Dead Alive

Dead Alive Deep dark Thoughts

Well, let me begin by giving Fangoria a little credit here. Without their extensive articles on this film and Peter Jackson, I might not have gone out and forcefully begged my video store to get a copy. Fangoria really pumped up this movie, describing it in gory detail. I just finished re-reading all the Fango articles and they weren’t too bad, for once I can say a good job.

Why do I like this movie so much? You might be quick and say the zombies and you would be right to an extent, but it was really the dark humor that got me. The gore was great, the zombies were awesome, but it was the dark humor of this film that was the bloody eyeball that topped this horror sundae. It really reminded me of Evil Dead 2, the humor was well balanced, but not taken too far. I never laughed so hard. Who would have thought that a lawnmower would become an essential killing weapon to use against zombies.

A definite gore lovers delight. It may, in fact, be the goriest films I have ever seen, but only in a very funny way. Because of its outrageousness, none of the gore can be taken too seriously here and that is exactly what Peter Jackson was shooting for. It was because of this dark humor that Peter Jackson was able to go to extremes for this film.

I became a fan of Peter Jackson because of this film. I have since gone out and rented “Bad Taste” which was a quirky sci-fi/horror film about an alien invasion. Then I rented “Meet the Feebles”, otherwise known as “Muppets on Acid”. This was one strange movie, to say the least.

If you like Dead Alive/ Braindead, than you own it to yourself to go out and rent these two films. I also thought the Frighteners was very good and that Jeffery Combs did an outstanding job. Peter Jackson is definitely a director to keep your eyes on.

As always please e-mail me if you have anything you can add to this page, or if you have any comments, criticisms or suggestion.

Dead Alive Story

The story begins as a zoo expedition is on the trail of the legendary “rat-monkey”, but for some reason, the natives are a little reluctant to let the beast be taken. But why?? It is only cute, little, harmless monkey…right?? Well, not this monkey, whose deadly bite turns Lionel’s mum into a walking corpse.

Seems Lionel (Timothy Balme) definitely suffer from an acute Oedipus complex and major abandonment issues here. He tries to hide his mum’s condition from everyone, especially the girl of his dreams Paquita (Dina Penalver). Slowly but surely, dear mum begins to zombify anyone who crosses her path: a nurse, a priest, and a gang of thugs. There’s even a zombie baby. What a cutie. Lionel tries everything to control these unwanted guests and he even has some success with horse tranquilizers, but not for long.

The finale is a laugh a minute gore-fest that features a horde of zombies and a lawnmower. Ash might have had his chainsaw, but Lionel’s weapon of choice really mows them down. You can definitely see the influences of Romero and Raimi beautifully brought together into one……Peter Jackson. Rent or buy Dead Alive and make sure you get the unrated version.

Dead Alive Frightful Facts

• Braindead was the original title for the movie, but Vidmark changed it to Dead Alive.
• Great Britain, Australia, and Germany were the only countries that had a problem with the film. It was released it uncut in both GB and Australia. The head of GB’s board of ratings remarked that he released it uncut only because there was no way anyone would ever take this film seriously. Still heavily cut in Germany.
• Peter Jackson favorite scene (the Baby in the park) was shot on the last two days and only because there was some money left in the budget.
• Over 300 liters of blood was pumped out of the lawnmower per minute.
• Peter Jackson was one of the first people approached to script the Jason vs Freddy movie, but had to decline due to other commitments.
• Peter Jackson did not make one cut from his original script.
• The Japanese laserdisc is 7 minutes longer than the domestic release (which Peter Jackson acknowledges as the director’s cut). The extras only add to the character development.
• Right before Lionel’s mum’s funeral, Uncle Les is talking with Paquita, and Father McGruder is wondering where Lionel is, the organ music in the background is “Massacre Suite” from Meet the Feebles.
• The budget for this films was about $3 million.
• To check out “DVD Review’s” of Dead Alive and other great DVD. Click on the banner it and other stuff on DVD

Dead Alive Extras

Peter Jackson is currently directing a remake of the 1933 classic King Kong. Check out the official site.

Dead Alive Merchandise

• Buy Dead Alive on DVD from Amazon.com 
• Buy Bad Taste on DVD from Amazon.com 
• Buy Bad Taste (LE) on DVD from Amazon.com 
• Buy Meet the Feebles on DVD from Amazon.com 
• Check out Rotten Cotton’s great new t-shirt for Braindead.
• Check out the new House of Horrors t-shirt for sale now

Dead Or Alive Cast & Crew