Dead Alive (1992)

On a quiet street, in a small town, pure evil has come to stay. An innocent young man forced to care for his domineering mother finds the task a whole lot more demanding after she's bitten by the cursed Sumatran rat monkey. Passing the point of death, Vera sucks friends and family into her gruesome existence among the living dead and Lionel is sent spiraling into a ghoulish nightmare. Now a crazed zombie, she soon infects enough people to make it difficult for Lionel, still the faithful son, to keep the neighbors from suspecting that something is terribly wrong. (Lion's Gate)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Peter Jackson
Written By: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Stephen Sinclair
Starring: Ian Watkin, Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalver, Jed Brophy, Stuart Devenie, Stephen Papps, Glenis Levestam, Brenda Kendall, Murray Keane, Elizabeth Moody, Lewis Rowe, Elizabeth Mulfaxe
Genres: Comedy, Suspense/Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
AKA: Braindead
Country: New Zealand
Where to Stream

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doctor7 | 63 42nd |
So bad it's good and actually pretty funny in parts. As strange as it sounds you can see Peter Jackson's impressive style in this movie, it's just carefully hidden among a bad movie.
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Jeb | 98 93rd |
Dead Alive is the quintessential gore film of it's time period. Nothing's held back. Brains, blood, bones, puss, skin, organs, limbs...everything is all shown in such an over-the-top repulsive way. You'll definetly regurgitate on this one if you and violence is not a good clash. And just when it looks like the ridiculousness is over, it doubles the mayhem, making for some more bloody fun. I only have one last word to say to conclude this review: Lawnmower!
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Ytadel | 7 83rd |
An utterly hilarious goregasm, drenched in blood and viscera like few other films in history. It's wonderfully over-the-top and bizarre, showing huge early creativity from Mr. Jackson, and the makeup and zombie/gore prosthetics and special effects are ingenious, nothing short of Oscar-worthy.
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begoniabol | 88 92nd |
Haha holy shit! This is the goriest movie I have EVER seen. The finale is so fucking AWESOME! I puked a few times, but that made the 'experience' even better. I couldn't stop laughing during a particular scene (which everyone probably knows already, but I still won't spoil. Even if it's the trailer video, I just pretend I didn't see that). See it for yourself and be prepared to be blown away. It's even better the second time.
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4 | apm2091 | 80 77th |
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HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!! If that isn't your first reaction after watching the goriest movie ever made, take off your sunglasses and pull out your earplugs and fucking watch this movie again! This is the goriest, most gut-wrenching, funniest, disgusting, puke-inducing horror movie ever filmed -not even to mention extremely quotable lines. Dead or alive, this calls for divine intervention!
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Paxton | 86 95th |
The disgusting family dinner scene wouldn't be topped in awkward gross out tastelessness until four years later when Eddie Murphy did The Nutty Professor.
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Alex Watkins | 3 38th |
Horror is not my thing, exploitative gory horror even less so, but it's hard not to get caught up in the absurdity of this film. There are so many incredibly over-the-top moments in this film that it would be impossible to recount all of them in this review. My favorites were the "I kick ass for the lord" beatdown, the zombie baby loose in the park, and, of course, the final monster - the grossest, and maybe funniest, thing I've ever seen in my life.
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joseywales | 81 88th |
Over-the-top gore, comedy and Zombie Action all rolled into a fun and crazy ride. Peter Jackson's b-movie masterpiece.
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Boobjuice | 70 66th |
Ha! Friggin' gross and so hilarious. I hope that a lot of clueless older people went to go rent some other movies by "That 'Lord of the Rings' guy", picked this one up, and took it home to be BEDAZZLED!
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luc | 80 91st |
Unbelievable, bloody horror-comedian, really a bizare story. The last 40 minutes were so bloody, maybe over the top but so great and very funny, especially that baby. I'm wondering how many gallons blood one used in this movie ?
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fudgieb | 91 75th |
This one is a classic for the ages. Not really a horror movie, because it's never really scary, this movie is simply pure gore and hilarity.
