Brain Damage

Movie Summary

Released: 1984
Basket Case director Frank Henenlotter explores another bizarre symbiotic human-monster relationship in this surreal horror-comedy about a young man named Brian (Rick Herbst) who emerges from a night of bizarre hallucinations to find a jovial talking slug attached to his body. The creature, a brain-eating parasite called an "Aylmer" (but who prefers the simpler handle "Elmer") came calling after abandoning his former companions a European couple who tried to wean him from human brains by supplying him with sheep brains from the local Butcher. Preferring prey of the bipedal variety (and a younger, more mobile host), Elmer hitches a ride with Brian, administering doses of a highly addictive psychedelic drug to keep him under control, and sends him out in search of human grey-matter. Understandably, this drives a wedge in the relationship between Brian and his girlfriend Barbara (Jennifer Lowry), who doesn't buy the monster story but nevertheless begins to recognize Brian's junkie behavior patterns. Fighting a losing battle against Elmer's magic juice (and trying to keep Elmer from munching down on Barbara's skull), Brian is forced into a hideous showdown for possession of his own mind. Not quite as grotesque as its scenario suggests, this is nevertheless an inspired bit of lunacy though Henenlotter eschews much of the horror possibilities by drawing humor from the outrageousness of the situation, making it less memorable than his darkly-chilling debut feature. Clever highlights include horror host John Zacherle as the Bing Crosby-esque voice of Elmer and a cute cameo from Basket boy Kevin Van Hentenryck. Cavett Binion

Rick Herbst - Brian
Gordon MacDonald - Mike
Jennifer Lowry - Barbara
Theo Barnes - Morris Ackerman
Lucille Saint-Peter - Martha Ackerman
Vicki Darnell - Blonde in Hell Club
Kevin Van Hentenryck - Man with Basket
Bradlee Rhodes - Night Watchman
John Reichert - Policeman
Artemis Pizzaro - Subway Rider
Ari M. Roussimoff - Biker
Michael Rubenstein - Bum in Alley
Slam Wedgehouse - Mohawked Punk
Beverly Downer - Neighbor
Michael Bishop - Toilet Victim
Kenneth Packard - Subway Rider
Don Henenlotter - Policeman
Angel Figueroa - Junkie
Joe Gonzales - Guy in Shower

Comments

highjacdPosted: 06/04/2006

i have never heard of this but i NEED to SEE it!!

Rhio2kPosted: 06/09/2006

I saw this back in '87...good stuff. Anyone have the lyrics to that little ditty Elmer sang? It ends with "...The man in the moon, that's Elmer's tune!"

AylmerPosted: 08/18/2006

"Why are the stars always winkin' and blinkin' above?
What makes a fella' start thinkin' of fallin' in love?
It's not the season. The reason, it's plain as the moon,
It's just Elmer's tune.
What makes a lady of eighty go out on the loose?
Why does a gander meander in search of a goose?
What puts the kick in a chicken, the magic in June?
It's just Elmer's tune.
Listen! Listen! There's a lot you're liable to me missin'.
Sing it! Swing it any ol' way and any ol' time.
The hurdy-gurdies, the birdies, the cop on the beat,
The candy maker, the baker, the man on the street,
The city charmer, the farmer, the Man in the Moon,
All sing Elmer's tune"

sailor_moon_girlPosted: 01/30/2007

man i wanna see it now

cannibalholocaust77Posted: 07/16/2008

Another classic! What a freakin' movie!!! Frank Henenloter is a genius. If you guys like this check out his other films Basket Case 1,2,3 and Frankenhooker!

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