Sanglante paranoïa

I didn't expect much from this movie, but it turned out to be decent thriller given its low budget and its cast - Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton, arguably the two dullest actors in Hollywood! Bill Pullman is Dr. Rex Martin, a brain scientist who has developed a technology to manipulate a person's thoughts and therefore their reality. He is recruited by a sleazy corporate administrator, Jim Reston (Bill Paxton), to use this technology on a former corporate genius, Dr, Hasley, turned paranoid psycho killer, to pry some valuable corporate information from his memory. Martin then suffers an accident, and then descends into a world of madness and paranoia, where objective reality is turned upside down. In true twilight zone fashion, it appears that Dr. Martin's technology is now being experimented on him. Pullman plays the part of the eccentric Martin well, and Paxton does a reasonable job as the ambitious, yet, sleazy, corporate type. I found the ending, at least my interpretation of it, somewhat conventional and a little disappointing. This movie has some genuine scenes of suspense without needing to resort to lavish special effects. There is also a gratuitous nude scene involving Martin's Wife, Praticia Charbonneau, which, of course, is always a bonus. Again I didn't expect much from this movie, and I was pleasantly surprised. For those who enjoy movies that involve the theme that objective reality is, or can be made to be, an illusion, this movie is worth seeing as a pre cyber version of this theme; the cyber version of course being the Matrix, The 13th Floor and Existenze.

Dr. Rex Martin (Bill Pullman) is a leading neurosurgeon specializing in the cerebral malfunctions that cause mental illnesses, whose expertise is called up by an old school chum, Jim Reston (Bill Paxton), who is now part of the mega-corporation Eunice.

If you happen to be one of those people who cannot tell Pullman and Paxton apart, this might not be the film for you... they spend a fair amount of time on screen together. If you happen to be a fan of H. P. Lovecraft, this might be the film for you. While the writer is known for his work with "The Twilight Zone", there are at least two Lovecraft references in this story. Can you catch them?

I was already intrigued from the beginning with the wall of brains in jars and the face that could be remote-controlled. But I was in hook, line and sinker when Jack Halsey (Bud Cort) showed up -- he is the epitome of insane genius. The phrases, the mannerisms... even his appearance. Thank you, casting director. You aced a hole in one. The homeless guy is a nice touch, too.

Bonus: Kyle Gass of Tenacious D appears as an anesthesiologist.

Brain Dead is a very hard movie to describe because of its constant twists and turns. This movie truly turns you in circles and can be very confusing upon first viewing. Still, this is a really good film with good acting from Pill Pullman and Bill Paxton. The whole concept of the film is based on whether this is a dream or reality and the rest is left to the viewer. The ending is rather sudden but very appropriate and dramatic. This is definitely the type of film you sit through the credits at the end in bewilderment. Truly a surprise, especially considering the fact that this is a Concord produced film and most of their movies are mediocre at best. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is into the David Lynch style of film-making. This is definitely a true mind-bender. 9/10 stars

The first act is a little slow, and once the plot does pick up it quickly becomes so deliberately scattered that the disparity is glaring. Even at that, we can readily make guesses as to where the plot is going - yet it's to the credit of screenwriter Charles Beaumont, and in turn filmmaker Adam Simon, that where exactly it will all end up remains shrouded in mystery. Why, I rather wonder if Beaumont hadn't fashioned his screenplay so that even he didn't know what the ending was going to be until he found it; alternatively, multiple endings could have been written. That is the tenor of psychological thrillers generally, yes, but this one seems particularly adept at shifting between broken realities and making one seem just as plausible as the next. This makes it all the more surprising, perhaps, that it was accordingly originally written for Roger Corman in the 60s, only to be rediscovered and updated; one can easily imagine how this might have looked if it had been produced 20-30 years earlier.

There's nothing specifically revelatory about 'Brain dead,' yet I'm pleased with just how good it is. It has no illusions about being something it's not; it's evident the budget was comparatively modest, and production values hover somewhere in the unremarkable middle ground. Yet the sets and filming locations are swell nonetheless, plus those stunts, effects, and props that are employed. There are some noteworthy names appearing here, given to some measure of recognition even in 1990, and in the very least Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman were no small get. Pullman is a solid lead, for that matter, ably navigating the spaces between all that is required of him at various points. Meanwhile, strong scene writing is extra important when the material deals with fractured perspectives, and the screenplay serves up a rich cornucopia of ideas while fashioning a compelling, satisfying narrative. I'm not saying that the title doesn't still leave a bit to be desired, especially as some themes and ideas rise and recede in accordance with the hops of the story, but overall the result is admirable.

Some spicier flavors of science fiction and horror likewise come and go throughout as this mystery thriller advances, though by and large the tone is such that, again, we can handily envisage it in Roger Corman's hands twenty or so years before. One way or another, the feature ably keeps us watching for the ultimate reveal, and the ride along the way is a fun one. Simon's direction is splendid in shaping the whole, and I think editor Carol Oblath deserves distinct credit for helping to shape the jumble into its final form. At length there's nothing so singular and grabbing about this as to demand viewership, but if one happens to come across it it's a good time, and worth checking out. It's neither as striking or as complex as some similar pictures, but 'Brain dead' stands quite sturdily on its own feet, and if you do have the opportunity to watch then I think it's worth checking out.

The great Taoist master Chuang Tzu once dreamt that he was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream he had no awareness of his individuality as a person. He was only a butterfly. Suddenly, he awoke and found himself laying there, a person once again. But then he thought to himself, "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?"

This quote is being used in the film and clearly illustrates the basis of the brilliant screenplay. The claustrophobia of not knowing reality from imagined reality is very real in this film. Earlier acts by Bill Pullman, and Bill Paxton make for a real viewing pleasure. But the real star of the film is Bud Cort (Harold, from the film Harold and Maude). Set designs and lighting make for a fine surreal experience. This movie is a great one with a fine story, fine actors, fine cinematography, special-fx and direction. The music sounds like synths left over from the 80's. But that adds to the B-effect of the film. Highly recommended.