Dead Alive (1992) Braindead (original title)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Stephen Sinclair (story)
Stephen Sinclair (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.

Plot Keywords:

Zombie | Love | Monkey | Zoo | New Zealand

Awards:

13 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Timothy Balme	...	Lionel Cosgrove
Diana Peñalver	...	Paquita Maria Sanchez
Elizabeth Moody	...	Mum (Vera Cosgrove)
Ian Watkin	...	Uncle Les
Brenda Kendall	...	Nurse McTavish
Stuart Devenie	...	Father McGruder
Jed Brophy	...	Void
Stephen Papps	...	Zombie McGruder
Murray Keane	...	Scroat
Glenis Levestam	...	Nora Matheson
Lewis Rowe	...	Mr. Matheson
Elizabeth Mulfaxe	...	Rita
Harry Sinclair	...	Roger
Davina Whitehouse	...	Paquita's Grandmother
Silvio Famularo	...	Paquita's Father
Brian Sergent	...	Vet
Peter Vere-Jones	...	Undertaker
Tina Regtien	...	Mandy
Bill Ralston	...	Stewart
Tony Hopkins	...	Winston
Tony Hiles	...	Zoo Keeper
Duncan Smith	...	Drunk
Tich Rowney	...	Barry
George Port	...	Lawrence
Stephen Andrews	...	Spike
Nick Ward	...	Spud
Kenny McFadden	...	Gladstone
Angela Robinson-Witherspoon	...	Courtney (as Angela Robinson)
Johnny Chico	...	Head Chief
Peter Jackson	...	Undertaker's Assistant
James Grant	...	Tram Driver
Michelle Turner	...	Blond Woman
Jim Booth	...	Lionel's Father
Sam Dallimore	...	Young Lionel
Anna Cahill	...	Mother at Park
Kate Jason-Smith	...	Mother at Park
Fran Walsh	...	Mother at Park (as Frances Walsh)
Norman Willerton	...	Tramp at Park
Robert Ericson	...	Boy on Bike
Morgan Rowe	...	Baby Selwyn
Sean Hay	...	Baby Selwyn
Vicki Walker	...	Selwyn (voice)
Chris Short	...	Customs Official
Jamie Selkirk	...	Father at Zoo
Brad Selkirk	...	Son at Zoo
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Forry
Gim Bon	...	Featured Party Zombie
Sarah Scott Davis	...	Featured Party Zombie
Anthony Donaldson	...	Featured Party Zombie
Jo Edgecombe	...	Featured Party Zombie
Mel Edgecombe	...	Featured Party Zombie
Melody French	...	Featured Party Zombie
Ken Hammon	...	Featured Party Zombie
Michael Helms	...	Featured Party Zombie
Mary O'Leary	...	Featured Party Zombie
Simon Perkins	...	Featured Party Zombie
Annie Prior	...	Featured Party Zombie
Vanessa Redmond	...	Featured Party Zombie
Chris Ryan	...	Featured Party Zombie
Tim Saywell	...	Featured Party Zombie
Paul Shannon	...	Featured Party Zombie
Belinda Todd	...	Featured Party Zombie
Elizabeth Brimilcombe	...	Zombie's Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Queen Elizabeth II	...	Herself (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Jackson

Writing credits
Stephen Sinclair		(story)
Stephen Sinclair		(screenplay) &
Fran Walsh		(screenplay) (as Frances Walsh) &
Peter Jackson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jim Booth	....	producer
Jamie Selkirk	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Peter Dasent

Cinematography by
Murray Milne

Film Editing by
Jamie Selkirk

Casting by
Fran Walsh		(as Frances Walsh)

Production Design by
Kevin Leonard-Jones

Art Direction by
Ed Mulholand

Costume Design by
Chris Elliott

Makeup Department
Damian D'Cruz	....	assistant makeup artist
Susan Davis	....	assistant makeup artist
Kareen Donaldson	....	assistant makeup artist
Debra East	....	makeup artist
Debra East	....	wig designer
Marjory Hamlin	....	prosthetics/makeup supervisor
Clifford Hughes	....	prosthetics makeup assistant
Bob McCarron	....	makeup artist
Bob McCarron	....	prosthetics

