The Bloody Brood (DVD)

A psychopathic beatnik, Nico (Peter Falk), becomes inspired with the notion of death after an old drunk dies suddenly at his bohemian cafe. Intent on murdering an innocent person just for "kicks," he leads his henchmen on a search for the perfect victim. When a messenger boy delivers a package during one of their wild parties, Nico and his misfits feed him a hamburger laced with ground glass. When the boy's brother, Cliff (Jack Betts), receives news of his death, he vows to stop at nothing to avenge the murder.

Canadian director Julian Roffman's The Bloody Brood is a frightening look into the dark and seedy underbelly of urban bohemia, a subterranean netherworld of deceit and murder. Roffman also directed the 3-D psychedelic horror film The Mask (1961) for which he is best remembered.

• mystery
• thriller