Reviews (14)

A Head Game from Hell
1988's BRAIN DAMAGE is the second film from low-budget Grand Guignol writer/director Frank Henenlotter, his first being the grisly over-the-top cult favorite BASKET CASE (1982), and both films established him as the master auteur of bad-taste horror cinema in the 1980s. But despite of the excessive gore and crude sexual elements, Henenlotter's films are a cut above the average trash pics because his well-written scripts are weaved around a daedal subtext that offers wry comments and observations on certain elements or aspects of modern society. With the visceral horror comedy BRAIN DAMAGE, Henenlotter is satirizing the Western propensity for addiction.

BRAIN DAMAGE relates the "mind-blowing" tale of the Faustian bargain made between a young man named Brian and an enigmatic, snake-like parasite named Aylmer (pronounced like the name ELMER). Aylmer dispenses an addictive pleasure-inducing drug directly into Brian's brain, but as payment for each "fix," Brian must transport Aylmer around the city so the parasitic pusher can obtain his favorite food--human brains. Though Brian is generally a nice young man who wouldn't hurt a flea, he finds it impossible to resist the demands of the deceptively cute parasite because of his need and desire for the psychedelic "juice," and he ultimately becomes Aylmer's accomplice in murder.

With a meager budget of circa $600,000, Henenlotter and crew have nonetheless succeeded in crafting BRAIN DAMAGE as a polished, professional-looking film. Yes, the violence is graphic, sophomorically comic, and often over the top, and yes, the film has a crude, puerile sexual element (snake-like Aylmer is obviously a phallic symbol). But these elements actually enhance the film's earnest anti-addiction subtext, as they vociferously underscore the negative effect that addiction has on an addict's personality, his personal life, and the lives of others with whom he has contact.

The acting in the film is rather a mixed bag. As Brian, future soap-opera regular Rick Hearst--then billed under his birth surname of Herbst--does a great job of portraying a boy-next-door type whose life is spiraling out of control due to his addiction. And in an uncredited role, actor John Zacherle--better known to some horror fans as Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul host of New York TV's SHOCK! THEATER--does an outstanding job voicing the smarmy Aylmer. Gordon MacDonald plays Brain's brother, Mike, and Jennifer Lowry his girlfriend, Barbara, and both do an adequate job. Most of the other performances are a bit wooden, but they don't detract too much from the film's overall production quality.

Being a Juvenalian satire of sorts, the often biting humor in BRAIN DAMAGE is dark, off-color & often bawdy, and outrageously offbeat. Much of little Aylmer's dialogue is sarcastically witty, and in one eerie but funny scene, Brian lies writhing on the floor hurting for a "fix" while Elmer sits by and jovially belts out the Glenn Miller standard "Elmer's Tune." Also, in a hilarious homage to Henenlotter's previous film, BASKET CASE, the star of that film, Kevin VanHentenryck, gets on the subway with a familiar wicker basket in hand and takes the seat opposite Brian.

The Special Edition "Limited Availability" DVD from Synapse presents a high-definition transfer of BRAIN DAMAGE in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the transfer appears vibrant, clean, and relatively free of digital artifacts. This is the unrated restored version, so all of the gore and innuendo that was cut for the U.S. theatrical release has been put back where it belongs. There are also some cool extras, including a very witty feature commentary featuring writer/director Henenlotter, former FANGORIA editor Robert Martin, and filmmaker Scooter McCrae (who has worked with Henenlotter). Also included is the theatrical trailer (in 1.85:1 aspect ratio), a "hidden" trailer for BASKET CASE, and an isolated-musical-score audio option.

To sum up, BRAIN DAMAGE is a movie with a somber subtext, but writer/director Frank Henenlotter doesn't let that get in the way of all the cheesy fun. Sure, the anti-addiction allegory can't be missed, but Henenlotter also knows that the monkey on his antihero's back is an ideal springboard for lots of offbeat and bawdy gallows humor, and he milks it for all it's worth. Admittedly, BRAIN DAMAGE will not appeal to every viewer's tastes, but those seeking a Family Film or a Chick Flick probably shouldn't be perusing the listings for the horror DVDs anyway.

Brain Damage (1987) d: Henenlotter, Frank
Frank Henenlotter's second low-budget feature about a boy and his pet monster, is an anti drug horror comedy that is almost as good as his first film Basket Case (1981) [Watch for the Basket Case related in joke when actor Kevin VanHentenryck appears in a subway scene]. The non-human star, is a worm-like critter named Aylmer. The slimy penis shaped parasite comes in the possession of young Brian [Rick Herbst], and begins to gain control of him. The singing, and joke telling Aylmer sinks hooks into Brian's neck, secreting a strange blue liquid that gives his brain a jolt of psychedelic goodies, 'color, music and euphoria'. In exchange for injecting this marvelous hallucinogen into Brian's brain, the Aylmer incites its host to find it victims, from whom it sucks brains. Aylmer argues that it's all right to kill people, as long as Brian isn't directly involved. Kicking his wisecracking pain in the neck, is the only way for Brian to survive. When originally released, the film slipped onto video shelves virtually unnoticed. Thankfully Synapse Films have re-released this cult classic on DVD, and have restored this print to include the much talked about ...................... that Paramount didn't have the guts to include. The strong sexual footage is played up, mostly for laughs. Very funny 42nd street humor is contained on the commentary track. Review by: Fringe Video.

