31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"Braindead" (also known as "Dead Alive")(1992)

Early into October, I noted that "Piranha 3D" was one of the most violent films I've ever seen. Just not the most violent. That honor goes to tonight's entry.

Before filming hobbits, Peter Jackson's early work was seriously twisted. "Braindead", also known as "Dead Alive" in the United States, is his attempt at making the most extreme and over-the-top zombie film imaginable. He does this with little budget and some of the most disgusting practical effects I've ever seen. Just when you think the movie couldn't get more gross, another scene tops the one before it. Things get so drenched in goo that by the halfway point, you'll be laughing in equal measure to squirming.

Fair warning, horror fans, if you're going to give "Braindead" a spin, make sure to watch on an empty stomach.

The Plot:

We begin following an expedition on a small Sumatran island. A group of researchers is fleeing a local tribe that seems all too eager to murder them. Might it have something to do with the strange animal they've smuggled out of the village? It soon becomes clear that whatever this little creature is, the tribe does not want it freed. When one of the lead smuggler gets bitten on the arm, even his own team is quick to relief him of the appendage. Sadly, he's also taken a scratch. To the head.

A short time later, we meet our hero Lionel. He's a thirty-something dweeb living in a sleepy New Zealand town. A nice guy, but utterly whipped by his elderly mother, whom he still lives with. Lionel's mother constantly torments him, even going so far as to intrude in on his dates. One such foray at the local zoo sees her come across the path of a certain trans-located critter from Sumatra. Getting too close to its cage, Lionel's mother is bitten by this creature, a "Rat Monkey", and responds by indignantly driving her high-heeled shoe through its skull.

Though the little creature is dead, its bite leaves a bit of an impression on the woman. Lionel's mother begins a rapid descent into zombification, craving flesh and losing body parts at an alarming rate. Ever the devoted son, Lionel does all he can to incapacitate and restrain his monstrous mother, even shooting her full of tranquilizer to calm her aggression. Despite his efforts, the infection spreads, resulting in even more zombies for Lionel to pacify. 

Or attempt to, at least.

With the zombie-plague spreading and body-count going up, can Lionel finally summon the nerve to stand up to his mother, now literally a monster, and save the town from a zombie apocalypse? It'll take courage, determination, and a chest-mounted lawnmower. Plus about a life-time supply of moist-wipes and hand sanitizer.

The Flavor:

Grim as the above may appear, "Braindead" is really more of a horror comedy than it is straight zombie film. Yes, the death scenes  feature some of the most disgusting demises I've ever seen put on film. In fact, the sheer number of inventive ways the zombies manage to tear victims apart is astounding. Though made on a small budget, the scale of carnage that ensues in "Braindead" makes you realize that more than half the film's finances must have gone towards special effects.

And yet, grisly as proceeding are, the film is utterly hysterical. The gore is so ludicrously over the top, so completely cartoony, that you can't help but crack up after every skull rip and skin tear. You may raise a skeptical eyebrow, but I assure you, for all its depravity, "Braindead" is a rip-roaring good time that never takes itself too seriously. Even the camera angles feature comical zooms and close-ups.

Throughout all the gore, we're treated to a kung-fu priest who fights the undead with karate, zombie-intestines taking on a life of their own, and even a zombie baby. And no, I'm not talking about a baby that was bitten. Two zombies actually hook up and reproduce, resulting in the nasty little baby zombie puppet who's first trip to the playground is played for slap-sticky laughs. That there's basically a zombie Muppet in this movie should give you ample indication that nothing's is meant to be taken seriously. This is Peter Jackson and his crew reveling in the blood-soaked fun and going for the most extreme horror movie they can .

Lionel's a great hero for playing both bumbling momma's boy and eventual badass. His initial attempts to contain the zombies are laughable in their mundane but well-intentioned approached . He simply sits the zombies down at the table (they're duct-taped to the chairs) and feeds them tranquilizer-infused eggs to calm them. One zombie who had the misfortune of having her head yanked backwards gets to have the eggs directly spooned down her open esophagus. That's how committed a son Lionel is.

Once the zombies start to threaten his girlfriend, however, Lionel's had enough. Strapping a lawnmower to his chest, he pronounces "Party's over" and begins mowing down the undead in a display so brutal you could fill an aquarium with the amount of fake blood spilled. It's sheer spectacle in how much corn syrup was used for this scene alone, and it's the perfect tone-setter for the film.

Best Paired with:

I recommend watching "Braindead" with some good friends, especially if they're horror fans. If so, they'll be laughing and shouting at all the splatter and splendor throughout. Gore-hounds will be particularly pleased at the use of prosthetics and practical makeup effects employed in some of the most creative and stomach-turning manners imaginable.

For casual viewers: stay away. "Braindead" is funny as hell, but likely too gory to able handled by those without strong stomachs. Little kids and the squeamish will be utterly traumatized at some of the death scenes in the movie.

However, if you're able to stomach the proceedings, I really recommend you check this film out. You really can't help but commend Peter Jackson and his crew on the level of craziness they take things to. That "Braindead" is simultaneously the most gory film I've ever seen, yet it's so zany that not a moment of it disturbs me, is puzzling. I guess it all goes to show how much tone can really make the film. "Braindead" most certainly sets out to disgust you, but it also wants you to laugh at all the craziness. Much in the same way little kids find gross things amusing, so too will "Braindead" make you crack up at the squishy and bizarre. For all the viscera, it's quite glee-full.

Accompanying Brew:

As Peter Jackson and co. set out to make the most extreme horror comedy they could, I feel tonight's brew should involve an absolute explosion of Fall flavor. Intense and perhaps decadent, such a beer must be as unapologetic as "Braindead".

Southern Tier's Pumpking Ale is perhaps the most popular Imperial pumpkin ale I've seen on store shelves. Though not all liquor stores carry wine bottle-sized craft brews, I see Pumpking sold at most during the Fall. Even in those which normally carry only typical mainstream brews.

I attribute its popularity to the following: it's sweet. Really, really sweet. Like slice of pumpkin pie in a glass sweet. Pumpking doesn't go for subtle flavors or nuance. Rather, it fires an array of spices out of a cannon and into your mouth. If you're a fan of Fall brews, Pumpking is like a concentrated blast of pure seasonal essence at your taste buds.

Now personally, I find the sweetness too strong. There's almost a candy-like flavor to the brew, so strong is the sugar and spice. However, personal tastes vary, and not everyone enjoys a beer as bitter and/or dark as I. For fans of sweeter, less bitter brews, especially those packed with pumpkin and spice flavor, Pumpkin delivers an incredibly intense taste. The sweet flavor comes in part  from the higher alcohol, so bear that in mind as you drink. As an Imperial brew, Pumpking (8.6% abv!) can most certainly knock you out if you underestimate it.  

For the unabashed confidence in taking things to the flavor-extreme, both "Braindead" and Southern Tier Pumpking make for a great pairing. You'll find no quiet moments here. Only bold and wild selections that seek to blast the senses. An intense viewing paired with an intense ale.