. The ones you won’t need to be ashamed for owning them. If you’re already a fan of the movie, you can blindly grab almost any and all of those, even though almost all of them can and will give you some trouble when you’re not using an American player.

The Cabal Cut Blu-ray

The Cabal Cut is the longest version (145min approx.) of the movie. This was a limited release and is already sold out. You may still be able to find a copy on ebay, though. But expect to pay a few hundred bucks for it (still totally worth it!!! ;)).
On the left side is the slipcase the deluxe edition (limited to 200 pieces) came in (along with a few other goodies), the right one is the basic case it came in which was also available (limited to 50 pieces).

Pros:

• Longest version – yay!
• Quite a collectible!
• Two great, informative and funny audio commentaries
• No region lock, you can play it on any Blu-ray player around the world!
• Nice goodies for the deluxe edition

Cons:

• Sold out / expensive
• No bonus features like Making Off etc.
• 12 minutes of VHS workprint footage which may or may not distract from viewing

The U.S. Limited Edition Blu-ray

This is the Limited Edition (10.000 pieces) by Scream! Factory. It comes with a nice box, a booklet, the Director’s Cut (120min approx.), a bonus Disc including featurettes, a Making Off, Deleted Scenes, and the original Theatrical Cut (100min approx.).
It’s the best choice if you want to get the best viewing expierience in a constant and great HD quality, as well as tons of bonus and also the original Theatrical Cut in HD. This version is also sold out, but it can still be found on ebay etc. for about 100 bucks.
The downside is that it doesn’t contain the Cabal Cut and that it’s a Region A Blu-ray – wich can only be played on American players.

Pros:

• Includes the DC AND TC in great HD quality troughout
• Tons of bonus material
• Audio commentary by Clive Barker himself

Cons:

• Region lock
• Not the Cabal Cut and therefore not the longest and most extensive version of the movie

The U.S. regular Edition Blu-ray

This is the standard release from Scream! Factory, coming in a nice slipcase (left) and the Blu-ray and DVD of the movie in an ordinary amaray (right).
It’s still available and rather cheap, so if you’re able to play US Blu-rays and / or DVDs, this is a good version to start out with.

Pros:

• Director’s Cut in great quality on both Blu-ray and DVD
• Audio commentary by Clive Barker
• Some interviews
• Cheap and still available

Cons:

• Region A Blu-ray and Region 1 DVD (Can only be played on US players)
• Not the Cabal Cut and therefore not the longest and most extensive version of the movie
• Without the Bonus Disc from the Limited Edition

The U.S. DVD

This is the original Warner US release of the Theatrical Cut in a Snapcase (you might remember those). Currently OOP, just a DVD and no extras besides a trailer.
Other than for nostalgic reasons, there’s really not much reason to own this anymore. However, it’s still a cheap and easy way if you want to own a licensed release of the Theatrical Cut and can’t afford the Blu-ray Limited Edition from Scream!

Pros:

• Nostalgic reasons, I guess
• Still rather cheap

Cons:

• Just the Theatrical Cut
• No extras
• OOP

…the bad…

If you’re living somewhere in Europe, you’re prone to stumble upon those sooner or later, especially when you don’t own an US or codefree player and are looking for an alternative.
They are either most definitely or possibly unlicensed releases. Of course, you shouldn’t even consider buying those for obvious reasons. So listing those is only for informational reasons, like knowing what they look like, so you can avoid them.

The Italian Blu-ray

This is the Italian release of the Director’s Cut, including the English audio track and the Theatrical Cut in SD quality. This is NOT the Cabal Cut! Nightbreed was just released with the name Cabal in most of Europe. Even though currently being sold on amazon, this is most likely an unlicensed release.
Still, when you’re in Europe and didn’t get a chance to catch the limited Cabal Cut release, that’s probably still the “best” version to get, though.

Pros:

• Director’s Cut in great HD quality AND Theatrical Cut in SD
• Cheap
• No region lock

Cons:

• Probably unlicensed
• No extras

The Spanish Blu-ray

This is the Spanish version and includes the Director’s Cut in great HD quality throughout. It has an English audio track and even English subtitles.
Also being sold on amazon and very likely a bootleg. Apart fron the English subtitles, there’s really no reason to even recommend this one in any way.

Pros:

• Director’s Cut in HD quality
• English subtitles
• Cheap
• No region lock

Cons:

• Most likely Bootleg
• No extras
• No Theatrical Cut included

The German Blu-ray

This is the German bootleg of the Director’s Cut. It comes in a very thin paper slipcase and has English audio throughout, as well as a partial German dub only for the scenes which were in the Theatrical Cut already. So when watching in German, the movie will constantly be jumping between English with subtitles and German dub.

Pros:

• Director’s Cut in HD quality
• No Region Lock

Cons:

• Bootleg
• German dub rather unpractical
• No extras

…and the ugly

Not only are those unlicensed releases, they’re also bad in one way or another, having huge flaws in terms of quality. Avoid those at all costs!

German Mediabook Blu-ray DVD Combo

Another German bootleg of the Director’s Cut, this time in a Mediabook, containing some pages of text (copied and pasted from Wikipedia).
The Blu-ray has only the German dub with the Director’s Cut scenes in English with subtitles. NO English audio track throughout! It also includes a DVD which does include the English audio track besides the German dub mishmash.
Absolutely not recommended.

Pros:

• The mediabook looks nice
• No region lock

Cons:

• Bootleg!
• German dub rather unpractical
• No full english audio track for the Blu-ray
• No extras

German DVD (Director’s Cut)

This is a German DVD bootleg for the Director’s Cut.
Bad quality (576p) and being a bootleg definitely makes this pile of junk pretty useless.
Definitely stay away.

Pros:

• ???
• No Region lock

Cons:

• Bootleg!
• German dub rather unpractical
• Bad quality
• No extras

German DVD (Theatrical Cut)

This is the German DVD bootleg for the Theatrical Cut.
Bad quality, just being the TC and being a bootleg definitely should make you want to stay away from this one, especially with so many better releases around!

Pros:

• ???
• No region lock

Cons:

• Bootleg!
• Horrible quality
• Just the TC
• No extras

I hope you have enjoyed this little overview of the movie’s releases and I would be very happy if you find it useful for deciding which version to get or add to your collection.
And who knows, maybe some day we’ll even see a legit codefree release including all three existing versions of the movie and all the bonus material as well.