Poor Elmer, He Shouldn't Have Died, But Still, This Is Great
Brain Damage Was Excellently Funny & Gruesome. One Of The Funniest Movie I Ever Seen. Sadly, Elmer Bit The Dust At The End, He Was Great.

One of the best movies ever
Brain damage noe of the most excellent movies i have ever seen. It has the best story and the most interesting characters ive seen in a while. The gore and special effects are a masterpiece. I highly recomend this movie to anyone who likes cult classics. If i had to compare it i would say its kind of like a troma movie but not funny. Everyone needs to see this movie. the first scene will send chills down your backside.

DownRok
Yeah, I saw this picture during the Dane Tour 2000. Its about some freakish little alien that looks like a cartoon.The alien is named Elmo and he feeds on brains or something. People let the little parasite feed on them because elmo gives them an addictive hallucinogen. In the end the main character gets over sauced with the crazy drug and starts firing Corona Beams out of his head.(see cover) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

sick pleasure
This is actually a good movie, granted the 1st was a classic, this one is much more gory, demented fun. Don't expect an awesome movie just enjoy it for it's sick pleasure. The freaks, the plot, the gore even belial himself are better than the original. You don't have to, but try to see pt. 1 1st.. sit back, be disgusted and have fun with this one beotch...

They're back.
Belial returns & this time he ain't alone. Duane Bradley & deformed brother are taken in by a family of "Special Individuals" as Granny Ruth calls 'em.
Problems arise when a tabloid reporter and her sleazy (friend) photographer endanger their home.
The sex scene with Belial & Wife is disgusting, yes.
Get it only if you like low budget, frothy fun/horror films.

Simulated Mutant Sex. Nuff said...
The only reason to see this movie is to check out the two "heads" having sex. Which means the movie is really not worth seeing...

very strange
this movie is ok. it is very strange and not at all scary. it is all about a deformed guy who goes crazy. buy it if you are up for a cheap thrill. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Frank Hennenlotter is my hero
All three Basket Case films are good, but I think this may be a person favorite. It is not a serious film by any means but it has a lot of humor and a lot of heart. The timing and delivery of some of Kevin Van Hentenryck's lines are brilliant. It is a very stream of consciousness film in which several scenes seem improvised almost. This is not a film for someone who only likes thrillers or really frightening horror films, this if for a horror movie fan who also likes goofy spoofy horror films like Evil Dead 2 and Return of the Living Dead. This is a very typical Frank Hennenlotter film. If you liked Frankenhooker you'll love this. Do not prejudice against this film because a few people didn't like it. It is a very specific type of film for a very specific audience, and just because some people do not see the brilliance of it does not mean the brilliance isn't there. Judge for yourself. You just need to watch it with an open mind. I highly recommend this film.

BETTER THA N 2
THE ORIGINAL BASKETCASE IS A HIT HORROR/COMEDY WHITH ENOUGH LAUGHS KILLS CHILLS THE SEQUEL BASKETCASE 2 IS RUBISH BORING HAD AN OK ENDING.THIS ONE IS UP THERE WITH THE ORIGINAL THIS ONE TAKES COMEDY AND HORROR TO THE EXTREME.BELIHLE HAS NOW HAD KIDS THEY GET STOLE IL LEAVE IT THER.
IF YOU LIKED THE FIRST TWO BUY
IF LIKED THE FIRST BUT NOT THE SECOND BUY

this film rocks!
i loved this film! it was nice to see the minor characters from the second movie expanded with tighter writing, making them hideious but lovable. belial looks as good as ever and the bus scene was the best!!! all in all, a great film with a fitting conclusion

Enough Is Enough!
This film shouldn't be taken that seriously, it's awful & dumb. Some of the reviewers seem really [upset]! I don't blame them.
The original "Basket Case" movie was a well made chiller. Part 3 scrapes the bottom of the barrel. It picks up where part 2 ended... almost the same ugly faces star in this one too.
Avoid watching this while you're eating. A Low budget, uninteresting little film.
What else can one say...

