Cinema
Braindead
Peter Jackson · 1992
Synopsis
Wellington, 1957. Lionel Cosgrove, a shy young man, lives under the thumb of his mother, Vera. He falls in love with Paquita, the daughter of a Spanish shopkeeper; his mother follows them to the zoo, where a Sumatran rat-monkey bites her. Vera dies and comes back as a living dead woman, and those she bites become so in turn. Lionel hides the little troop in the cellar, keeps them under tranquillisers and tries to keep up appearances, while his uncle Les comes to claim the inheritance.
Context
The screenplay is by Stephen Sinclair, Fran Walsh and the director, from an idea of Sinclair's that dates from the time of the first feature. Produced by Jim Booth for WingNut Films with the New Zealand Film Commission, the film was shot in eleven weeks in and around Wellington, in Super 16 rather than 35 mm in order to keep the money for the effects, entrusted to Bob McCarron and Richard Taylor. Released at home on 13 August 1992, it came out in France on 27 January 1993; the United States received it under the title Dead Alive, in shortened versions.
Who it is for
One hundred and four minutes in its full version. The final part goes very far into blood, in the spirit of farce.
Prizes and reception
Grand Prize at the Avoriaz festival, best film at Fantasporto in 1993 and five New Zealand Film Awards, including best film.