Braincell (2010) User Reviews

A very bad movie.

[simonpcpearson · 2/10 · 16 November 2010]

Some-one connected with the movie attempted to get this movie deleted. It is an honest review and completely within the guidelines of the IMDb.

I am posting it again because I believe the IMDb should be more than just fake reviews to promote rubbish.

I had low expectations for this but it was worse than I thought.

Raine Brown is as ugly as sin and cannot act. Every movie I've ever seen her in is bad. Joe Zaso has no talent and every movie he is in is bad. Eileen Daly is past her best, cannot act and every movie she is in is bad. Eleanor James is unusual looking and cannot act. Every movie she is in is bad. She is in movies to take her clothes off.

So you can imagine I looked at the cast list and thought the movie would be bad. It's way beyond bad.

All of the cast make super cheap trash that is churned out by the makers with the minimum of effort.This is no exception. Don't waste your time or money.

Braincell which meets expectations

[regdyer-752-589598 · 8/10 · 14 November 2010]

I write this review from the perspective of someone who has been a mere watcher of films for more than 50 years, with a particular interest in the horror genre, but without any practical involvement in the making of films. I appreciate that in the eyes of some people this limits the credibility of any comments that I make and is a situation that I have borne in mind in offering this my first ever film review.

I have been looking forward to the release of 'Braincell' for some time as it includes in its cast four people whose work I have developed a huge respect for in recent years. Joe Zaso and Raine Brown impressed me with their excellent performances in Timo Rose's 'Barricade' and I was eager to see if they could transfer their acting affinity to Braincell in vastly different roles. I have been an admirer of the work of Eileen Daly for approx 10 years and her film 'Razor Blade Smile' ranks among my favourite films of all time. Eleanor James is a young English actress who immediately attracted my attention through her comparatively small role in 'Forest of the Damned' and later in 'Fearmakers'. She is an actress who is capable of capturing the viewer's attention through her facial expression during any scene. I suspect that this is due to her experience of working as a model. The term "The camera likes her" comes to mind. I am pleased to say that after viewing this film, my high expectations of the performances from all four of these actors was fulfilled and I consider the money spent on importing this DVD from the USA was well spent.

Raine and Joe prove once again that they combine well when starring together in a film. On this occasion they perform the roles of antagonists. Eileen Daly performs the role of a very sinister nurse in a part which is tailor made for her. In fact, I cannot think of any other actress who could have played this particular role as effectively. Eleanor James is developing into a fine actress and gives a performance in this film which reinforces my view that one of her strengths is the ability to convey a message from her character with effective use of facial expression (combination of eyes and mouth).

The mood of the film owes a lot to the effective use of Argento style bright colouring contrasting with dark tones and shadows plus appropriate application of background music score by Marco Werba who was associated with Dario Argento's 'Giallo'. This has the effect of gripping attention and creating the tension in the interesting storyline relating to a brainwashing/dream therapy experiment in a Liverpool University which goes wrong with dramatic results. This use of colour is even applied to cosmetics and hairstyle! I particularly liked the impressive utilisation of colour in the outdoor park scenes with excellent framing of shots. This effect reminds me of the use of infra red film and suitable filters in pre digital photography. I appreciate that his style of colour use is not to every persons visual taste but it certainly receives a big thumbs up from me! The pace of the film is well regulated - starting slowly and then gently moving through the tension gears as the body count increases and the story unfolds with more people being drawn into the whirlpool of terror created by the experiments as events lead to a frenzied and unexpected finale.

The additional features on the DVD version which I viewed contained two commentaries by Joe & Raine and Alex Birrell (the director), a photo gallery and trailers.

Very entertaining sci-fi/horror outing!

[operaman_06611 · 10/10 · 17 October 2010]

I love any movie Joe Zaso is in because of the horror film references. Joe loves horror films and his enthusiasm for the genre shows in the projects he chooses to be involved in. BRAINCELL is no exception - in this, we get a sci-fi film reminiscent of the early works of David Cronenberg .. but there are also some very effective murder sequences reminiscent of Dario Argento. That; combined with great cinematography (the colors are eerie and effective), convincing and quite gruesome special effects, an atmospheric music score by Marco Werba (Dario Argento's GIALLO), and enjoyable performances by the cast; make this a must see for any horror and sci-fi lover. Keep them coming, Joe!

