Time for something different...very different. 'Brain Damage' is directed by Frank Hennenlotter who brings to the horror genre 'unique' movies to say the least. I wanted to review one of his films to show off something more fun and this was the least offensive one I could think of. Don't let that fool you however, 'Brain Damage' is not for the casual horror fan. This movie is bizarre, gory, and full of slimy creepy goodness. It stars a young man, who discovers his elderly neighbors have been keeping a blue alien slug in their apartment. The creature known as 'Elmer' has recently escaped and hopes to recruit the young man into his scheme: injecting him with a alien drug in his brain in exchange for giving him live victims in which to feast on their cerebral matter.
The star of the show here is the special effects, as cheesy and cheap as they may be they are the highlight. Elmer is a funny little puppet that talks with a calm and sophisticated accent, which made me burst out laughing the first time I heard him speak. He's played by an old Midnight Host named Zackerly who was a funny guy in his time. The rest of the cast is really bland unfortunately, with the main character of Brian being very stiff and emotionless. Even scenes where he's experiencing a bad trip it feels like 'acting' rather than authentic character emotion.
While I will refrain from showing any of the gorier scenes in the film, there are some wonderful highlights, including a previously deleted scene involving a hooker that has to be seen to be believed. The film is one of the last to feature that true 'grindhouse' vibe, the dirty feeling you get just popping the film into your video player. It's all sleazy 80's goodness and I love it, but with that being said I hope you take my warning seriously and not going in expecting some of these other films I have featured on here. 'Brain Damage' is full of fun for the hardcore, but little to offer for anyone new or casual. Approach with caution, or you may suffer from permanent 'Brain Damage'.
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