TMC: Dead Alive/Brain Dead 1993 (spoilers)

The Movie Checklist - Should You Watch This?

Did you ever wonder if you could trust those rating sites on their reviews of movies? I mean all those strangers can’t know if you’re gonna like a movie! Leave it to just one stranger... me. I’m gonna tell you whether or not you should watch movies (there will be spoilers). Let’s go.

Movie name: Dead Alive (AKA Braindead)

Year: 1993 (US Release) 

Trailer:

​Genre: Horror Comedy

Main character(s): Lionel (adorable), Paquita (adorable), Vera (rude), The Sumatran Rat-Monkey (gross)

Notable cast members: None that I know of, but there’s some notable behind the scene-ers namely in Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh who would later go on to collaborate on the Lord of the Rings live action film adaptations (let’s just not mention The Hobbit movies…).

One line-ish plot summary: A team of explorers capture a Sumatran Rat-Monkey and bring it to New Zealand where it proceeds to infect people and turn them into zombies. It’s up to Lionel and his lady love Paquita to save the day.

Best character: Paquita hands down, I loved her! She’s feisty, determined, and knows what she wants.

Worst character: At one point two zombies have sex and produce a rambunctious zombie baby (no, I don’t know how - ask Peej). Lionel being the kind, naive soul that he is takes the baby out for a walk and instead of being grateful the baby causes a bunch of trouble. Not cool Baby!

Best moment: When the kung fu fighting priest fights a bunch of zombies in a cemetery after dark and surprisingly holds his own for a while before his block gets knocked off. 

Worst moment: When Lionel’s mom (the first Kiwi infected) has some neighbors over for dinner and is so sick and out of it that pus from her infected wound gets into their food and they still eat it! I’m still gagging. 

Plot twists?: At the end Lionel’s mom somehow becomes the size of a house and tries to suck him back into the womb from whence he came.

How was the ending?: Awesome! Lionel turns a bunch of zombies into mush with a lawnmower and there’s lots of fake looking blood. Bonus, my new OTP Lionel and Paquita survive the horror.

Sequels/prequels?: Nope

Is this a good movie?: Very good but very cheesy.

Why did Kayla watch this movie?: During the time of my Lord of the Rings mania I read and watched a lot of interviews and this early blood filled film of PJ and Fran was referenced multiple times. When fate dropped a copy in my clutches this year I couldn’t wait to watch it. 

Does Kayla like this movie?: Yes!

Should you watch this movie?: Of course, as long as you don’t mind lots of fake blood topped with some cheese.

Why you should watch this movie: It really is just a good time.

Where you can watch this movie (as of this posting): I saw it on DVD. Try Amazon? See how helpful I am?

Favorite screenshot: A little background - the baby finally gets what's coming to it and gets smacked in the face with a frying pan, but it's face is so tough it dents the pan. ROFL indeed! Look at its stupid face. Take that Baby!