Brain Dead (1990)

In a showdown of man versus machine, Martin plunges into a chaotic nightmare trying to save his mind from the megalomaniacal corporation.

Director:

Adam Simon

Writers:

Charles Beaumont (screenplay), Adam Simon (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Pullman, Bill Paxton, Bud Cort

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Pullman	...	Rex Martin
Bill Paxton	...	Jim Reston
Bud Cort	...	Jack Halsey
Nicholas Pryor	...	Man in Bloody White Suit / Ramsen / Ed Conklin
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Dana Martin
George Kennedy	...	Vance
Brian Brophy	...	Ellis
David Sinaiko	...	Berkovitch
Lee Arenberg	...	Sacks
Andy Wood	...	Brain Surgeon
Maud Winchester	...	Crazy Anna
Lisa Moncure	...	Board Member
Jon Kellam	...	Board Member
Willie Garson	...	Board Member
John Paxton	...	Board Member

Storyline

Dr. Rex Martin is a leading neurosurgeon specializing in the cerebral misfunctions that cause mental illnesses, whose expertise is called up by an old school chum, Jim Reston, who is now part of the mega-corporation Eunice. Reston needs Dr. Martin's help in extracting crucial data from the mind of John Halsey, once a top mathematician at Eunice, now a paranoid at the local asylum. Can Dr. Martin help both Halsey and his friend, or is he getting caught up in a corporate nightmare from which he may never escape?

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | brain surgery | female rear nudity | businessman | mental institution | 

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Taglines:

From the writer of the original "Twilight Zone" comes the most terrifying film of the decade.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the late 1980s, Julie Corman got summer interns to go through several hundred old scripts. The best one they discovered was this one written by Charles Beaumont for Roger Corman in the 1960s. Director Adam Simon liked it and updated it for modern times.

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Goofs

The computer in the brain lab changes from IBM compatible type (when switched off) to Commodore Amiga (when graphics is displayed).

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Quotes

Dr. Rex Martin: My brains are individuals - they're special - they're unique.

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Connections

References Re-Animator (1985)

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Soundtracks

Brain Dance
Music and Lyrics by Andrew Todd Rosenthal (as Andrew Todd) and Patrick Shipstad
Drum programming by David Roberti
Performed by Martini Ranch

User Reviews

Neurological nightmare.

Bill Pullman plays a brilliant surgeon who decides to perform an operation on a psychotic mathematician.He tries to unlock corporate secrets hidden in his patient brain.As the result Pullman is plagued by a series of bizarre dreams and nightmares."Brain Dead" by Adam Simon is often confused with Peter Jackson's insanely gory horror comedy "Braindead".The script is clever and sophisticated,the atmosphere is quite chilling and the acting is solid.The film has pretty warped sense of humour,unfortunately the action is slow and there is no gore.A must-see for fans of "Twilight Zone","Blue Sunshine" or "Strange Behavior".7 homicidal mathematicians out of 10.

Details

Official Sites:

Roger Corman: The Official DVD Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paranoia

Filming Locations:

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,627,955

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,627,955

Company Credits

Production Co:

Concorde Pictures, New Horizons

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Chace Surround

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1