If ever a book needed an editor!

Clocking in at nearly 700 pages, not only is this an exhaustive look at David Cronenberg's The Brood, it's an overlong look at all the books and movies that might have influenced Cronenberg, or been influenced by his movie.

Bissette frequently goes off on tangents that have very tenuous connections to the film. Was it really necessary to have entire chapters on the books Cronenberg's father might have had on his shelf or on Andrzej Zulawski's Possession? And since the book lacks an index, there is no easy way to find pertinent information.

When he is on topic, Bissette is great. He gives a lot of interesting information on the genesis, filming, and reception of the movie, as well as providing context for it in the landscape of Canadian film. Also of interest are the transcripts of interviews he did with several people who worked on the movie.

I hope someday Bissette revises this book to trim the fat, to fix the myriad typos in the second half, and to include an index. ( )