We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Braindead

Braindead

Film (Trailer) – 1992

R16
Restricted

After his mother gets infected by a bite from a deadly Sumatran rat monkey, Lionel (Almighty Johnson Tim Balme, in an award-winning performance) has to contend with a plague of the living dead while attempting to woo the love of his life. Peter Jackson had already been tagged with the title  ‘The Sultan of Splatter’ after his first two features, but this was the film that confirmed it. Armed with a decent budget, he takes a Flymo to fusty 1950s New Zealand and takes cinematic gore to a whole new extreme in the process.

The film is basically like a theatrical farce in many ways. Lionel ends up with a problem of having all these zombies in his house, without wanting anyone else to find out about it .. .every possible thing that could go wrong, does go wrong.
– Peter Jackson

Produced by

Logo for WingNut Films

WingNut Films

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission in association with Avalon/National Film Unit

Music

Closing credits song 'The Stars and Moon' composed by Peter Dasent and Jane Lindsay, and sung by Kate Swadling
Soundtrack released on 7 July 1997
 

Categories

If you liked this, you might also like...

Collection
Collection image for The Peter Jackson Collection

The Peter Jackson Collection

Led by revealing early 'behind the scenes' docos, this...

Collection
Collection image for Wellington

Wellington

Wellington has been New Zealand’s capital city since...

Collection
Collection image for Horror

Horror

Vampires, zombies, mutant sheep, and the Bride of...

Collection
Collection image for NZ Comedy is a Bit S**t ...But in a Good Way

NZ Comedy is a Bit S**t ...But in a Good Way

A collection exploring the mindspinning idea that Kiwi...

Thumbnail image for Meet the Feebles

Meet the Feebles

Another Peter Jackson splatter movie

Thumbnail image for Rotting Hill

Rotting Hill

More zombies

Thumbnail image for Housebound

Housebound

Another horror comedy about being trapped in a house

Thumbnail image for Sex, Drugs and Soft Toys - The Making of Meet the Feebles

Sex, Drugs and Soft Toys - The Making of Meet the Feebles

The making of Peter Jackson's previous film

Thumbnail image for Back of the Y Masterpiece Television
Series

Back of the Y Masterpiece Television

More anarchic effects and comedy

Thumbnail image for Careful with that Axe

Careful with that Axe

More misadventures with tools

Thumbnail image for Planet Man

Planet Man

Tim Balme also starred in this

Thumbnail image for Love Mussel

Love Mussel

Stephen Sinclair also wrote this

Thumbnail image for The Evening Paper

The Evening Paper

A less bloody expose of postwar NZ suburban life

Thumbnail image for Monkey Tale

Monkey Tale

Features another naughty monkey

Thumbnail image for A Friendly Career

A Friendly Career

Another 50s murder house

Thumbnail image for New Zealand Centenary of Cinema - Greg Page

New Zealand Centenary of Cinema - Greg Page

This short film pays tribute to Braindead

Thumbnail image for Bad Taste

Bad Taste

Peter Jackson's first splatter movie

Thumbnail image for Jack Brown Genius

Jack Brown Genius

Tim Balme also stars in this

Thumbnail image for The Frighteners

The Frighteners

Another Peter Jackson film

Thumbnail image for Backch@t - First Episode

Backch@t - First Episode

More of Bill Ralston, who features in the opening scene

Thumbnail image for The Ugly

The Ugly

A horror film from Scott Reynolds

Thumbnail image for Stalin's Sickle

Stalin's Sickle

A short film about Kiwi suburbia

Thumbnail image for Deathgasm

Deathgasm

More splatter comedy

Thumbnail image for Face Value - House Rules

Face Value - House Rules

Davina Whitehouse stars in this TV monologue

Thumbnail image for I Survived a Zombie Holocaust

I Survived a Zombie Holocaust

Another Kiwi zombie comedy

Thumbnail image for Oscar and Friends - Compilation

Oscar and Friends - Compilation

Also features the work of Euan Frizzell

Thumbnail image for Shark in the Park - Diversions (Series Two, Episode Four)

Shark in the Park - Diversions (Series Two, Episode Four)

Tim Balme in an early role

Thumbnail image for The Edge - Heavenly Creatures review

The Edge - Heavenly Creatures review

The Edge reviews Peter Jackson's next film

Thumbnail image for Ao-Terror-Oa - Episodes

Ao-Terror-Oa - Episodes

Includes more squishy horror moments

Thumbnail image for Larger Than Life

Larger Than Life

More horror comedy

Thumbnail image for Brains?

Brains?

Award-winning zombie tale

Thumbnail image for Lament for Barney Flanagan

Lament for Barney Flanagan

Tim Balme also features in this short film

Thumbnail image for Kiwiana - Kiwi As

Kiwiana - Kiwi As

Includes a mention of this movie

Thumbnail image for Reunion

Reunion

More horror in the house

Thumbnail image for The Underwatermelon Man and Other Unreasonable Rhymes

The Underwatermelon Man and Other Unreasonable Rhymes

Composer Peter Dasent also worked on this video album