This is the most violent movie I have ever seen. The violence is so over blown that it is comedic. It is analogous to Evil Dead II in that it is bloody, funny, and definitely gross. This movie is destined to be a cult classic. Some lines such as "I kick butt for the lord" are going to be remembered as long as lines from Taxi Driver ("You looking at me!") and Midnight Cowboy ("Can't you see I'm walking here."). Well maybe not, but there is great dialogue.
The only problem with it is the low budget nature of the movie -- the clay animation of the evil monkey is horrendous (ranks up there with the terminator in Nemesis). Once the movie gets to Lionel and his mom, then the movie starts to roll.
A cursed monkey is imported from Skull Island and whatever it bites is turned into a flesh-eating zombie. Lionel's mom is bit by this creature and then stomps the creature to death. Mumsy is an overbearing mother. The subplot involves Lionel and the women he loves. Lionel is an obsequious wimp. There is friction between Lionel's zombie mom and Lionel about his girlfriend and the fact that Mum is eating the town and turning everyone into zombies. However, Lionel cannot stand against his mother. Now that she is a zombie, he has to kill her. This is a bit more difficult than disagreeing with mom.
Beware of the shorter version. Do not get the 85-minute R-rated purged piece. The unrated version is 97 minutes and can be found under the name Braindead. The movie is exceedingly violent, though not in the misogynist tone of braindead-slasher flicks such as I spit on your grave or any Jason films that are unbearable to watch. It is an inventive and an outrageous comedic horror. You will never see lawnmowers the same again.
Dead Alive (1992)
Lionel: Timothy Balme
Paquita Maria Sanchez: Diana Penalver
Mum: Elizabeth Mooly
