Brain Damage (1988)

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The acting in this movie is really good.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

...not that I ever felt it was flagging, but sometimes, I guess I just need to be reminded how grim and dull life would be without these films. While I suppose the 70s might be the decade I gravitate to most when it comes to horror- and related pictures, when 80s horror is on, it's pretty goddamn on. I think it's because there is an increasing amount of self-awareness and conscious use of tropes in the films, but it's done in a way that isn't often smug or irritating, as brought about by Scream and its ilk in the '90s.What we have here is a classic in 80s horror cinema with a really dark and disturbing undercurrent, but also elements of humour and fun. The two work together in a way that's ingenious and sometimes leaves you not quite sure if you should be laughing or disgusted. I think that's the sign of a job well done. What's more, the lead character, a boy named Brian (check out the cool posters on his wall!), is really identifiable to some of us. Specifically, anyone who's got an addictive personality or spent time battling an addiction will probably feel twinges of sympathy and connection with this film and its unfortunate protagonist. Of course, there ain't no drug on earth that can produce these results, and we should probably be thankful for that. It's like LSD, cocaine and heroin all in one, somehow. The downward spiral of Brian, a real innocent when the film starts, is frightening to behold. It all happens rather quickly and i can say that not a second of time in this film is wasted. The drug itself is produced by a parasitic creature that eats brains. Its' intelligent, devious, and -- very possibly trapped in its own cycle of something similar to the addiction of its human host. It also has the voice of a friendly grandpa, or maybe a teddy bear, and looks like a disgusting, diseased penis or something. The juxtaposition of the appearance of the thing along with that warm, bubbly voice is one of the film's most disconcerting, and, I must say, genius, elements. As my girlfriend said when we were watching this, "that thing has no right to talk with a voice like that!" And just wait til it starts singing! Oi!Don't show this to people who are tripping. They might lose their minds. The visuals can be quite psychedelic, though, and again, juxtaposed with some pretty vile imagery that will make certain people feel queasy and uncomfortable. Our poor man Brian is mostly oblivious to the mayhem he is causing. When he finally realises that people are dying horibly to feed his addiction, he vows to take control, to "call the shots" from now on, but of course, in the end it's too much for him. This conversation with Aylmer (the creature) was eerily familiar to me, as I've heard people make the same sort of vows to themselves, and others, over the years. Tragic.And of course, it's not at all wall-to-wall grimness; there is quite a bit of humour here and I must say that it all works pretty well. The scene in the Hell club is priceless; like a twisted scene from a bad porn film. Cool 80s new-wave music, too. Unfortunately the score itself is kind of bad, but hey, I won't knock it for that. I guess the acting is also a bit spotty in places. I didn't care for the girlfriend character much or the actor, and I can't say I was sorry to see her meet a grisly feat at the ... "hands?" ... of the creature.This is a great movie that basically does everything right. Even though the underlying subject is more serious in a way, I could place this alongside Return of the Living Dead in a category of gruesome but fun 80s horror films with lots of personality. Give it a try. Come on! What've you got to lose! It'll feel great!

Brain Damage 1988 Frank Henenlotter9/10"Hi," "Brain Damage" is widely regarded as Henenlotter's best film. Whilst I believe rating films in best to worst order is too transitory to be my focus I must say that this film's reputation is deserved. As this film seems to be considered too low-brow to be art I want to wax lyrical about this superlative piece of late 80's horror and argue that it is in fact high-art. "Brain Damage" is a well-executed allegory of drug addiction (and, more broadly, desire and control) as well as other social issues. Hosting this journey into depravity are Brian and Aylmer, an average handsome young lad with a normal life and a charming, well-spoken worm-like creature with a biology for drug-dealing and an insatiable appetite for human brains. Henenlotter's film depicts the tenderness, the violence, the fun and the heartache of their exploitative relationship. Henenlotter's script weaves us through the chaotic time Brian and Aylmer spend together and their onscreen relationship is deepened by their interactions with characters such as Morris & Martha, Barbara, and Mike. Aylmer's injections are a great distraction from reality but they come at an enormous price; a fact Morris & Martha are testament to: anyone who Aylmer befriends needs him in their life or a hysterical frenzy ensues. The depth Henenlotter reaches to in his imagery is astounding. A room feels like a room, a corridor like a corridor, and a street feels like a street. The colours zing, the waters are deep, the lights thicken and sharpen the air; cracks cobweb throughout the dank settings and thick red blood is sprayed over it all with gay abandon. The absorbing kaleidoscopic trips Brian is medicated with are made of neon rainbows pulsing in a broken city whilst a euphonious score of lush synthesiser drifts in and out with gentle ease. As the electric high peaks Brian's humanity is washed away by these transcendent experiences. The lights and sounds inevitably extinguish as Aylmer's juice burns out and the addicted youngster's prancing slows to a trudge back into the dissonant city. It isn't good enough for Brian but, now that he's hooked, he must do his new master's bidding. Aylmer has a deliberately honeyed voice to give it the sophisticated charm of a conman. No matter what it does one cannot simply dislike it. And that's the point. It demonstrates how easily someone can wriggle their way out of blame and trouble with simple mannerisms; even if, in this case, that someone is a murderer and a manipulator. I will not describe the ending however I do feel that the film draws to a triumphant close after exploring in great detail the stages of addiction. The loss of sense, the loss of others and the loss of the self, the willing deconstruction of the mind, body and soul of an individual. A devastating loss it is for all societies suffering from the decay that drugs can bring. You should also watch "Basket Case" (1982) and "Frankenhooker" (1990). Together with "Brain Damage" they make an inspired trilogy by Frank Henenlotter.

