DEAD-ALIVE (braindead) (1992)
a review by Evan Landon
My life is split into two pieces: before I saw Dead-Alive or Braindead and after.
I don't even know how to explain just how much this little movie made by an unknown kiwi director named Peter Jackson has made my life so much better. Some peeps would go so far as to say the Lord of the Rings trilogy is his hallmark, but it's kind of been dragged through the mud with DEI and Rings of Power, so the less said about that, the better. Y'know what movie is his untouched gem? THIS ONE.
I know this gory classic as Dead-Alive because that was what it was in the neighborhood Blockbuster here in America, but it was originally titled Braindead in 1992 New Zealand. I think when you have such a fresh outlook on anything, it might be best to wander into something a little more altruistic like True Detective, but this is not that kind of popcorn flick.
There are a couple of scenes that stand out to me: obviously, the kung-fu priest has to be the greatest of all time, the basis for “Ricky” in Trailer Park Boys has to be the asshole uncle who you really want to die, yet doesn't (he does), and the entire last half hour of splatter gore that really needs to be seen in order to truly appreciate it. He uses a lawnmower face up at the end, so it gets down and dirty: BELIEVE THAT! This incredibly off-putting, controversial film its that when it comes to great special effects, you cannot get any better than the practical kind. When the peeps on staff stand at attention on set, you have something special!
The premise of it is fairly simple: Lionel lives with his over-possessive mother and she get bit by this rat-monkey, then chaos ensues. Is there a story? My words do not do this movie justice; just stop reading this now and watch the fucking movie… Oh, there is also a Kung Fu Priest fighting zombies in the name of the Lord that should always be discussed in any film. Also the dinner scene. After that, the gore is too much to even put on paper. Literally.
It was called Dead-Alive in the United States after being banned in South Korea, Singapore, and Finland because of the amount of splatter gore because a film released around the same time had the rights to “Braindead” making only $242,623 against a $3 million budget. Even though the movie bombed, it is a bonafide cult classic and launched one of the most succesful director careers of all time. If you cannot stand the most over-the-top, outlandish splatter gore, definitely take a hard pass on this one. Don't say I didn't warn you, dear viewer!
4 out of 5