Review of Brain Damage (1988) by Chase F — 10 Nov 2008

This is a rare gem. I remember seeing this for the first time during the 80's and I loved it. It was a ghoulish tongue in cheek horror that made the 80's horror so great. Not many like that nowadays and they certainly don't have the same feel to them like these did. I recently aquired this one on DVD and once again I loved it all over again. The first time I saw this was on Palace Video from the video-shop (I rented this with Evil Dead another great 80's horror) I loved everything about this. For starters the credits were good. Not many films actually have the title shown as they have depicted on the poster and the video cover but this one does. What you see next door on the cover is how the title is genuinely lettered. secondly usually the cover looks better than the film, as you can see the cover looks frightening and somewhat gruesome and that's actually how the movie is, the gore and general all round gruesomeness is well done and still looks good after all this time, in fact I'd go so far to say it's better than what you see nowadays in most low budget features of horror. Third is the fact that the film is totally bizzare and hilarious without the unintention to be like again most horror nowadays. The laughs are put plain and simple on the screen. The inclusion of Aylmer is an innovative concept and you do get to warm up to him as a twisted character and not a puppet covered in slime. I love the part where Brian is nearly dying for a fix and aylmer is standing on the sink singing a showtune, cracks me up every time. It shows off aylmer's very sadistic and twisted personality that possibly lurks in us all. Fourth is the message that underlines this movie and that is the danger of drugs and what damage it can do to the brain hense the title Brain Damage.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, then you have missed a great retrospective nostagic piece of cinematic horror gold. To all my friend I urge you to see this if you haven't seen it already and drink it in cause movies like this ain't around anymore (unless they are digitally remastered and re-released.

If you want a night of twisted fun, choose this cause if you don't you are Brain Damaged.