BASKET CAKE 3-bad picture
this is by far one of the first most terrible feature I ever done saw.There is a guy with wierde teeth. The guys in the look like not people ,but momsters instead with very stupid teeth.I done saw the picture at the TV and it doesnt make the sense.the guys in there are supposed to be disfigured guys, but look like monsters and not real guys or guys who are real but just freaks. (i know a guy with 3 legs.) There is a guy with all these arms and he looks like Humplik. Its nuts. No you don't get it, they look like these things, not deformed people. Its nuts. You guys are nuts. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

this is the 3rd most classic camp film to date!!!!
#1 rocky horror picture show #2 attack of the killer tomatoes Finally we come to one of the funniest horror(whore?) movies of all time. the acting is terrible!, but you must appreciate it for the low, low budget they had. from the begining, the main character is poking at a brain with a big eyeball in it, and his girlfriend just goes along with everyday life. it wonderful. all the action starts when she gets run over by the lawnmower that her boyfriend made for her father as a birthday present. the boyfriend decides to "collect" hookers with the right body parts to form a new girlfriend. he invents a "super-crack" to kill them,

----one of the greatest plot elements in any movie i have ever seen---EVER!!

One of The Classic Horror Comedies
This is a must have for all horror/comedy b movieish fans out there.

Frankenhooker tells the story of Jeffrey Franken, whose wife get killed in a terrible accident. He can't live without her so tries to put her back together again using the body parts of various hookers. It's one of the funniest I have ever seen.

The DVD isn't pretty though. The picture is kind of blurred and never looks better than a rented videotape. The extra features are nothing to brag about either. Terrible Movie Factiods, and a biography/filmography of one actress, not even the star of the movie! The menus are the worst I have ever had to navigate through, very difficult to figure out.

Overall, the movie is a classic. The DVD's features are terrible, but get past that and you have a good movie though. I've rated this movie 5...in the movie's case. 1 if I had to rate the DVD alone.

Take it from Bill Murray...
The copy I rented had a quote on the back credited to Bill Murray that read: "If you see one movie this year, see Frankenhooker." It turns out that the statement was most likely made with only mild sarcasm. Frankenhooker is damned funny. I thought it might be cute, but I had no idea it would be this good. This is what good, low-budget schlock is all about. It's smart, it's funny, and most of all, it's FUN.

I almost gave it 5 stars but I try to be extremely selective with that rating. If your like me and have thought about checking out Frankenhooker before but then thought again, think thrice and rent the damn thing. You might decide you want to own it.

A Roomful of Naked Exploding Hookers!!!!
What a classic piece of cheese. The premise is that a guy invents a robotic lawnmower that runs amok and cuisenarts his virgin girl friend. He decides to rebuild her, but driven by lust, he realizes like the Million Dollar Man he can build her better. He invents a powder that causes the user to explode so he can easily harvest the body parts (since he isn't a surgeon or anything) and what better source of hotter body parts than the local street corner, hence the roomful of naked exploding hookers! Once rebuilt, all of the cellular memories of the hookers bits and pieces take over the virginal girlfriends head and she sets out to look for "A Date!"

So cheesy. So twisted! So very off the wall and unique. I have never watched this movie in daylight. It comes out when my friends are over and the beer and pizza needs a cheese chaser.

full screen?
I love this movie and have been waiting a long time for it to come to DVD. Now it's available and it's only in full-screen. WHY? Was it shot that way? I don't know, but that would be the only acceptible excuse.
This film is over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek sci-fi horror comedy at it's very best. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's a sick little movie for you--a creepy-funny shocker that's become a semi-cult classic since its release in 1982. It's a cheesy, low-budget horror flick about a small-town geek who arrives in New York City's Times Square carrying his mutant, telepathic twin brother in a big basket (hence the movie's title, get it?). They were once Siamese twins, and now they're seeking gory revenge against the doctors who surgically separated them against their will! Talk about brotherly love! The "normal" sibling has to keep his brother well- fed, and the basket-dweller's appetite runs the gamut from hamburgers to hookers. There's plenty of lowlife "meat" to be found in the seedy motel where the brothers live. Not exactly mainstream fare, as you might already have guessed, but director Frank Henenlotter handles the gruesomeness with resourceful ingenuity. The movie even gathered enough horror-buff momentum to spawn two lesser sequels in 1990 and 1992, which is all the proof you need to add this dubious trilogy to the gross-out hall of fame. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A Chilling But Twisted Classic...
BASKET CASE is one of those movies that you tend to remember even if you've only seen it once. The chills are there; the scares are just right; the blood and gore nearly match each other. Plus, you've got pretty decent actors in the movie, some providing humor and some providing some reality. Casey is my favorite...she's beautiful, busty...and she's got a heart (even though she's a hooker!). But the real show belongs to that little deformed guy in the basket...Belial!

This movie follows the trials and travels of Duane Bradley and his siamese twin deformed and menacing brother Belial. They were once joined at the side...but some doctors separated them, and now years later, they want some payback...cold-blooded revenge in the least sense! Belial is every bit as angry at these doctors as Duane, but when Duane falls in love with a coy and busty receptionist (Terri Susan Smith), things between the brothers get very tense...leading up to a climactic finale!