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2 | mikeypain | 95 98th |
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Quite possibly the goriest movie I have ever seen. If you want to see a movie that pulls no punches, this is the one for you.
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TheDenizen | 90 95th |
It's the "Gone With the Wind" of gore and zombie mayhem. The lawnmower scene is one of the bloodiest things you're ever likely to see.
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Mentaculus | 76 64th |
I have a hard time defending this film's gore and anarchy - because really, what's the point other than gore for gore's sake? - but the fusion of zombie sex, zombie babies, comedy, a lawnmower scene and an Oedipal complex at the film's core really make this a unique experience that will never be done again. For better or worse. Actually, probably worse.
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Shmendrek | 4 83rd |
Disgusting and over the top. One of the most shocking horror-comedy films ever. Definitely one to watch with your friends.
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2 | jonquill | 92 90th |
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Forget the Rings. This is Jackson's best movie. English farce thrown together with zombies. I'm not sure whether the high point is the zombie baby in the park or the horrifying ending. I've seen far too many horror films. This is the only one that makes me look away. Zingiya!
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BillyShears | 90 92nd |
Cinema.
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omgfridge | 8 80th |
Gore Zombies Peter Jackson = results.
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TrixRabbi | 85 89th |
The most fun you'll ever have throwing up in your mouth.
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backwardsuit | 90 97th |
A delirious genre-defining splatter treasure that manages to be utterly revolting and absolutely irresistibly hilarious at the same time. The tone and pacing are just spot on and the effects are insanely inspired. Pays homage to silent comedy, social satire, soapy melodrama, horror conventions and trick movies in variously wonderful ways. A truly loveable film made with big, warm, gore-pumping heart.
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1 | knyttelol | 90 78th |
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The grossest and goriest comedy ever made, but also one of the most entertaining! Braindead is the perfect mix between slapstick and gore(since evil dead named splatstick). Every scene is a new clever but still innocently immature grossout classic. I doubt there will ever be a better goremovie.
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1 | ASyD | 85 86th |
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i laughed so much I almost peed in my pants...the last half hour of this one is totally out of this world
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1 | CatScandal | 44 11th |
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this is the most disgusting tasteless movie i've ever seen. that said, there's certainly an ingenuity to it, and some serious camp... but god. who wants to watch an hour and a half of splattering guts? what's the point? especially with such a lame lead. Also, is is it just me, or is Peter Jackson kinda racist? Two movies filmed in New Zealand with violent primitive savages? Ugh.
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gerudo | 7 53rd |
"Holy shit, zombie intestines."
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1 | djfntstque | 72 52nd |
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Big, gross fun.
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caiman | 96 99th |
Dead Alive (Braindead) is my favorite horror film and a big part of what originally got be interested in movies and in horror specifically. It's just so insane, hilarious and over the top, yet directed with master craftsmanship. The gore effects are just astounding and have yet to be matched, not just in quantity, but in quality and creativity. It embraces its goofiness, it accomplishes what it sets out to do with pinpoint precision, and it's just about the most entertaining movie ever made.
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blayze | 90 92nd |
Insanely hilarious and innovative splatter-movie.
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Big Lemons | 85 70th |
Glorious Peter Jackson gorefest. Must be seen with a live audience to be fully appreciated.
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stepsideways | 95 91st |
"I kick ass for the Lord!"
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muutanet | 93 98th |
Reviewing: Though I hate zombie movies from my guts this kind of carneval of blood is something that is quite difficult to top or dislike. Jackson's effect gallery is innovative beyond any imagination. Pure fun. Saw the flick long time ago and reviewing it was hilarious time warp back there.
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miss jesus | 56 43rd |
Funny, creepy, and witty, but far too disgusting for its own good.