Production Management
Nicola Olsen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Witemara Rakete	....	second assistant director
Chris Short	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tony Arnolo	....	carpenter
Karen Baker	....	set finisher
Dave Cleary	....	scenic artist
James Dickson	....	art department runner
Tony Eversen	....	carpenter
Peter Frahm	....	model maker
Mike Heffernan	....	construction foreman
Shaun Jacobs	....	carpenter trainee
Simon Jones	....	model maker
Denise Kennedy	....	art department researcher
Brad Mill	....	property buyer
Brad Mill	....	set dresser
John Morton	....	stand-by carpenter
Colin Pacey	....	carpenter
Christian Rivers	....	storyboard artist
Tich Rowney	....	model maker
Bryan Wakelin	....	carpenter
Nick Weir	....	stand-by props
Norman Willerton	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Pino Ammendola	....	(additional dialogue: Italian edition )
Michael Hedges	....	sound mixer
Mike Hopkins	....	sound designer
Tony Johnson	....	sound recordist
Neil Maddever	....	sound recording engineer
Sam Negri	....	sound designer
Axel Paton	....	additional sound (as Alexander Paton)
Axel Paton	....	boom operator (as Alexander Paton)
Beth Tredray	....	additional sound
Helen Luttrell	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Allan Burne	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Stuart Conran	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Clifford Hughes	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Steve Ingram	....	special effects coordinator
Alex Kennedy	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Christian Rivers	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Tania Rodger	....	creature and gore effects: administrator
Dominic Taylor	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Richard Taylor	....	creature & gore effects
Richard Taylor	....	stop motion animator
Bill Tompson	....	creature and gore effects: technician
Grant Wallis	....	creature and gore effects: technician

Visual Effects by
Michael Eastwood	....	miniatures
Glen Henderson	....	miniatures
Anna Hill	....	miniatures
Peter Jackson	....	miniatures
Jarrod Linton	....	miniatures
Paul Noble-Campbell	....	miniatures
Grant Wallis	....	miniatures

Stunts
Damon DeBerry	....	stunts
Peter Hassall	....	stunt coordinator
Peter Hassall	....	stunts
Mark Taylor	....	stunts
Tony Woolf	....	stunts (as Tony Wolf)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick Allender	....	Steadicam operator
Richard Bluck	....	Steadicam operator
Solomon Bollinger	....	electrician
Amanda Clark	....	clapper loader
Linda Halle	....	assistant grip
Steve Latty	....	additional photographer
Thad Lawrence	....	gaffer
Ian McCarroll	....	lighting assistant
Hamish McIntyre	....	grip
Mark Olsen	....	camera operator
Gerry Vasbenter	....	focus puller
Pierre Vinet	....	still photographer
Nicola Wong	....	video assist operator
Alan Woodfield	....	electrician

Animation Department
Peter Jackson	....	stop motion animator
Euan Frizzell	....	animator: main title (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tina Harris	....	stand-by wardrobe
Hilary Niederer	....	wardrobe assistant
Paul Sayers	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Eric De Beus	....	assistant editor (as Eric De Beus)
Emma Haughton	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tony Backhouse	....	musician: backing vocals
Peter Dasent	....	music producer
Peter Dasent	....	musician
Fane Flaws	....	musician: guitar
Chris Gough	....	music coordinator
Jim Lawrie	....	musician: drums
John O'Connor	....	musician: guitar
Lisa Spence	....	musician: backing vocals
Kate Swadling	....	musician: backing vocals
Jonathon Zwartz	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Jeff Addison	....	puppeteer
David Arnell	....	executive for Avalon
Fiona Bartlett	....	production assistant
Anna Cahill	....	location manager
Damon DeBerry	....	fight choreographer
John Gifford	....	puppeteer
Linda Klein-Nixon	....	accountant
Mandy Lowe	....	puppeteer
Suzannah Morrison	....	production assistant
Peter Martin Nelson	....	legal service: USA
George Port	....	puppeteer
Simon Rayner	....	runner
Ramon Rivero	....	supervising puppeteer (as Ramon Aguilar)
Sue Rogers	....	title designer
Reg Russ	....	executive for Avalon
Sue Thompson	....	executive for Avalon
Bryn Tilly	....	production assistant trainee
Ross Townsend	....	caterer
Michelle Turner	....	production coordinator
Jenny Vial	....	continuity
Maureen Zust	....	executive for Avalon
Gianluca Nardulli	....	press officer: Italy (uncredited)

