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| Dead Alive (Braindead) |
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  (5/10)
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Runtime: 97 m |
| Public Rating: 7.98 (85 votes) |
Director: Peter Jackson |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Horror/Comedy |
Year: 1992 |
| Writer(s): Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, and Frances Walsh |
| Distributor: 1 |
| Reviewed by: Goatdog |
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The hilarious prologue to this New Zealand import sets the stage for the rest of the film. On an island near Sumatra, a zoologist and his assistant are carrying a basket containing a snarling creature. This is the Sumatran Rat-Monkey, a creature so horrible that the natives surround the pair and warn them of the fate which will befall them. The assistant wants to leave it, but the zoologist whips out his permit and thrusts it in the natives' faces. They tear it up and eat it. A chase ensues, ending with the terrified pair taking off with the rest of their crew in a jeep. Unfortunately, the zoologist has been bitten in the hand, so the mostly native crew apologetically chop his hand off. Then they find another bite on his arm, and off it goes. Then, they notice the scratch on his head...
The DVD case advertises "Dead Alive" (originally titled "Brain Dead") as the goriest movie ever made. I would have to agree that it is in contention, at least the 97 minute unrated version I saw. There is an 82 minute R-rated version available, but if you're going to watch a movie like this, you might as well watch it.
The story follows a hapless young man who lives with his domineering mother. He meets an ethnic girl who has been told by a fortune teller that he is the man for her. The two go on a date away from the prying eyes of the disapproving mother. However, she follows them to the zoo, and while spying on them, she is bitten by the Rat-Monkey, which she squishes with her foot in anger. The bite slowly turns her into a zombie-like mess of running sores and healthy appetite. A hilarious scene involves her attempting to serve lunch to members of her ladies' group while she slowly loses control of her facilities, including the loss of her ear, which she eats with her pudding. The terrified but loyal son tries to hide her from the public and his new girlfriend, which is hard after she escapes from the basement and is hit by a train. Even that won't kill her, and the disease spreads quickly as her son attempts to contain the epidemic.
Those familiar with Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" trilogy will appreciate this film, since it blends the same horrific gore and slapstick comedy. This film will make most people sick to their stomachs. It was hysterically funny at times, but the urge to laugh had to compete with the urge to vomit. Oh, and the director, Peter Jackson, also directed "Heavenly Creatures", and is directing the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. That's range, my friends.
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