Brain Damage

1988 horror comedy

Rating: 12/20

Plot: A guy's life is ruined by a creature that grows out of him, offering him euphoric feelings in exchange for human blood.

"He needs the brains, but I need his juice."

This fun little horror-comedy from the damaged brain of the guy responsible for Frank Henenlotter doubles as a too-obvious metaphor for drug addiction. The too-obvious part is probably part of the gag.

Lots works here. The effects for this little creature work, and a lot of the humor does too. That little guy's first appearance--a surprise appearance in a mirror with a goofy "Hi!"--makes me smile just thinking about it. That's after an endless scene where the protagonist bleeds, sees an eye, and has his bedroom flooded. A scene with some meatballs and one where our beleaguered hero enjoys the colors at a junkyard are also fun. There are two music moments worth noting--a live performance by the Swimming Pool Cues in a club and "Alymer's Tune," a lovely little number sung by Alymer from a sink.

The weirdness definitely isn't paced very well. Some sequences go on and on, and there are some odd scenes that just don't seem to fit all that well. That's right, naked muscle guy in the shower--I'm looking at you. And yeah, I realize how what I just typed can be taken out of context. The acting is not very good. Rick Hearst gives a Bruce Campbell-esque performance as the lead. Theo Barnes is really terrible, bringing all these wacky histrionics. Barnes also gets a great death scene, histrionically wacky.

There is a Basket Case allusion here. It's fun.