Braindead [Dead Alive] *** (1992, Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin) – Classic Movie Review 8415

In 1992, Peter Jackson could be described as a ‘quirky horror director who makes irregular assaults on the senses’ and here in the zombie attack black comedy horror movie Braindead [Dead Alive] he goes one further in this tale of a family who are infected by a Sumatran rat-monkey and start to develop a taste for human flesh.

After young man Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Balme)’s Mum Vera Cosgrove (Elizabeth Moody) is bitten, she gets sick and dies, but comes back to life, and goes on a killing spree.

The last half hour of this outrageous New Zealand total gore movie is a super-splatter flesh fest that has to be seen to be believed. It is even gorier and more fun than Jackson’s earlier treats such as his debut with the infamous Bad Taste (1987).

Stephen Sinclair’s screenplay, with input by Fran Walsh and Jackson, is based on an original story idea by Sinclair.

The main cast are Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin, Brenda Kendall, Jed Brophy, Glenis Levestam, Lewis Rowe, Harry Sinclair and Stuart Devenie.

Braindead is directed by Peter Jackson, runs 104 minutes, is made by WingNut Films, New Zealand Film Commission, Avalon/NFU Studios, is distributed by Trimark Pictures (1993) (US) and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1993) (UK), is written by Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson, based on an original story idea by Stephen Sinclair, is shot by Murray Milne, is produced by Jim Booth and is scored by Peter Dasent.

It is rated R for an abundance of outrageous gore.

There are various versions: 104 minutes, 85 minutes (R-rated), 97 minutes (unrated), 80 minutes (FSK 16), 92 minutes (1992) (cut), 85 minutes (heavily cut) and 99 minutes (DVD).

It cost $3,000,000 and grossed $242,623 in the US.

The song played on the church organ is Sodomy from Jackson’s previous film Meet the Feebles (1989).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8415

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