Saturday, October 16, 2010

Dead Alive



(1993) *****

Mamma's boy Lionel dares to break away from home long enough to take Paquita on a date to the zoo. Crafty, manipulative Mamma follows along to keep an eye on this threat to her domestic reign, but unfortunately gets bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. Mamma deteriorates, and though she tries to soldier on (aided by doting Lionel), eventually succumbs to her wound. But she doesn't stay down long.

What a treat! Dead Alive is a perfect example of the 5 star B movie: manic pace, copious laughs, copious gore, and outrageously original visual effects. The characters were for the most part interesting and quirky, which is rare (in my experience) in a B movie. Dead Alive is an over-the-top comic gorefest and I loved every minute of it.

9 comments:

JPX said...

One of my favorites! You have to be careful when you rent this film because there is an unrated version and an R-rated version. the R-rated version excises some good gore.

Catfreeek said...

I have the unrated version on my shelf. Tony and I pop it in every now and then because it's just that awesome! So glad you loved this. The only part of the film I have trouble stomaching is the puss in the pudding. Still bugs me no matter how many time I watch it.

DKC said...

Pretty sure I have never seen this. Guess I'll have to - although "pus in the pudding" sounds truly gag-inducing.

Octopunk said...

It is! Gags me every time. I actually found myself glancing away from the screen last time I saw this (in a theater in SF full of people in zombie makeup). But I steeled my eyebones and looked at it straight on. And gagged.

The first time I ever saw this I rented it from Blockbuster -- big mistake! Not only the R version but possibly BB's own "safe" cut. So much was cut out you could barely tell what was going on at the end. I rented it from another store the following day and was all "ohhhhh!"

This movie rocks like no other.

Whirlygirl said...

I had no idea how good this film would be until I saw it. I'm with everyone on the puss pudding.

50PageMcGee said...

doesn't the R rated version exclude that whole lawn mower scene?

Catfreeek said...

Yeah, it sucks.

Octopunk said...

The lawn mower scene is in there but it is over in mere seconds. They just kept the beginning and the end of it, which is patently ridiculous. When I saw the real version I was howling with laughter. It goes on and on.

Johnny Sweatpants said...

I'm embarrassed to say that I've never seen the unrated version. I suppose since I'm doing zombie flicks this year...

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