Peter Jackson's last "splatter" horror/comedy before heading off to more mainstream work (like the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, of course!) this is a cult classic (and in my eyes a gore classic) that stars Timothy Balme as a nebbish man who lives with his opressive mother (Elizabeth Moody, who's a riot) that ends-up having to take care of her (and all the people she's infected) when she's bitten by a rare Sumatran monkey during a visit to the zoo.

Turns out said monkey has turned his mum into a flesh-hungry (and quite rotting) zombie. This leads to all sorts of morbid black humour, tons of gore that's so over-the-top and outrageous it can't offend and lots of memorable moments (such as when he has to glue her skin back on after she rips it trying to put on make-up and the following "lunch" meeting - that has gross-out humour involving custard).

Of Jackson's earlier efforts this is the most polished and I'd have to say the most entertaining as it's loaded with silliness and some truly inspired lunacy in a finale which could rightly be the bloodiest finish to a horror movie in history.

You just gotta love the kung-fu priest ("I kick arse for the Lord!"), the zombie baby at the park sequence (slapstick fun!), the cool as Hell "hand through mouth" moment and of course the oodles of lawnmower grue. Obviously influenced by the Evil Dead films but I'd have to say more entertaining for sure.

Review based on the unrated version, the R-rated runs twelve minutes shorter (at 85 minutes) as is completely avoidable. Apparently an even longer version exists under its original title.

Directed By: Peter Jackson.
Written By: Peter Jackson, Stephen Sinclair, Frances Walsh.

Starring: Timothy Balme, Diana Penalver, Elizabeth Moody, Ian Watkin.

aka: Braindead.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: It's better than we've seen it before despite the picture looking a bit soft at times and there being quite a bit of grain scattered throughout.

Extras: As a huge fan of this movie I'd of loved a commentary or something cool but instead all we get is a trailer (and a hidden trailer for the lame Stephen King adapatation, The Tommyknockers).