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Brain Damage

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Rick Hearst in Brain Damage (1988)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Horror
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
  • 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
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A young man has to live with a leech-like brain-eating parasite who secretes a highly addictive blue fluid into man's brain routinely and in return, the man must seek out human victims for the parasite so that the parasite can eat human brains. —Fella_shibby@yahoo.com
    • man wrapped in a towel
    • body horror
    • sleeping in underwear
    • communal shower
    • urban fantasy
    • 306 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The movie that will blow your mind!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    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
    8/10
    Elmer the Aylmer
    From the director of BASKET CASE comes his second feature, and this one's his best. And we also get a Collector's Edition DVD from Synapse with a couple of extra goodies.

    There's a parasite loose in an apartment building named 'Elmer' who infects a guy named Brian (Rick Herbst) and addicts him to his blue 'juice'. In order to get more juice, Brian has to bring Elmer some more brains to eat. Elmer even smiles and sings in the bathroom sink. What a cute little turd. (laughs) He's so detestably obnoxious that I can't help but like the little b***ard.

    It's kinda neat that when Brian brings Elmer out, he attacks people by latching onto their foreheads and burrowing into his victims skulls and eating out their brains with what looks like a long straw. Most of the jerks Elmer does this to, deserve it anyway.

    This collector's edition DVD restores the long censored fellatio scene where Elmer pops out of Brian's pants and goes down the prostitute's mouth. And when Elmer's done eating, big hunks of gray matter come popping out of the hooker's mouth. It's a riot!

    And there's also the scene where Brian hallucinates during his withdrawal from Elmer's blue 'juice' and imagines pulling a string of tissue out his ear until his ear pops out and the side of his head gushes blood. Cool gore scene.

    The Synapse DVD uses an excellent wide-screen print with a great 80s synth soundtrack that includes the song, "Corruption" by The Swimming Pool Qs. Not at all like the crummy, muddy-looking censored VHS tape from a few years back. The only drawback is that there aren't many extras beyond a very interesting separate audio track commentary by director Henenlotter, and a movie trailer for the film.

    It's an all out classic in my book. Watch it! Get it!

    8 out of 10
    helpful•12
    5
    • macabro357
    • Sep 1, 2003

    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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