BASKET CASE spawned two sequels, which in and of itself is a feat that many horror movies have mastered...but some have not. Although the sequels were not as good, BASKET CASE remains a classic in a pure sense. Every bit as scary and every bit as attention-grabbing as the little monster on the keep case!

...very small, very twisted, and very mad...
The ads for this cult classic proudly displayed Rex Reed's quote ("The sickest movie I've ever seen"). It's a horror-comedy about Duane Bradley (Kevin VanHentenryck), a soft-spoken, mild-mannered young man who takes his little brother Belial to New York City. What's sick about that? Well, Belial is Duane's deformed, telepathically bonded Siamese twin, who lives in a wicker basket and looks like a snaggle-toothed hamburger patty. The brothers hole up in a dingy hotel (Hotel Broslin!) and track down the three doctors who surgically separated them. Laughable stop-motion animation, explicit gore, and an extremely bad-taste sex scene push this $35,000 first feature by Frank Henenlotter off limits to all but the most decadent viewers, which means people like me and YOU, if you've read this far. Vile fun if you're in the right mood and company; this isn't the kind of movie you take home to meet your mom. Followed by two progressively cretinous sequels, also by Henenlotter. Stick with this movie, "Brain Damage," and "Frankenhooker."

Basket Case
Basket Case is a truly original movie.It is not your standard horror flick.That is why I like it even more; originality is always a plus.The plot is really interesting; Frank Henenlotter did a good job.The dialogue is standard horror dialogue; which you expect.The acting is absolutely horrendous.I didn't really get into the movie until it was the first 20 or so minutes in.The killer is different and sometimes fun to laugh at.The gore is really good in this film.This film is like a horror/comedy movie.If your a horror fan you will get a kick out of this one.I can't really come to give it higher than a six; though.If your a horror fan then you should check it out; if not just wait till it comes on T.V.

In the quiet town of Glens Falls, a very nervous Dr. Lifflander is suddenly attacked by....well... something.Something very small, misshapen, and very mad.Something with a swollen claw-like hand which rips the good doctor's face off.Basket Case is about a young man who was born with a Siamese twin attached to his side.At an early age, the monstrous twin was surgically removed, but lived to deeply resent his cut-off day.His normal looking brother goes to New York, carrying a large basket is the hideous twin.Neither brother can rest until they avenge their surgical separation by killing the doctors responsible.

"Quirky horror on no budget."
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ken Hanke

Cheese classic
"Basket Case" is yet another early '80's schlock classic that serious horror film fans must watch. I fondly remember lounging on the couch at 3:00 AM during summer vacation, washing down a pepperoni pizza with a six-pack of pop while viewing this dreck. Ahhh, those were the days! As I got older and presumably began taking part in the "adult" world, my memories of these classic yuckfests faded. Fortunately, DVD arrived on the scene a few years ago and resurrected many of these old, pleasant memories. If you're not familiar with the wondrous magic of "Basket Case," think "C.H.U.D.," but cheaper. If you don't know what "C.H.U.D." is, I probably can't help you but I'll try. Think New York City in its grimiest incarnation, a city swarming with women of the night, grindhouse theaters, and slum tenements aplenty. It is against this backdrop that "Basket Case" unfolds. The movie is a warm, heartfelt film about twins who decide to go to the big city so they can relive fond memories of the past with the surgeons who separated them. I'm pretty sure I missed the Academy Awards that year, so I can't remember if this film won the best picture Oscar, but it probably should have. Who doesn't like a film about twins?

Directed by low budget hero Frank Henenlotter, "Basket Case" relates the complicated tale of Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck). When we first meet up with Duane, he's acquiring lodgings at one of New York City's finer hotels-alright, it's really some rat hole where the dregs of humanity hang out when they aren't collecting unemployment or waiting for the liquor store to open. Duane wants a room so he can be closer to the three doctors who performed a special operation on him some years before. Despite the fact that the kid's got a huge wad of money and a wicker basket he totes around with him wherever he goes, the room he rents is barely big enough to lie down in. Soon after arriving at the Waldorf Astoria...err, I mean the rat hole, Duane heads out for food. He does this quite a bit, buying a huge package of hotdogs or a bag of hamburgers so he can dump them in the basket. Whatever's in there sure is hungry! Not to worry, though, as Duane is on friendly terms with the thing in the wicker bin.