Production Companies

• WingNut Films
• New Zealand Film Commission (as The New Zealand Film Commission) (in association with)
• Avalon/NFU Studios (in association with)

Distributors

• Flamex InterStar (1992) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Flamex InterStar (1994) (Hungary) (VHS)
• Diaphana Films (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Oro Films S.A. (1994) (Spain) (theatrical)
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Trimark Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Alpha Filmes (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS) (uncut version)
• Atlantic Film (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• BNN TV (2002) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Cosmos Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Manga Films (2001) (Spain) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (199?) (UK) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Still Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Trimark Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• UGC Video (1993) (France) (VHS)
• Vidmark Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Avalon/NFU  sound mixing
• Avalon/NFU  studio
• Film Facilities Ltd.  camera equipment
• First Australian Completion Bond Company (FACB)  completion guarantor
• Gnome Productions  main title animation
• Graphitti  publicity
• Mana Music  music coordination
• Pacific Sound Services  sound post-production
• Radio New Zealand  music recorded at
• Upper Deck Film Services  negative matching

Also Known As:

"Braindead" - New Zealand (original title)
"Dead-Alive" - USA (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for an abundance of outrageous gore (heavily cut)

Runtime:

104 min | Argentina:99 min | Germany:94 min | USA:85 min (R-rated version) | USA:97 min (unrated version) | Germany:80 min (FSK 16 version) | Finland:92 min (cut version) (1992) (1993) | South Korea:85 min (heavily cut) | Spain:99 min (DVD edition)

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | France:-16 | Germany:(Banned) | Germany:16 (heavily cut) | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (heavily cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | USA:R (heavily cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted | Iceland:16 | Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (DVD version) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1993) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1997) | Singapore:(Banned) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM14 | Austria:18 | Germany:Not Rated | Brazil:18 | Mexico:C

Filming Locations:

Karori Cemetery, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand

Company:

WingNut Films

Trivia:

The name of the dog is Fernando, as a tribute to director Fernando Trueba, because it was at one of his films where Peter Jackson first saw Diana Peñalver.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the luncheon scene, the ear falls earring-side down into the custard, but a second later, the earring is up and clean.

Quotes:

Mum:[Waving a knife around] Look at this dust! It's an inch thick!

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Creeps (1986)

Soundtrack:

Barwick Green (Theme from The Archers)

S10 Reviews: Dead Alive (1992)

Lionel Cosgrove is a good guy having a tough time with things. Ever since his father died saving him during a swimming accident Lionel has been taking care of his mother. But unfortunately his mother must have come from the same parenting class as Norman Bates' mother since she is as manipulative and smothering. But things seem to be on the up and up for him when he starts a romance with a local shop owner's daughter. But a date to the zoo takes a turn for the worse when Lionel's overprotective mum follows him and manages to get bitten by a "rat monkey", a particularly nasty creature whose bite is killer…literally. The bite turns his mum into a zombie and each one she bites turns as well. Pretty soon poor Lionel is living in the house of the dead and fighting off a lecherous uncle scheming to grab the estate.

Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings fame) once again proves he is more than able to give us the gory goods and make us laugh the entire time. This insanely entertaining flick has buckets and buckets of blood and gore, probably one of the (if not THE) bloodiest around. For a film with a miniscule budget (approximately $3 million) he makes every penny count and turns out a very nice looking film. The comedy is pure slapstick and at times dark as pitch. The actors attack their various roles with a solid energy that gives the film a maniac pace. "Brain Dead" (aka "Dead Alive") is the best splatter comedy money can buy.