Most people will not have a clue who I am talking about when I mention the name Frank Henenlotter. Yes, fans will know and horror geeks in particular. But the average movie viewer would be hard placed to name a single film he made. And yet he's made some of the most interesting and originally creative films in his career, one of which I'm sure you've heard of but maybe never seen. It was a low budget flick called BASKETCASE. See? I told you you'd known something he made.With only 12 films listing him as director (two of those shorts) on IMDb.com you will always find his films to be something different and interesting. If you don't believe me look what they are and then watch one. Which brings us to this film, released in 1988 six years after BASKETCASE.BRAIN DAMAGE tells the story of a creature that does indeed damage but offers something in return. The film opens with an elderly couple frantically searching their house for what appears to be someone named Elmer. Unable to find him they collapse and we are left to worry about what happened to them.The film moves to nearby neighbors Brian and Mike. Two young brothers getting by in New York, Brian has a girlfriend named Barbara who needs more attention which Mike would like to provide. The same night as the old couple were running around their apartment Mike gets sick and has Mike take Barbara where they had plans to go. It turns out Brian has is more ill than he realizes.What we thought was Elmer actually turns out to be Aylmer, a parasitic creature that has attached itself to Brian. What's been described as looking like a cross between a penis and a piece of fecal matter shaded blue is actually in intelligent creature that talks to Brian. Yes, this is not your standard sci-fi film. Aylmer tells Brian that he can provide something unique for him, an opening of the mind. To display this he inserts a needle like appendage from his body into the back of Brian's neck, injecting his brain with a fluid that enhances his senses like nothing anyone ever thought possible.On the downside is the fact that Aylmer must feed. Worse yet is that he feeds on human brains. So Brian is suddenly enlisted to aid Aylmer in finding the brains the he needs to survive. This presents us with the chance to witness gore filled carnage in several scenes. It also offers a problematic issue with Brian as his craving for the fluid Aylmer provides has him battling with his conscience as he is killing people to feed him. The odds of Aylmer eventually wanting Barbara or Mike is bound to happen.Henenlotter has said that this film was based on Faustian themes, the concept of someone selling their soul to the devil in return for something they desire with an outcome that they could not predict would happen. There is that but at the same time the obvious concept of drug addiction in today's world is there as well with Brian's constant need for the blue fluid injected into his brain and his willingness to do anything to get it. The two themes work hand in hand here and offer a story that most low budget horror films are lacking.Some have called the effects terrible but I found them to be fantastic. Most can't recall a time when CGI creatures were not used in films and practical effects ruled the day. To have someone, in this case Gabriel Bartalos and his crew, come up not just with a new creature but to animate it and give it a personality on top of everything is wonderful. The rest of the effects are great as well, even more so when you consider this film came out in 1988.Having developed a cult following since its initial poor release (due mainly because the company behind the film was sold and the new owners just wanted to get it out there), the movie has seen the light of day on home screens, first on VHS and then on DVD. But the new Arrow Video version is perhaps the best offering of this film we've ever had access to. As is always the case, Arrow has brought us the cleanest and most precise visually arresting version of the film ever offered, a digital transfer from original film elements. Extras here are also top notch and include a new audio commentary track with writer/director Henenlotter, new interviews with cast and crew, a Q&A with Henelotter at the 2016 Offscreen Film Festival, the original trailer, newly commissioned artwork for the sleeve, a collector's booklet with writing on the film by Michael Gingold and more. As with all of their releases Arrow is offering the most bang for your buck.My son has met Henenlotter and found him to be an interesting man and friendly to fans who have supported his visions for years. It's nice to see his movies getting their long deserved due. The two sequels to BASKETCASE were just released last year on blu-ray from Synapse, both of which I wrote about. To see this added to the available list is something worth cheering. Fans will want this on their shelves and horror/sci-fi fans will want to give it a watch. Expect something different like you would with all films Henenlotter. One last tidbit, something fans howl over, is the brief cameo of the two brothers from the BASKETCASE film seen here, an added treat.

Brain Damage (1988)*** (out of 4)Brian (Rick Herbst) is just your typical guy until one day he wakes up not feeling too well. He soon discovers blood coming from the back of his neck but that turns even worse when he realizes that some sort of parasite has attached itself to him. Soon the parasite is pumping a drug into Brian's brain but it get worse as the brain needs to eat... people.Frank Henenlotter's BASKET CASE was released six years before this film, which would be the director's second movie and I think most people would agree that this here is probably his best picture. If you're a fan of the exploitation movies that were playing 42nd Street during the 1970s then you'll see where the director's inspiration came from as both BASKET CASE and BRAIN DAMAGE are certainly unlike any other movies that came out during the 80s.If you're looking for some sort of art film or something to sip tea to then this certainly isn't going to be for you. What I enjoyed most about this film is the fact that it has a rather silly concept but it know what the people watching it are going to want and that's bizarre death scenes and gore. And I assure you that there's plenty of both. The highlight of the film has to be the sequence where a girl wants to get a little sex on with Brian but when she digs into his pants she gets something that soon eats her up.Just about every death scene here is quite memorable and there's plenty of gore and blood to go along with it. I thought Herbst was good in the lead role and he at least made for a character that you could enjoy watching and feel for. The special effects for the parasite are obviously cheap but they work and yes, you begin to like the little creature. BRAIN DAMAGE isn't a masterpiece but if you're a fan of low-budget horror films then it certainly has a lot to offer.