Dead Alive (1992)

Dead Alive (released as Braindead in some regions) is a wildly gory horror-comedy set in Wellington, New Zealand. Lionel Cosgrove is a timid, overprotected bachelor still living under the thumb of his domineering mother, Vera. After a visit to the zoo, Vera is bitten by a rare Sumatran rat‑monkey and slowly transforms into a pus‑squirting, flesh‑eating zombie. Lionel tries to hide and contain the growing infection—keeping victims sedated in his basement—while clinging to a new romance with the sweet shop clerk Paquita. As the body count rises, Lionel is forced to confront his monstrous mother, his own courage, and an increasingly absurd avalanche of undead trouble that culminates in a chaotic, over-the-top showdown at his home. Watching this film is an experience of extremes: rapid-fire slapstick and farce collide with relentless, inventive practical gore. Expect cartoonish, highly theatrical special effects, squelchy sound design, and sequences that move from sincere emotion to ridiculousness in a heartbeat. The movie balances a weirdly touching coming-of-age thread (Lionel’s struggle to break free from his mother) with escalating splatter comedy—people will laugh, cringe, and probably look away a few times. If you like cult horror, splatter films, and darkly comic takes on zombies, you’ll appreciate the film’s fearless commitment to practical effects and outrageous set pieces. Note: it’s extremely graphic and deliberately gross, so it’s best suited for viewers who enjoy violent, comedic horror rather than subtle scares.

Actors: Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Elizabeth Moody

Director: Peter Jackson

Runtime: 104 min

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

54 /100 7.5 /10 6.5 /10