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IMDbPro

Brain Damage

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,190
1,981
Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
One morning, a young man wakes to find that a small, disgusting creature has attached itself to the base of his brain stem. The creature gives him a euphoric state of happiness but demands human victims in return.
Play trailer1:15
1 Video
68 Photos
ComedyDramaHorror
One morning, a young man wakes to find that a small, disgusting creature has attached itself to the base of his brain stem. The creature gives him a euphoric state of happiness but demands h... Read allOne morning, a young man wakes to find that a small, disgusting creature has attached itself to the base of his brain stem. The creature gives him a euphoric state of happiness but demands human victims in return.One morning, a young man wakes to find that a small, disgusting creature has attached itself to the base of his brain stem. The creature gives him a euphoric state of happiness but demands human victims in return.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,190
1,981
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Writer
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Stars
      • Rick Hearst
      • Gordon MacDonald
      • Jennifer Lowry
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Writer
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Stars
      • Rick Hearst
      • Gordon MacDonald
      • Jennifer Lowry
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 75User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:15
    Trailer

    Photos68

    Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
    Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
    Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
    Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
    Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
    Vicki Darnell in Brain Damage (1988)
    Vicki Darnell in Brain Damage (1988)
    Vicki Darnell in Brain Damage (1988)
    Brain Damage (1988)
    Brain Damage (1988)
    Brain Damage (1988)
    Jennifer Lowry in Brain Damage (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rick Hearst
    Rick Hearst
    • Brian
    • (as Rick Herbst)
    Gordon MacDonald
    • Mike
    Jennifer Lowry
    Jennifer Lowry
    • Barbara
    Theo Barnes
    Theo Barnes
    • Morris
    Lucille Saint-Peter
    Lucille Saint-Peter
    • Martha
    Vicki Darnell
    Vicki Darnell
    • Blonde in Hell
    Joseph Gonzalez
    Joseph Gonzalez
    • Guy in Shower
    • (as Joe Gonzales)
    Bradlee Rhodes
    Bradlee Rhodes
    • Night Watchman
    Michael Bishop
    Michael Bishop
    • Toilet Victim
    Beverly Bonner
    Beverly Bonner
    • Neighbor
    Ari M. Roussimoff
    • Biker
    • (as Ari Roussimoff)
    Michael Rubenstein
    • Bum in Alley
    Angel Figueroa
    • Junkie
    John Reichert
    • Policeman
    Don Henenlotter
    • Policeman
    Kenneth Packard
    • Subway Rider
    Artemis Pizarro
    • Subway Rider
    Slam Wedgehouse
    • Mohawked Punk
    • Director
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • Writer
      • Frank Henenlotter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the fellatio scene the crew walked out of the production refusing to work on the scene. A similar incident happened during the shooting of Basket Case (1982).
    • Goofs
      When Brian wakes up bloody, the blood on his left hand disappears and reappears between shots.
    • Quotes

      Aylmer: This is the start of your new life Brian, a life full of colors, music,light and euphoria. A life without pain, or hurt or suffering.

    • Crazy credits
      In the end titles, listed under "Historical Research" is BABE WOZENTHAL. According Frank Henenlotter on the DVD's commentary, this was a joke about Jerry Lewis in "The Errand Boy."
    • Alternate versions
      Paramount video release deletes the gory nightclub fellatio and ear-pulling scenes to avoid an 'X' rating.
    • Connections
      Featured in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Brain Damage (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Corruption
      by J. Calder, A. Boston, J.E. Garnett, B. Elsey, & B. Burton

      Performed by The Swimming Pool Q's

      Courtesy of Irving Music, Inc.

    User reviews75

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    "It's A Headache From Hell! "
    Brain Damage is the greatest anti-drug horror/comedy. Well, probably the only one. This is Frank Henenlotter's crowning achievement. If you like his Basketcase trilogy, who cares? This is way better than those movies. This movie actually has a message: Don't trust little phallic-like aliens named Aylmer. Just kidding. The anti-drug theme is played heavily throughout the movie. If you're a genre buff or if your sense of humor is as perverted as mine, then do not miss this film. It should be a considered a classic low budget horror movie but it seems that it's rather unheard of. And that is a sad thing. Frank Henenlotter...where are you?

    Note for genre buffs: Look out for the man with the wicker basket on the subway. That's Kevin Van Hentenryck from the Basket Case films.
    helpful•21
    7
    • Backlash007
    • Sep 25, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the R-Rated cut and Unrated version of the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Elmer the Parasite
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Palisades Partners
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $900,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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