Brain Damage

“The movie that will blow your mind!”

This cult creature film gives the horrors of addiction a bit of spin to create a campy, gory, schlocky movie. Brain Damage is a perfect title for the film as you will not be required to think much while watching. However, that allows you, the audience, to sit back and enjoy being entertained by the screen.

Brain Damage stars Rick Hearst as Brian who discovers that he is now host to a parasitic, slug-like creature. This creature, called Elmer (spelled A-Y-L-M-E-R by his former host, but E-L-M-E-R in the credits and everywhere else), can produce a mind-altering drug which he injects into Brian to get him addicted. Elmer uses the threat of no more “juice” to control Brian and have him help Elmer. Elmer is hungry, and his food is human brains.

First thing I have to talk about in Brain Damage is Elmer. This creature is unique and memorable. If not for its design, then for its voice. The uncredited actor that portrays Elmer is John Zacherle, legendary late-night horror movie host known as “Zacherley the Cool Ghoul”. Zacherle’s deep voice and trademark laugh stood out immediately and contrasted the grotesque design of the creature. 

Elmer is the living embodiment of addiction. Zacherle’s natural charm exudes through his voice makes Elmer seem harmless against his dangerous appearance. After Elmer has gotten Brian hooked on his drug, Elmer turns on the charisma to get Brian to trust him. Through a stinger in its mouth, Elmer keeps giving Brian doses of the drug. Injecting it into the back of Brian’s neck and his brain. The initial injection is done without Brian knowing it, but he will do whatever Elmer wants to keep the drug flowing.

[SPOILERS] There is a great scene about halfway through the film where Brian decides to make a stand against Elmer and quit the drug cold turkey. Elmer spends the time taunting Brian as Brian experiences extreme withdrawal symptoms. Elmer will only give him more of the drug when Brian begs him too. It contains one of the film’s goriest scenes, but the casual taunting of Elmer makes the suffering Brian is going through all the more heart-wrenching. [END OF SPOILERS]

Rick Hearst (Crossing the Line, Carpool Guy) plays the main character, Brian. His portrayal of Brian is particularly good when Brian is suffering in a withdrawal scene, but he also does a pretty decent job all around and is one for the stronger actors in the film. The other good performance is by Theo Barnes (Big Thumbs) who plays Morris, Elmer’s former host. The desperation he displays in trying to get Elmer back is excellent. One of the weaker performances is Brian’s girlfriend, Barbara (Jennifer Lowry). Her exasperation at Brian throughout the film is a bit hammed up and very unnatural. She stands out in the scenes that she is in, but not in a good way.

The special effects in Brain Damage are low budget, fun, and creative. When Brian is tripping, the effects range from film filters to world-altering. [SPOILERS] During his first trip, Brian sees things like water rising in his apartment and an overhead light fixture turn into an eye. When he is drugged later, it is mostly colors, lights, and film filters. One scene where he hallucinates while not on the drug has meatballs on his plate turn into brains. {END OF SPOILERS] This range of quality says to me that the budget only allowed for so much when it came to the effects. 

However, getting back to Elmer, his design is creative and unique. The puppetry was decent (sans some animated segments in the film) and the scenes where he would inject Brian with the drug made me cringe in discomfort a bit. I loved how when talking to Brian, Elmer had a “cute” quality designed into his eyes and face, but when he was injecting the drug, his whole face opens into a mouth full of teeth with a stinger slowly sliding out. Similar to an Angler fish, Elmer was designed to be a lure and hide his true nature.

When you talk about a creature that eats brains, you have to touch on the gore quality. Well, Brain Damage has its fair share. You will see scenes of Elmer digging his way into the skulls of his next meal, ears being ripped off, brains and blood splattering around the room, brains being punctured by stingers, and more. These scenes of blood and guts are classic 80’s fare and will keep you peeking from between your fingers as you want to cover your eyes, but still look at the carnage unfold.

Brain Damage had some of these scenes of bloodshed cut to get a theatrical release. I am happy to say that they have been added back in for the more modern home releases of the film. The most complete release of the film has to be the Arrow video release. Not only does it have the uncut version of the film in high-definition, but it also has a collection of special features that include a director commentary by Frank Henenlotter (Basket Case, Frankenhooker), a making-of Brain Damage featurette, a look into the effects of the film, and so much more. Not only that, but it has a dual-format release so you get the DVD and Blu-ray. This is how films should be released.

Brain Damage will not be for everyone. This cult film will attract horror fans who like a little bit of laughter with their blood and guts. You could get a laugh at the effects, you could laugh at the small surprise cameo from another horror film of that era, you may even laugh at the bad acting, but you will be engaged by the film never-the-less. If gore is not your forte, then Brain Damage will not be for you. If you are looking for high quality, look elsewhere. But, for a good/bad Friday night film with friends, Brain Damage may fit the bill. So pop it into your player, keep an eye on the back of your neck, relax on your couch, and save me some popcorn!

Rating:

Jack Savage:

Before he passed away in 2016 (at 98 years old), I was able to meet Zacherley at the Chiller Theatre horror convention and he was as charming in real life as his character was displayed in Brain Damage. It was a treat to hear him voice the character and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie for what it was.

   

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