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Braindead
1992 103 min New Zealand R 18+
★7.5
Horror, Comedy
Director: Peter Jackson
Trailers
Description
When a Sumatran rat-monkey bites Lionel Cosgrove's mother, she's transformed into a zombie and begins killing (and transforming) the entire town while Lionel races to keep things under control.
Budget:
$3M
US Gross:
$242,623
Worldwide:
$242,623
Starring
Timothy Balme
Actor
Diana Peñalver
Actor
Elizabeth Moody
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1994
— Best Genre VHS Edition
Saturn Awards 1993
— Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 1993
— Best Visual Effects
Key opinion
Peter Jackson’s Braindead is widely celebrated as a definitive, highly imaginative cult classic of the zombie-comedy genre. While some viewers may be alienated by its extreme gore and unconventional humor, its bold visual inventiveness and satire have earned it significant critical and fan appreciation.
| Production | The film utilizes unprecedented, highly inventive practical gore effects that push the boundaries of the horror genre. | |
| Theme | The screenplay successfully balances absurd, dark humor with surprising thematic depth regarding family dynamics and parental control. | |
| Acting | Timothy Balme delivers a charismatic, standout performance that grounds the film's increasingly chaotic, slapstick narrative. | |
| Direction | Opinions on the film's aesthetic and quality are split, with some praising its artistic boldness while others perceive it as unpolished, amateurish trash. | |
| Emotion | The experience is highly polarizing due to its extreme violence, creating a divide between horror fans who appreciate the satire and those who find the gore off-putting. |