Nifty sci-fi/horror outing

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 23 December 2013]

Troubled Hannah (a solid and sympathetic performance by the attractive Raine Brown) travels to Liverpool, England to be reunited with her estranged scientist uncle Dr. Joseph Cornwall (well played to sinister perfection by Joseph Zaso). However, it turns out that Cornwell has been doing dangerous and unethical experiments on various subjects that has gotten out of control. Director Alexander Birrell, who also co-wrote the sturdy script with Iacapo Di Girolamo, relates the compelling story at a steady pace, ably crafts an intriguing enigmatic atmosphere for the opening third, draws the main characters with real depth, grounds the fantastic premise in a plausible everyday reality, maintains a dark grim tone throughout, and delivers a handy helping of graphic gore. The sound acting by the capable cast keeps the picture humming: Eileen Daly as aloof bitch Nurse Audra, Billy Garberina as Hannah's kindly and concerned therapist lover Sam, Eleanor James as the sultry Monica, Adam Caslin as the unhinged Dominique, and Matt Berry as pesky'n'pushy journalist Neil Balsam. Marco Werba's moody pulsating score does the ominous trick. Birrell's sharp cinematography gives the movie an impressive polished look. A cool little flick.

Made me think of the end of the seventies

[trashgang · 6/10 · 30 September 2010]

First of all, what's wrong with the independent scene? You all know that I support them but last year I had some bad experiences with them. Some directors I contacted weren't able to transport their product out of the US. Some still broke the law and have send me a copy. Otherwise some movies were delayed for a few months. One of them was Jessicka Rabid. I had contact with Elske telling about what was happening with that movie. And then there was this flick supposed to be released in spring 2010. But last week it arrived safely at my house. I don't know what is wrong with the independents but I still believe in them. That said, was it worth waiting? I have a few films with Joe Zaso, the best known over here Barricade. And of course when you have Zaso you will have Brown in your movie. Luckily they are giving a good performance. When I started to watch the movie I didn't know what to expect of it. It's a slow starter but once it get's rolling (after 30 minutes) you keep watching it. It did remind me a bit of Videodrome by which I mean the storyline, overall it did remind me of some Cronenberg movies or other movies from the end of the seventies, just before the slasher era, because this isn't a slasher. It's all about experimenting with sounds and televisions (like I said Videodrome, Bells, Scanners,...). Of course this is a low budget but I must say, they know how to make cheap effects go working. The red stuff flows frequently but mostly you don't see the knife going in but it's the editing that makes you think that you saw something, but again, it really works. Before I go on, the slamming of the door in the garden, I guess that it was an ode to Evil Dead? Anyway, as I was saying. The effects are really well done. I guess that their money really went into that because the sound do fails sometimes. The score is sometimes mixed to loud with the actor's voices or when some one is screaming the sound drops, guess the compression did his work... Another thing was the white balance of the camera. Some shots of the Mersey river where made at wrong color temperature, and some shots from inside watching outside had the same problem (I'm a shader for television so it's my job). But going back to the score, it's always the same melody you hear, first it's a bit annoying but then when you remember old school that's the way they did it. Due the fact that there are some well known actors in it, Eleanor James for example, what a face, hihi, they had to get some unknown actors, sadly you can see it, The choke scene is a bit of a laugh, the way he dies is a wooden performance. But hey, now I'm getting a bit too far I guess. Again, the use of first person shooting really works also and the nudity isn't gratuitous. But here I have to say something again. Raine, if you are doing a nudity shower scene but you still cover your juggs it's a bit sad, afterwards you make love and again you don't hold the man, you just cover your titties again, the naked butt we see I guess it wasn't yours but at the end of the day all I wanna say is, if you are a slasher geek leave it but if you are into abnormal things like again, Cronenburgs earlier flicks than I would recommend it for you. Once you're into the movie you will enjoy it but be aware of the braincell.