For anyone who grew up watching Glee, Dot-Marie Jones will always be the formidable but fair-hearted Coach Beiste. Well, it's time to see her in a completely different, and frankly terrifying, new light. Jones is starring as the villain in a new horror film, Breeder, and the premise is as wild as it sounds.
The story follows a broke college student, Russell (played by Daniel Doheny), who gets a lucrative offer he can't refuse. An eccentric, wealthy poodle breeder wants to pay him $20,000 to help with her research at her isolated ranch. The catch? She's decided to pivot from breeding dogs to breeding humans, and she's got her eye on Russell to be her prime 'stud'. Things, as you can imagine, get very weird and very scary from there.
Early reviews are calling it a bizarre, bone-chilling journey that mixes genuine suspense with some seriously cringe-worthy dark humour. It seems destined to become a cult favourite for those of us who like our horror with a side of camp.
So, what's the queer appeal?
Besides seeing a familiar face from a show we loved in a completely unhinged role, there's another detail that's catching people's attention. One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) noted: “Much more male nudity than I thought I’d see too.” We're not saying that's the *only* reason to watch, but it's certainly a notable feature.
Critics are also singling out Dot-Marie Jones for her performance. One review praised her for a "deadpan, dread-inducing performance" that steals the show. It's great to see her take on a leading role that's so far removed from the halls of McKinley High.
The film, written and directed by Alex Goyette, premiered at the Tribeca Festival and is now getting a wider release. You can get a feel for the unsettling vibe from the trailer below.
When can we watch it in the Netherlands?
For now, Breeder is hitting cinemas in the US. A European or Dutch release date hasn't been set yet. However, the film is being distributed by Shudder, the horror-focused streaming service. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it will land on the platform here in the Netherlands soon. We'll be sure to let you know when it does!
