Brain Damage (1988)
- Starring:
- Rick Herbst, Gordon MacDonald, (more)
- Director(s):
- Frank Henenlotter
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Category:
- Horror
Member Rating
My RatingSynopsis of Brain Damage
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 gray 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. 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, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 87 mins
Complete Cast of Brain Damage
- Rick Herbst - Brian
- Jennifer Lowry - Barbara
- Lucille Saint-Peter - Martha Ackerman
- Kevin Van Hentenryck - Man with Basket
- Beverly Downer - Neighbor
- Joe Gonzales - Guy in Shower
- Kenneth Packard - Subway Rider
- John Reichert - Policeman
- Ari M. Roussimoff - Biker
- Slam Wedgehouse - Mohawked Punk
- Gordon MacDonald - Mike
- Theo Barnes - Morris Ackerman
- Vicki Darnell - Blonde in Hell Club
- Michael Bishop - Toilet Victim
- Angel Figueroa - Junkie
- Don Henenlotter - Policeman
- Artemis Pizzaro - Subway Rider
- Bradlee Rhodes - Night Watchman
- Michael Rubenstein - Bum in Alley
- Director(s):
- Frank Henenlotter
- Writer(s):
- Frank Henenlotter
- Producer(s):
- Edgar Ievins, Andre Blay
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Strong Sexual Content, Gore, Nudity, Adult Language, Profanity, Adult Situations, Not For Children)
- Categories:
- Horror
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