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AshWilliams | 86 80th |
Kung-fu priests who kick arse for the Lord? Taking zombie babies for a stroll in the pram through the park? Liquefying a houseful of dead people with a lawnmower blade? Sound good? Then sign up for this sweet Peter Jackson flick. Just be sure to bring some work clothes -- it might get messy!
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oskarhu | 84 90th |
Very funny and creative with numerous wonderful parody elements.
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Melvin Smif | 60 65th |
Very gory and very fun, I'll never look at pushmowers the same again.
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JacoIII | 50 97th |
The film Peter Jackson should be remembered for. One of the funniest and most disturbing zombie films you can find. It never takes itself seriously yet it deals with some pretty interesting interpersonal issues, like deciding which limb to cut off first.
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SirStuckey | 75 67th |
A movie with a purpose. The purpose is, "let's see how many gallons of fake blood we can use." This is such an awesome movie experience that I would recommend this to anyone who can stomach it. It has the most gore you will probably ever see (yet it's more funny than disgusting). Hats off goes to the effects department that made a lot (awesome gory moments) out of a little (money/technology). Probably shouldn't watch it with your girlfriend (unless she's awesome) but your buddies will dig it.
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mwgerb | 59 63rd |
If you have no problem with gore, this is quite a hilarious ride. In fact, almost everything is done to comedic effect, even though the shit they pull in this movie can only happen in the horror genre. However, any sense of realism at all goes straight out the window; probably around the time the kung-fu priest starts fighting zombies.
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woodoo | 85 63rd |
The Peter Jackson I love - one that could make a horror movie as good as Evil Dead 2. Still hilariously gross after all this time.
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axleblaze | 90 77th |
This movie is fucking crazy.
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hellboy76 | 70 79th |
If you don't like gore, look elsewhere. This is pretty much nonstop gore combined with ridiculous humor. Works for me.
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Noblet | 46 21st |
Pretty much has the most ridiculous gore I've ever seen. But it's not nearly as funny as Evil Dead 2 or House.
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glumpy_99 | 73 42nd |
Wildly, grotesquely ugly forerunner to Edgar Wright is a triumph in pushing the "gross-meter" to 11 and beyond, but semi-wastes its creative visuals on a frantic and incoherent screenplay, turning the film into an exhausting parade of vaudevillian routines and negating any story thrust. The grotesque designs (and Jackson's gleefully demented sense of humor) do make this well-worth seeing, especially if you can handle full-blooded cringe-horror.
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1 | jthusky | 80 80th |
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One of Peter Jackson's first films is also one of the funniest, grossest, and best horror comedies this side of the 2000s zombie renaissance. Lots of great slapstick/physical humor, and has a perfect niche vibe to it.
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KramYessev | 80 88th |
Multiple goregasms.
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1 | kjetting | 99 99th |
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This is the milestone that every splatter or comedy horror tries to reach. It's one of the goriest and over the top funniest movies ever, and it even has a beautiful romantic side plot.
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moonsmilk | 8 59th |
Starts off really slow and clunky, but when it gets good, it gets INSANE. I don't think anything I see is ever going to top a walking sphincter trying to kill people.
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Fromenberg | 82 41st |
to think the director of lord of the rings directed this first
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1 | Zipster | 65 8th |
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I know plenty of people who have or would get a big kick out of this thing in that ironically detached, so-bad-it's-good kind of way. But I'm sorry. Call me haughty, but I just don't have time this kind of shit. It's watchable and I see the appeal, but I'll be closing the book on this one. There needs to be more to a movie that goofy-ass, gross-ass shit.
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PianoSama | 70 82nd |
I refuse to believe that it's possible to be a horror fan & hate this movie. Dislike maybe, but definitely not hate. A trippy horror-comedy-romance packed with oddball characters, all-out gore effects, super inventive zombie kills (& designs), & a manic charm that makes its admitted faults so easy to overlook. On top of all that are great performances, steady direction from Jackson, a fun & clever script, & plenty of one-liners to remember. A splatterific good time that's a must-watch.
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Average Percentile 61.57% from 2761 Ratings | ![]() |