Brain Dead (no relation to Peter Jackson’s classic horror film from 1992), but rather from director Kevin Tenney (Witchboard [1986]) and his company Prodigy Entertainment, as their first film, from writer Dale Gelineau, yet successfully won five awards from various independent film festivals. The film still holds as a throwback to b-movies of the late 1980s, never once taking itself seriously at any standpoint in the movie, rather a laidback country good ol’ feeling to it and earned multiple distributions first with Shoreline Entertainment in 2008, then by Breaking Glass Pictures in 2010, and recently worldwide rights to GatebreakR in 2020, just proving how popular this feature is with fans. In addition, this film has no relation nor any remake version of director Adam Simon’s Brain Dead [1990], Kevin’s production fully stands alone and on its own merits.

The storyline has an infamous eight people caught in the most unusual circumstances, except those in horror films, then again, perhaps not, as they find themselves as the most disjointed unorthodox, mismanaged group barricading in a rickety old fishing cabin bracing for a full-on zombie assault and swelting heat more than 100 degrees (during shooting). However, these zombies are alien-infected mutant controlled creatures sounds similar to Night of the Creeps [1986] and a dash of Plan 9 from Outer Space [1959]. It begins with playful T&A moments, it actually doesn’t too long for the splattering alien green good and sheer violence splash on the screen for everyone’s entertainment. Soon enough one cabin serves the meeting place for everyone in the vicinity, among them psychopathic killer Bob (David Crane), a wisecracking reckless driving criminal Clarence (Joshua Benton (No Solicitors [2015])), followed by Claudia (Michelle Tomlinson (Axe to Grind [2015])) a man hating lesbian with her tag along sorority sister Sherry (Sarah Grant Brendecke), already suggesting looming issues. Rounding the group, the is the blessed Reverend Farnsworth (Andy Forrest (Saint Bernard [2013])) who lusts after his young assistant Amy (Cristina Tiberia) and a couple of local law enforcement officers, who act more of bumbling comedic Abbott and Costello team. The potential for this many people in conflict situations normally prove to contain adlib moments, though it appears absent, perhaps to the constraints of the filming schedule and limitations of the cast – just wish it existed, unsure what I mean here’s one “I’m going to shove this axe up where the sun doesn’t shine and you’ll chop wood every time you fart”. Matt Zemlin (The Sky Has Fallen [2009]), a unique actor with many voice talents lends himself in an unaccredited role in the film. Now, what zombie b-movie would be complete without the 25-year veteran filmmaker with over 150 film credits, of which 65 are horror movies, none other than, Jim Wynorski, as Sherriff Bodine.

Tenney, noted for his film, Night of the Demons [1988], comes back energetically making an independent horror comedy film with an incredible number of actions occurring at once, causing laughter and mayhem that lacks the sheer numbers for a roaming zombie horde to spread across the screen yet effectively creates tension. The call-out for extras must have not happened – sad. From the opening scene of a thumbnail sized meteor embeds itself into the skull of a fisherman who’s only goal at that moment was for some productive alone time, however that drastically changes the course permanently. The rule, dangerous things come in small packages, wreaking havoc and giving close-up revolting detail in gore and bloodshed head ripping open with feverish intention and glee. The makeup and special effects team provided excellent practical effects, with splatter detail and an over-the-top immense amount gore galore for the gore-hounds and the bloodthirsty hordes of sick demented fans to enjoy in lavish salvation.

While the film, is not with a few cringe worthy moments such as choppy dialog, standardized acting and characters, hinted to a backwards culture, sorry the humor of Tucker and Dale vs. Evil [2010] not present here, however none that can take away with any of the kill scenes, especially the birthing scene. The film’s keynote scene must be viewed by all horror fans and that is the most original way to give birth to a zombie creature, and shatters the previous holder, Dawn of the Dead [2004]; spewing more fluids that are alien and using a prosthetic female genital for the birthing canal, a touch sickness and brilliance for the pro-life supporters of alien producing slugs for zombie creations, marks a new level of grossness.

Brain Dead might be a modest budgeted horror film, from a onetime screenwriter, but it definitely packs in zombie-aliens, graphic exploding heads, over surplus of bad jokes and liners, and quite a bit of nudity surrounding police, clergy and psychos – then again this is a b-movie horror extravaganza adventure.

TAGLINES:

• A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste
• An alien parasite hungry for human hosts … The infected rising from the dead, ravenous for brains … A group of desperate misfits battling for survival … Someone has a really bad travel agent!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914799/

IMDb Rating: 5.1/10

Baron’s Rating: 5.0/10