Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)
Some things won't stay down...even after they die.
On a quiet street, in a small town, pure evil has come to stay. Lionel, an innocent young man, is forced to care for domineering mother and finds the task a whole lot more demanding after she's bitten by the cursed Sumatran rat monkey. Passing the point of death, Lionel's mother sucks friends and family into her gruesome existence among the living dead and Lionel is sent spiraling into a ghoulish nightmare. This is one of Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson's early over-the-top horror comedies. A cult classic!
Member Reviews
Great effects - brentb
I saw Dead Alive when it was first released here on video. The box said it was the "bloodiest movie ever made", or at least words to that effect. So, I watched it. I thought it was more of a spoof-satire-sarcastic statement on how horror movies had degenerated since Halloween in 1978. I forget about it over the years and when Lord of the Rings came out and I heard the director's name my ears perked up. I couldn't place him, but I knew I'd seen Jackson's stuff before. Then I heard a blip about this movie and I was stunned that he made Dead Alive, and something as beautiful as the LOTR Trilogy.
Dead Alive is a great movie if you just want to kickback, laugh, gross yourself out, and potentially thorw up everything you've ever eaten. Like the baby food mom fed you when you were a wee-thing. I would rent it first, though, before you buy it. If Jackson never directs again (which he is) then Dead Alive and the LOTR Trilogy make fantastic bookends to his filmography.my2cents- brilliant - gerard
If your a horror fan, or a fan of movie making in general, you have to rent this film. Peter Jackson as always, puts every ounce of effort/strength into his films and it show always shows in the final production. Before King Kong and Lord of the Rings, he made this over the top, in your face brilliant film Dead Alive. From the opening sequence to the hilarious Return of the Living Dead ending, he pulls out all the stops in order to please his audiance. The blood and special affects are second to none. Not even Evil Dead or any zombie features can come close to this classic. Dead Alive should be considered one of the best horror/spoofs of all time, but it never shows up in the top 10 list as I don't think anyone can stomach to watch the whole film from beginning to end..its that great!Craziest love-story/gorefest I have ever seen!! OMG!! - Roody_Poo
It is hard to believe that the same Peter Jackson that directed the Lord of the Rings actually directed this film. Talk about going from one end of the spectrum to the other.
OK.....forget about the LOTR trilogy. This movie is what Peter Jackson was doing before he hit the mainstream. Do not even attempt to compare this to LOTR. Now that we have that out of the way........go and rent this movie!!! I hope you have strong stomach and a sense of humour because this movie is absolutely hilarious and has a lot, and I mean A LOT OF GORE (sometimes even over the top). I cannot think of another movie that has as much blood as this movie. SERIOUSLY!!! Give it a chance and watch it!! The special effects are pretty damn good for one of Mr. Jackson's first movies.
The story starts off a little in the past where you catch a glimpse of this weird looking rat monkey (and a good gore scene). Back to present day where a young to middle aged man (Lionel) is living with his mom who is very jealous of her boy. Lionel gets tangled up with a female friend and Mom does not like this one bit, and she follows them to a zoo one day where she is bitten by this rat monkey creature. Lionels mom becomes sick and begins to develop a taste for human flesh (undead), but Lionel continues to look after his poor beloved mother......THEN THE CRAZINESS ENSUES!!! One thing leads to another and this movie becomes an hilarious love-story/gorefest.
Give this movie a chance and I guarantee that if you like gore......I mean love gore, then this movie is for you!
*NOTE* Wait till you see the babysitting scenes!! LOL....I nearly wet my pants!!
Member Reviews
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Great effects - brentb
I saw Dead Alive when it was first released here on video. The box said it was the "bloodiest movie ever made", or at least words to that effect. So, I watched it. I thought it was more of a spoof-satire-sarcastic statement on how horror movies had degenerated ...my2cents- brilliant - gerard
If your a horror fan, or a fan of movie making in general, you have to rent this film. Peter Jackson as always, puts every ounce of effort/strength into his films and it show always shows in the final production. Before King Kong and Lord of the Rings, he ...Craziest love-story/gorefest I have ever seen!! OMG!! - Roody_Poo
It is hard to believe that the same Peter Jackson that directed the Lord of the Rings actually directed this film. Talk about going from one end of the spectrum to the other.
OK.....forget about the LOTR trilogy. This movie is what Peter Jackson was ...