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Brain Damage
Stars:
Rick Herbst, Gordon MacDonald, Theo Barnes, Lucille Saint-Peters, and Kevin Van
Hentenryck
Writer:
Frank Henenlotter
Director:
Frank Henenlotter
Feature
length: 86 minutes
Extras:
Filmmaker’s Commentary, Director’s Filmography, Isolated Music Track, and
Theatrical Trailer
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 22
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1987/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Synapse Films
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
When
I was an undergraduate in film school I took a horror film studies course and
before one of the class sessions I remember a guest came in with a bunch of
special effects props that include the Aylmer, which I guess from age had become
hard like a stone, but I just thought it was so cool to check out if only
because “Brain Damage” is one of my favorite low budget horror films from
the late 1980s. If I remember correctly, “Brain Damage” was the first DVD to
be released by Synapse Films, which is one of the best truly independent
distributors of cult genre films on DVD today. Don May Jr., and his partner
Jerry Chandler have worked together for years and when the original DVD release
of “Brain Damage” came out is was easily one of the best representations of
a Frank Henenlotter picture on DVD at that time. Now Synapse Films has revisited
“Brain Damage” on DVD as a brand new limited special edition release that
features a truly breathtaking brand new anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) aspect
ratio presentation taken from a newly created 1080P/24FPS High Definition D5
print of the uncut version of the film and while there is a still a few
anomalies that appear here and there, the level of detail and vividness of the
colors is impressive. I have never seen “Brian Damage” look so good. The DVD
also features a brand new English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound mix that
makes every gory, strange, silly, and down right disgusting scene come to life
in conjunction to the great visuals from the new transfer like never before and
I wouldn’t want it any other way. This is definitely a terrific presentation
of “Brain Damage” that has truly been optimized to take advantage of home
theater systems. The original English Monaural Soundtrack as well as an Isolated
Music Score Track is also provided.
Director
Frank Henenlotter, noteworthy “Fangoria” Editor and the Author of the novel
adaptation of “Brain Damage” Bob Martin, and Writer Scooter McCrae, who also
provides an excellent essay within the insert inside the DVD keep case that
explores the film’s Freudian subtext in addition to the entire anti-drug
message inherent to films’ storyline while contrasting it to Henenlotter’s
“Basket Case” trilogy, participate in a feature length audio commentary
track. The commentary is screen specific and lively with plenty of anecdotes and
interesting tidbits regarding the film’s subsequent rediscovery on home video
after a disappointing theatrical release. The film has now been noted to one of
best films on home video you probably have never seen according to national
trade periodicals. A Director’s Filmography and the theatrical trailer (1:21)
wrap up the extra features included on this DVD.
The
interactive menus feature the Aylmer moving about talking and are well rendered
and easy to navigate. The Aylmer is a parasitic creature that has existed on
Earth for centuries and has been coveted by many from great leaders to seemingly
ordinary folk, but now Aylmer has found the perfect host in young and naive
Brian who must provide Aylmer with his required nutrition of live human brains
in return for a secreted resin from Aylmer that gives Brian the high of his life
in this Faustian tale. Look for an amusing nod to Henenlotter’s previous film
“Basket Case” with a cameo by Kevin Van Hentenryck.
Buy
this DVD while it is still on the shelves and it is also definitely worth the
upgrade too for those who bought the original DVD release from a few years back.
“Brain Damage: Special Edition: Limited Availability” is at retailers on and
offline now only from Synapse Films.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Brain Damage