Before heading out on his little mission, Duane acquaints himself with several of his neighbors and the patrician mannered desk clerk of his motel. He meets Casey (Beverly Bonner), a working gal with a ready smile and an endless stream of boyfriends. Duane also meets the loudmouth working the front desk, an obnoxious New Yawk type who bellows at the top of his lungs about the rules of the building. Forming relationships doesn't deter our hero from his special task, so very soon after arriving he strolls off to meet one of his former doctors. Only then, when Duane meets one of his old enemies face to face, do we truly learn about the contents of the basket. Meet Belial, Duane's worse half. When the doctors separated these Siamese twins, they tried to kill the lump of living flesh attached to our hero. A sympathetic associate of the family kept Belial alive, unfortunately, and now Duane and his bro are on a mission of destruction. His twin is nothing more than a cheesy looking lump of flesh with very sharp teeth, teeth he's willing to sink deeply into the necks of the three physicians who maimed him. There's an extended flashback sequence filling us in on the origins of Belial, and a subplot about a pretty receptionist who takes an interest in Duane, but the real meat of the movie is watching this weird looking puppet thingy rip and tear its way through an assortment of people.

Henenlotter's film is now largely considered a cult classic. The movie did so well that two sequels emerged in the 1990s. I haven't seen the successors, but rewatching the original was a lot of fun. Everything about this movie screams ultra low budget, from the atrocious acting skills of all the principal characters to the cheesy operation room where the medicos remove Belial. Actor Kevin Van Hentenryck couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag, and his physical appearance is just downright weird. He's got this huge hair that reminds me a lot of an early Daniel Stern without any of the charm that that actor brought to the silver screen. Beverly Bonner isn't much better as the world wise Casey. I got the feeling she's supposed to be this super hot babe, and she really isn't. All of these people move against a backdrop that's so filthy I felt like taking a shower after the credits rolled. At least the gore works well enough, and it ought to considering most of the budget went towards buying buckets of fake blood. Still, "Basket Case" is amusing because it fails on so many levels. The central idea is a good one even if the execution falters.

I watched the Special Edition DVD of "Basket Case" from Image Entertainment. The disc sports a ton of extras, very few of which are worth watching. There's a commentary track with Frank Henenlotter, outtakes, galleries, a video short shot for the DVD release that shows the movie locations as they are today, a clip of Beverly Bonner's cable television show (?), and a few other goodies. The picture and audio transfer looks and sounds good for such a low budget movie. You'll need to add "Basket Case" to your "to see" list soon. I can't wait to see the two sequels on DVD in the future.

Before "Stuck on You", there was Basketcase.
The ultimate revenge film presented the way it deserves to be! Before the Farrelly brothers made that dog of a movie, "stuck on you" there was this superior offering.
A young man roams the streets of New York with a wicker basket in his hands. In it sits the twisted lump of flesh that is his brother. Once upon a time, the brothers were attached and lived happily together but all that changes in a heartbeat. In a truly memorable scene that will have tears falling freely from your eyes, the boys are cut apart and Belial, the disfigured twin is thrown out with the trash. Grievoulsy wounded and left for dead, Belial uses all his remaining stregth to alert his brother, Dwyane, that he is still alive. Years pass and the brothers, hidden from society, have devised a plan to get back their honour and take revenge on those who have wronged them. Its all out war as the two brothers turn New York into their personal slaughter house. The Doctors who separated them better run because when the basket arrives at their doorstep, there will be no quarter given! All goes according to plan until dwayne falls in love with a secretary. 3 is indeed a crowd and belial tries to get his brother back to business the only way he knows how...
The DVD transfer here is amazing. The good folks at 'something wierd video' have cleaned this baby up and its as pristine and crisp as it can be. The sound mix is creepy good fun. And the thing is loaded with special features that any fan of this film will appreciate. 'In search of the hotel broslin' is my favorite. We get generous helpings of gore in this one. Medical instruments to the face, claws ripping off faces, claws tearing into guts, claws grabbing gonads and on and on. Will satisfy the gorehounds. T&A: some pretty large chest pillows make an appearance towards the end of the film. The ladies get both Belial and Dwayne nude. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A Chilling But Twisted Classic...
BASKET CASE is one of those movies that you tend to remember even if you've only seen it once. The chills are there; the scares are just right; the blood and gore nearly match each other. Plus, you've got pretty decent actors in the movie, some providing humor and some providing some reality. Casey is my favorite...she's beautiful, busty...and she's got a heart (even though she's a hooker!). But the real show belongs to that little deformed guy in the basket...Belial!

This movie follows the trials and travels of Duane Bradley and his siamese twin deformed and menacing brother Belial. They were once joined at the side...but some doctors separated them, and now years later, they want some payback...cold-blooded revenge in the least sense! Belial is every bit as angry at these doctors as Duane, but when Duane falls in love with a coy and busty receptionist (Terri Susan Smith), things between the brothers get very tense...leading up to a climactic finale!

BASKET CASE spawned two sequels, which in and of itself is a feat that many horror movies have mastered...but some have not. Although the sequels were not as good, BASKET CASE remains a classic in a pure sense. Every bit as scary and every bit as attention-grabbing as the little monster on the keep case!

