Braindead
Not currently available on any streaming platform
When a Sumatran rat-monkey bites Lionel Cosgrove's mother, she's transformed into a zombie and begins killing (and transforming) the entire town while Lionel races to keep things under control.
What critics thought
DivisivePeter Jackson's splatter comedy earns its cult reputation through sheer commitment to excess — critics who embraced it treated the gore as the point, a feature rather than a bug. Contemporary reviewers were genuinely split, however, with detractors arguing the film loses its footing tonally, unable to decide whether it wants to horrify or convulse you with laughter. Retrospective appreciation has been warmer, cementing it as a landmark of the zombie genre.
“Kiwi gore specialist Peter Jackson, who goes for broke with an orgy of bad taste and splatter humor. Some will recoil from the gore, but Braindead wasn't made for them.”
David Stratton·Variety
“it never decides whether to make you tremble with laughter or fear, and has outstayed its welcome long before the last limb has been severed and entrail spilled.”
Quentin Curtis·The Independent
Genres
Horror, Comedy
Cast & Crew
Peter JacksonDirector
Timothy BalmeLionel
Diana PeñalverPaquita
Elizabeth MoodyMum
Ian WatkinUncle Les
Brenda KendallNurse McTavish
Stuart DevenieFather McGruder
Jed BrophyVoid
Stephen PappsZombie McGruder
Murray KeaneScroat
Fran WalshWriterBraindead
When a Sumatran rat-monkey bites Lionel Cosgrove's mother, she's transformed into a zombie and begins killing (and transforming) the entire town while Lionel races to keep things under control.
What critics thought
DivisivePeter Jackson's splatter comedy earns its cult reputation through sheer commitment to excess — critics who embraced it treated the gore as the point, a feature rather than a bug. Contemporary reviewers were genuinely split, however, with detractors arguing the film loses its footing tonally, unable to decide whether it wants to horrify or convulse you with laughter. Retrospective appreciation has been warmer, cementing it as a landmark of the zombie genre.
“Kiwi gore specialist Peter Jackson, who goes for broke with an orgy of bad taste and splatter humor. Some will recoil from the gore, but Braindead wasn't made for them.”
David Stratton·Variety
“it never decides whether to make you tremble with laughter or fear, and has outstayed its welcome long before the last limb has been severed and entrail spilled.”
Quentin Curtis·The Independent
Genres
Horror, Comedy
Cast & Crew
Peter JacksonDirectorTimothy BalmeLionelDiana PeñalverPaquitaElizabeth MoodyMumIan WatkinUncle LesBrenda KendallNurse McTavishStuart DevenieFather McGruderJed BrophyVoidStephen PappsZombie McGruderMurray KeaneScroatFran WalshWriterNot currently available on any streaming platform