Braindead (1992)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

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

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | 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:

Monkey | Zombie | Love | Zoo | New Zealand

Awards:

13 wins & 2 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	...	Courtney
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

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
Susan Davis	....	assistant makeup artist
Damian D'Cruz	....	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
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

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
Jane Lindsay	....	musician: backing vocals
John O'Connor	....	musician: guitar
Lisa Spence	....	musician: backing vocals
Kate Swadling	....	musician: backing vocals
Jonathon Zwartz	....	musician: guitar

Transportation Department
Rob Jones	....	action vehicle coordinator

Other crew
Jeff Addison	....	puppeteer
Ramon Aguilar	....	supervising 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
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

• 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)
• Trimark Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• 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:

Dead Alive (USA)
Dead-Alive (USA) (DVD box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for an abundance of outrageous gore.

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

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-18 (DVD version) (uncut) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1997) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1993) | Singapore:(Banned) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Italy:VM14 | Austria:18 | Germany:Not Rated | 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

Filming Locations:

Karori Cemetery, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand

Company:

WingNut Films

Trivia:

The Spanish title of the film literally translates to "Your mother ate my dog", a line said by Paquita in the film, who happens to be played by a Spanish actress.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just after the Kung-Fu Priest scene, and Lionel is feeding the zombies tranquilized porridge, Nurse McTevish swallows some and it pours out of her throat. After Lionel has put it into the nurses throat, the porridge has disappeared.

Quotes:

Uncle Les: That's someone doing the business!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Skenbart - en film om tåg (2003)

Soundtrack:

Maori Battalion

All time best horror-comedy? Could be.

Crazy, visceral, over the top, quirky, violent, gory, silly, extreme and (in it's own way) sweet, are just a few words that can describe this visual extravaganza.

What makes it such a good movie? It's fast paced, it's witty, it's charming... and it is GROUNDBREAKING,it's an important movie of the genre.

Lionel is a loser who lives with his dominant mother. Lionel finds a way out, by hooking up with Paquita (a beautiful Diana Peñalver), but soon Lionel's mother gets bitten by a RAT MONKEY and she gradually starts to decompose (it's hilarious) and turns into a living dead... Lionel like a loving son he is, tries to hide the fact that her mother is a zombie, keeping her sedated with drugs... until, naturally, all hell breaks loose.

Timothy Balme is genius as Lionel, I mean; HE'S SO UNDERRATED, he gives a truly comedic performance that's top notch and really entertaining, so is the rest of the cast.

This is my favorite Peter Jackson film, and maybe one of the best horror comedies EVER. It's so f***ed-up, crazy and over the top it's almost poetic.

Everyone who considers himself (or Herself) a Horror Lover, a GoreHound, a rare-movie seeker or a Three Stooges fan should get their hands on this unusual flick.