Braindead (Dead Alive in the US) shows Us Peter Jackson's Gory Beginnings
What would the children think of Braindead by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson? Read this review and find out.
Review by The Zombie Master, Lee Roberts
2006
Release: 1992
Written by: Stephen Sinclair
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Starring:
Timothy Balme as Lionel Cosgrove
Diana Penalver as Paquita Maria Sanchez
Elizabeth Moody as Vera Cosgrove (Mum)
Peter Jackson, director extraordinaire, did an absolutely incredible job in bringing The Lord of the Rings trilogy to the big screen. Because of this, people started searching for other films that had Peter Jackson’s name on them. Oh to have seen the look on their faces when they pressed play on such independent gems as Bad Taste and Meet the Feebles. Both great films, in a sick and twisted sort of way, but not films that would be located in the “family entertainment” section.
My favorite however is a comedy/gorefest classic titled Braindead (released as Dead Alive here in the states).
We start Braindead by watching a zoo expedition that has captured the legendary and elusive “Sumatran Rat Monkey”. While trying to escape with the creature, the attending zoologist is bitten in the hand. His native assistants see this and cut his hand off. They also see that he has been bitten in the arm and cut his arm off. After this they notice that the monkey has put a scratch on the zoologists head. Hmmmm.
Next we go to New Zealand where we meet Paquita Maria Sanchez (Diana Penalver), a very attractive young lady that helps run a local store with her parents. We also meet Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Balme), a young man whom Paquita believes is her soul mate, and Vera Cosgrove (Elizabeth Moody), Lionel’s jealous and domineering mother.
Lionel and Paquita decide to go out on a date to the local zoo. Unknown to them, Mum has followed them and while spying she is bitten by the Rat-Monkey which she then proceeds to stomp on. Running back to her home, Mum starts to feel ill over the next few days eventually starting to decompose - becoming a walking corpse. Mum also starts to attack and infect everyone that she comes into contact with. Lionel, who has discovered his Mum's new "habits", is trying very hard to hide her from everyone. What follows is some the funniest and bloodiest film making that you will ever see.
Let’s start with “funny”: I was unaware of the fact that zombies could have sex and have a baby until watching this film. I have also become convinced that every zombie film should have a kung-fu priest to help kick zombie butt. There is a lot of dark comedic slap-stick that is reminiscent of the Evil Dead series.
Now the “bloody”: Braindead is said to be the bloodiest film of all time, measured by the amount of fake blood used during filming. Try 700 liters in the last scene alone. It was absolutely awesome.
If you ever wanted to know what you would get if you crossed Sam Raimi with George Romero, then Braindead is a must see. If you want to see the inventive things that can be done with intestines, then Braindead is a must see. If you want to learn how to use your lawnmower as a hand weapon, then Braindead is a must see.
Either way it goes, you ought to check this one out. Questions or comments about Braindead? Discuss it on The Ossuary Forums!
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