...very small, very twisted, and very mad...
The ads for this cult classic proudly displayed Rex Reed's quote ("The sickest movie I've ever seen"). It's a horror-comedy about Duane Bradley (Kevin VanHentenryck), a soft-spoken, mild-mannered young man who takes his little brother Belial to New York City. What's sick about that? Well, Belial is Duane's deformed, telepathically bonded Siamese twin, who lives in a wicker basket and looks like a snaggle-toothed hamburger patty. The brothers hole up in a dingy hotel (Hotel Broslin!) and track down the three doctors who surgically separated them. Laughable stop-motion animation, explicit gore, and an extremely bad-taste sex scene push this $35,000 first feature by Frank Henenlotter off limits to all but the most decadent viewers, which means people like me and YOU, if you've read this far. Vile fun if you're in the right mood and company; this isn't the kind of movie you take home to meet your mom. Followed by two progressively cretinous sequels, also by Henenlotter. Stick with this movie, "Brain Damage," and "Frankenhooker."

Basket Case
Basket Case is a truly original movie.It is not your standard horror flick.That is why I like it even more; originality is always a plus.The plot is really interesting; Frank Henenlotter did a good job.The dialogue is standard horror dialogue; which you expect.The acting is absolutely horrendous.I didn't really get into the movie until it was the first 20 or so minutes in.The killer is different and sometimes fun to laugh at.The gore is really good in this film.This film is like a horror/comedy movie.If your a horror fan you will get a kick out of this one.I can't really come to give it higher than a six; though.If your a horror fan then you should check it out; if not just wait till it comes on T.V.

In the quiet town of Glens Falls, a very nervous Dr. Lifflander is suddenly attacked by....well... something.Something very small, misshapen, and very mad.Something with a swollen claw-like hand which rips the good doctor's face off.Basket Case is about a young man who was born with a Siamese twin attached to his side.At an early age, the monstrous twin was surgically removed, but lived to deeply resent his cut-off day.His normal looking brother goes to New York, carrying a large basket is the hideous twin.Neither brother can rest until they avenge their surgical separation by killing the doctors responsible.

"Quirky horror on no budget."
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ken Hanke

Cheese classic
"Basket Case" is yet another early '80's schlock classic that serious horror film fans must watch. I fondly remember lounging on the couch at 3:00 AM during summer vacation, washing down a pepperoni pizza with a six-pack of pop while viewing this dreck. Ahhh, those were the days! As I got older and presumably began taking part in the "adult" world, my memories of these classic yuckfests faded. Fortunately, DVD arrived on the scene a few years ago and resurrected many of these old, pleasant memories. If you're not familiar with the wondrous magic of "Basket Case," think "C.H.U.D.," but cheaper. If you don't know what "C.H.U.D." is, I probably can't help you but I'll try. Think New York City in its grimiest incarnation, a city swarming with women of the night, grindhouse theaters, and slum tenements aplenty. It is against this backdrop that "Basket Case" unfolds. The movie is a warm, heartfelt film about twins who decide to go to the big city so they can relive fond memories of the past with the surgeons who separated them. I'm pretty sure I missed the Academy Awards that year, so I can't remember if this film won the best picture Oscar, but it probably should have. Who doesn't like a film about twins?

Directed by low budget hero Frank Henenlotter, "Basket Case" relates the complicated tale of Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck). When we first meet up with Duane, he's acquiring lodgings at one of New York City's finer hotels-alright, it's really some rat hole where the dregs of humanity hang out when they aren't collecting unemployment or waiting for the liquor store to open. Duane wants a room so he can be closer to the three doctors who performed a special operation on him some years before. Despite the fact that the kid's got a huge wad of money and a wicker basket he totes around with him wherever he goes, the room he rents is barely big enough to lie down in. Soon after arriving at the Waldorf Astoria...err, I mean the rat hole, Duane heads out for food. He does this quite a bit, buying a huge package of hotdogs or a bag of hamburgers so he can dump them in the basket. Whatever's in there sure is hungry! Not to worry, though, as Duane is on friendly terms with the thing in the wicker bin.

Before heading out on his little mission, Duane acquaints himself with several of his neighbors and the patrician mannered desk clerk of his motel. He meets Casey (Beverly Bonner), a working gal with a ready smile and an endless stream of boyfriends. Duane also meets the loudmouth working the front desk, an obnoxious New Yawk type who bellows at the top of his lungs about the rules of the building. Forming relationships doesn't deter our hero from his special task, so very soon after arriving he strolls off to meet one of his former doctors. Only then, when Duane meets one of his old enemies face to face, do we truly learn about the contents of the basket. Meet Belial, Duane's worse half. When the doctors separated these Siamese twins, they tried to kill the lump of living flesh attached to our hero. A sympathetic associate of the family kept Belial alive, unfortunately, and now Duane and his bro are on a mission of destruction. His twin is nothing more than a cheesy looking lump of flesh with very sharp teeth, teeth he's willing to sink deeply into the necks of the three physicians who maimed him. There's an extended flashback sequence filling us in on the origins of Belial, and a subplot about a pretty receptionist who takes an interest in Duane, but the real meat of the movie is watching this weird looking puppet thingy rip and tear its way through an assortment of people.

