- Peter Jackson
Reviewed by: David M. Brown
- Rating:
- 3
On April 6, 2013Last modified:April 6, 2013
Summary:
Braindead is a gory but hilarious horror/comedy, blending some amusing lines with decent effects and a simple but still engaging storyline.
More DetailsAbout Braindead (1992)
Lionel, a Mama’s boy has the unwanted honor of having to look after his overbearingly evil mother. He ends up falling in love with a local woman who believes that they’re destined together. In a moment of intentional sabotage of one of their dates, his mother is bitten by a mysterious creature that ends up zombifying her. It’s only a matter of time before she rises from the dead a powerful, bloodthirsty zombie. It’s only a matter of time before she starts infecting residents of the town and Lionel has to stop her…and them.
Starring: Timothy Balme, Jed Brophy, Stuart Devenie, Silvio Fumularo, Murray Keane
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Runtime: 97 minutes
Studio: Lionsgate
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Review: Braindead
Long before heading for Middle Earth, Peter Jackson started his career with gory horror flicks such as Bad Taste and this one – Braindead. The story focuses on Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Balme) who lives with his domineering mother Vera (Elizabeth Moody). Romance is in the air when local girl Paquita (Diana Penalver) has her fortune read and is told a man carrying a star and moon will be her lover. This man turns out to be the hapless Lionel but love is hindered by Vera who wants her son to focus only on her. When Vera follows her son and Paquita to the local zoo, she is bitten by a mysterious creature – a rat/monkey – that she kills but is later infected and becomes a zombie. Anyone else bitten suffers the same fate. It is down to Lionel to stop the zombie infestation and stand up to his mother.
That may sound serious but believe me this film is lacking in drama and is instead heavy on the laughs. It’s also a gore fest with zombies being killed in a whole manner of disgusting ways. Lionel initially tries to keep his mother imprisoned but things get complicated when she infects Nurse McTavish (Brenda Kendall), some youths in a graveyard and even a martial arts practicing priest Father McGruder (Stuart Devenie). Lionel uses sedatives and tranquilizers to keep them in the basement back home but it’s no easy task what with Paquita wanting to spend all her time with him and Uncle Les (Ian Watkin) sniffing around for a share of the family estate.
Braindead isn’t as good as Bad Taste but it’s entertaining, funny and very gruesome. The gore may be too much for some people, with sound effects to match, but those that have the stomach for it should find a enjoyable horror film here. The cast are amusing with the hapless Lionel proving to be a memorable leading man, especially when he finds a very useful item at home to tackle the zombie threat. The film is not without its random moments though including zombie sex and even a zombie baby running around as well.
Braindead is a gory but hilarious horror/comedy, blending some amusing lines with decent effects and a simple but still engaging storyline. A lot of it is OTT but if you are not the queasy type then you should have a pretty good time with this one.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)