Review of Brain Dead (2007) by Jenn T — 25 Oct 2008

This is supposed to be a throwback to the 1980's and it sort of works - there's cheesy effects, gratuitous gore and T&A and a snarky Bruce Campbell knock-off protagonist. It's the story of a bunch of different people (a horny preacher and his young nubile assistant, a couple of cons, and two hot sorority sisters with a penchant for skinny-dipping) who for a bunch of different reasons, end up stranded in a forest that has been infected by some sort of alien sludge that turns humans into zombies that will either eat your brain or puke zombie-creating slime all over you. They all end up at a fishing cabin and spend the night bickering amongst themselves and fighting off the zombies.

Sounds great, right? Well, it has its moments. The spirit and intention is there but most of the time I felt like there was someone just off camera with a "Things That Would Be in this Movie if it Were 1986" Checklist: Not-Bruce Campbell makes a smartass quip? Check! Big-Breasted Chick finds a reason to take off her top? Check! Ridiculous stereotypes - man-hating lesbian, backwoods rednecks - all present and accounted for? Check! In the end, it all added up to being a bit contrived and joyless which was a shame because there was a lot I did like about it.