Henenlotter's film is now largely considered a cult classic. The movie did so well that two sequels emerged in the 1990s. I haven't seen the successors, but rewatching the original was a lot of fun. Everything about this movie screams ultra low budget, from the atrocious acting skills of all the principal characters to the cheesy operation room where the medicos remove Belial. Actor Kevin Van Hentenryck couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag, and his physical appearance is just downright weird. He's got this huge hair that reminds me a lot of an early Daniel Stern without any of the charm that that actor brought to the silver screen. Beverly Bonner isn't much better as the world wise Casey. I got the feeling she's supposed to be this super hot babe, and she really isn't. All of these people move against a backdrop that's so filthy I felt like taking a shower after the credits rolled. At least the gore works well enough, and it ought to considering most of the budget went towards buying buckets of fake blood. Still, "Basket Case" is amusing because it fails on so many levels. The central idea is a good one even if the execution falters.

I watched the Special Edition DVD of "Basket Case" from Image Entertainment. The disc sports a ton of extras, very few of which are worth watching. There's a commentary track with Frank Henenlotter, outtakes, galleries, a video short shot for the DVD release that shows the movie locations as they are today, a clip of Beverly Bonner's cable television show (?), and a few other goodies. The picture and audio transfer looks and sounds good for such a low budget movie. You'll need to add "Basket Case" to your "to see" list soon. I can't wait to see the two sequels on DVD in the future.

Before "Stuck on You", there was Basketcase.
The ultimate revenge film presented the way it deserves to be! Before the Farrelly brothers made that dog of a movie, "stuck on you" there was this superior offering.
A young man roams the streets of New York with a wicker basket in his hands. In it sits the twisted lump of flesh that is his brother. Once upon a time, the brothers were attached and lived happily together but all that changes in a heartbeat. In a truly memorable scene that will have tears falling freely from your eyes, the boys are cut apart and Belial, the disfigured twin is thrown out with the trash. Grievoulsy wounded and left for dead, Belial uses all his remaining stregth to alert his brother, Dwyane, that he is still alive. Years pass and the brothers, hidden from society, have devised a plan to get back their honour and take revenge on those who have wronged them. Its all out war as the two brothers turn New York into their personal slaughter house. The Doctors who separated them better run because when the basket arrives at their doorstep, there will be no quarter given! All goes according to plan until dwayne falls in love with a secretary. 3 is indeed a crowd and belial tries to get his brother back to business the only way he knows how...
The DVD transfer here is amazing. The good folks at 'something wierd video' have cleaned this baby up and its as pristine and crisp as it can be. The sound mix is creepy good fun. And the thing is loaded with special features that any fan of this film will appreciate. 'In search of the hotel broslin' is my favorite. We get generous helpings of gore in this one. Medical instruments to the face, claws ripping off faces, claws tearing into guts, claws grabbing gonads and on and on. Will satisfy the gorehounds. T&A: some pretty large chest pillows make an appearance towards the end of the film. The ladies get both Belial and Dwayne nude. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Head Game from Hell
1988's BRAIN DAMAGE is the second film from low-budget Grand Guignol writer/director Frank Henenlotter, his first being the grisly over-the-top cult favorite BASKET CASE (1982), and both films established him as the master auteur of bad-taste horror cinema in the 1980s. But despite of the excessive gore and crude sexual elements, Henenlotter's films are a cut above the average trash pics because his well-written scripts are weaved around a daedal subtext that offers wry comments and observations on certain elements or aspects of modern society. With the visceral horror comedy BRAIN DAMAGE, Henenlotter is satirizing the Western propensity for addiction.

BRAIN DAMAGE relates the "mind-blowing" tale of the Faustian bargain made between a young man named Brian and an enigmatic, snake-like parasite named Aylmer (pronounced like the name ELMER). Aylmer dispenses an addictive pleasure-inducing drug directly into Brian's brain, but as payment for each "fix," Brian must transport Aylmer around the city so the parasitic pusher can obtain his favorite food--human brains. Though Brian is generally a nice young man who wouldn't hurt a flea, he finds it impossible to resist the demands of the deceptively cute parasite because of his need and desire for the psychedelic "juice," and he ultimately becomes Aylmer's accomplice in murder.

With a meager budget of circa $600,000, Henenlotter and crew have nonetheless succeeded in crafting BRAIN DAMAGE as a polished, professional-looking film. Yes, the violence is graphic, sophomorically comic, and often over the top, and yes, the film has a crude, puerile sexual element (snake-like Aylmer is obviously a phallic symbol). But these elements actually enhance the film's earnest anti-addiction subtext, as they vociferously underscore the negative effect that addiction has on an addict's personality, his personal life, and the lives of others with whom he has contact.

