Braindead (1992)

Director: Peter Jackson

Writer: Stephen Sinclair

Tagline: Some things won't stay down... even after they die.

Actors: Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin, Stuart Devenie

Runtime: 1h 44m

Category: Comedy, Creature, Romance, Undead, Zombie

Synopsis: Somewhere in Sumatra, a zoologist captures the legendary Rat Monkey. He brings it back to the New Zealand Zoo to put it on show. Meanwhile, Paquita, a local grocery employee, is beginning to spend a lot of time with Lionel, the son of a very wealthy and domineering mother. She follows them to the zoo where she gets bitten by the Rat Monkey. Quickly she begins turning into a zombie. Soon, Lionel and Paquita find themselves fending off and army of the living dead…but where’s mum?

Review: I remember seeing this movie many years ago and the one thing I remember the most is the lawnmower. Once you see the movie you’ll understand. I was much more impressed this time around, considering my taste has evolved. I was really impressed with the amount, and proper use of, the blood in this movie. There were just copious amounts of blood! I loved it! This movie was pure gore. From beginning to end (minus a bit in the middle, saved for storyline) it was a gore-fest. The acting was actually pretty good despite the low-budget rating. The story, however, was, in essence, very original: a foreign animal carrying a “zombie virus” that mutates with animal stimulant…not bad! And the ending was even more original than the story! Interesting mix between Outbreak (1995), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Army of Darkness (1992).

Rating: 18. Just because the middle of the movie was a little more than redundant: Lionel getting tranquilizers to keep his mother and her minions at bay and his struggle to do so. Apart from that I loved this movie. It was gory, funny, suspenseful, and above all, I’ll say it again…gory! (18of25).