The acting in the film is rather a mixed bag. As Brian, future soap-opera regular Rick Hearst--then billed under his birth surname of Herbst--does a great job of portraying a boy-next-door type whose life is spiraling out of control due to his addiction. And in an uncredited role, actor John Zacherle--better known to some horror fans as Zacherley, the Cool Ghoul host of New York TV's SHOCK! THEATER--does an outstanding job voicing the smarmy Aylmer. Gordon MacDonald plays Brain's brother, Mike, and Jennifer Lowry his girlfriend, Barbara, and both do an adequate job. Most of the other performances are a bit wooden, but they don't detract too much from the film's overall production quality.

Being a Juvenalian satire of sorts, the often biting humor in BRAIN DAMAGE is dark, off-color & often bawdy, and outrageously offbeat. Much of little Aylmer's dialogue is sarcastically witty, and in one eerie but funny scene, Brian lies writhing on the floor hurting for a "fix" while Elmer sits by and jovially belts out the Glenn Miller standard "Elmer's Tune." Also, in a hilarious homage to Henenlotter's previous film, BASKET CASE, the star of that film, Kevin VanHentenryck, gets on the subway with a familiar wicker basket in hand and takes the seat opposite Brian.

The Special Edition "Limited Availability" DVD from Synapse presents a high-definition transfer of BRAIN DAMAGE in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the transfer appears vibrant, clean, and relatively free of digital artifacts. This is the unrated restored version, so all of the gore and innuendo that was cut for the U.S. theatrical release has been put back where it belongs. There are also some cool extras, including a very witty feature commentary featuring writer/director Henenlotter, former FANGORIA editor Robert Martin, and filmmaker Scooter McCrae (who has worked with Henenlotter). Also included is the theatrical trailer (in 1.85:1 aspect ratio), a "hidden" trailer for BASKET CASE, and an isolated-musical-score audio option.

To sum up, BRAIN DAMAGE is a movie with a somber subtext, but writer/director Frank Henenlotter doesn't let that get in the way of all the cheesy fun. Sure, the anti-addiction allegory can't be missed, but Henenlotter also knows that the monkey on his antihero's back is an ideal springboard for lots of offbeat and bawdy gallows humor, and he milks it for all it's worth. Admittedly, BRAIN DAMAGE will not appeal to every viewer's tastes, but those seeking a Family Film or a Chick Flick probably shouldn't be perusing the listings for the horror DVDs anyway.

Brain Damage (1987) d: Henenlotter, Frank
Frank Henenlotter's second low-budget feature about a boy and his pet monster, is an anti drug horror comedy that is almost as good as his first film Basket Case (1981) [Watch for the Basket Case related in joke when actor Kevin VanHentenryck appears in a subway scene]. The non-human star, is a worm-like critter named Aylmer. The slimy penis shaped parasite comes in the possession of young Brian [Rick Herbst], and begins to gain control of him. The singing, and joke telling Aylmer sinks hooks into Brian's neck, secreting a strange blue liquid that gives his brain a jolt of psychedelic goodies, 'color, music and euphoria'. In exchange for injecting this marvelous hallucinogen into Brian's brain, the Aylmer incites its host to find it victims, from whom it sucks brains. Aylmer argues that it's all right to kill people, as long as Brian isn't directly involved. Kicking his wisecracking pain in the neck, is the only way for Brian to survive. When originally released, the film slipped onto video shelves virtually unnoticed. Thankfully Synapse Films have re-released this cult classic on DVD, and have restored this print to include the much talked about ...................... that Paramount didn't have the guts to include. The strong sexual footage is played up, mostly for laughs. Very funny 42nd street humor is contained on the commentary track. Review by: Fringe Video.

Poor Elmer, He Shouldn't Have Died, But Still, This Is Great
Brain Damage Was Excellently Funny & Gruesome. One Of The Funniest Movie I Ever Seen. Sadly, Elmer Bit The Dust At The End, He Was Great.

One of the best movies ever
Brain damage noe of the most excellent movies i have ever seen. It has the best story and the most interesting characters ive seen in a while. The gore and special effects are a masterpiece. I highly recomend this movie to anyone who likes cult classics. If i had to compare it i would say its kind of like a troma movie but not funny. Everyone needs to see this movie. the first scene will send chills down your backside.

DownRok
Yeah, I saw this picture during the Dane Tour 2000. Its about some freakish little alien that looks like a cartoon.The alien is named Elmo and he feeds on brains or something. People let the little parasite feed on them because elmo gives them an addictive hallucinogen. In the end the main character gets over sauced with the crazy drug and starts firing Corona Beams out of his head.(see cover) ... Read more