From Splatter to Middle-earth: A Review of Peter Jackson's Dead Alive

Before the epic battles of Middle-earth, there was the ultimate suburban bloodbath. Join us as we explore the early, gloriously gross work of Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson with a review of his 1992 splatter masterpiece, Dead Alive (also known as Braindead).

This is the film that put a new spin on splatstick (splatter + slapstick), setting a world record for the amount of fake blood used in a single scene. We are diving into the bizarre, hilarious, and stomach-churning tale of Lionel Cosgrove (Tim Balme), a mama's boy whose overbearing mother (Elizabeth Moody) is bitten by a Sumatran Rat-Monkey at the zoo, turning her into a rapidly decaying, ravenous zombie—and starting an infection that threatens to ruin his burgeoning romance with Paquita (Diana Peñalver).

What We Cover:

• Unleashing the Gore: An appreciation for the film’s legendary practical effects, including the infamous lawnmower scene, the Kung Fu priest, and the unforgettable zombie baby. This is the ultimate zombie comedy for gorehounds.

• The Director's Journey: We discuss how the mind behind Dead Alive—a hyper-violent, low-budget horror cult classic—managed to transition to helm the universally acclaimed The Fellowship of the Ring and the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

• Family, Romance, and Mayhem: Breaking down the dark comedy themes of the overbearing mother, toxic masculinity, and the sweet, warped love story at the film's gooey center.

• Cast & Crew Highlights: Featuring performances from Ian Watkin and co-writer Fran Walsh (a long-time collaborator of Jackson's).

If you’re a Peter Jackson fan curious about his truly mad early work, a horror comedy aficionado, or just looking for the goriest movie ever made, grab your shears and prepare for an incredibly bloody, cartoonishly violent ride!

Keywords: Dead Alive, Braindead, Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Splatter Film, Horror Comedy, Zombie Movie, Tim Balme, Elizabeth Moody, Cult Classic, 90s Horror, Lawnmower Scene, Gore.

Say His Name: Deconstructing the Original Candyman

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Never say it five times. Never look in the mirror. This week, we plunge the hook deep into the haunting, visceral, and socio-politically charged horror of the 1992 classic, Candyman.

Graduate student Helen Lyle travels to the notorious Cabrini-Green housing projects to research the urban legend of a hook-handed killer. But when her skepticism leads her to dismiss the legend—and the real-world suffering that fuels it—she awakens the vengeful spirit of Daniel Robitaille (Tony Todd), the tragic victim of a brutal, racist lynching in the 19th century.

Join us as we explore the film’s complex layers:

• The Legend and the Legacy: Unpacking the tragic origin of Daniel Robitaille, a Black artist murdered for a forbidden interracial love affair, and his transformation into a boogeyman feared by a forgotten community.

  
  

• White Guilt and Urban Decay: How the film uses Helen's white privilege and academic voyeurism to critique systemic racism, housing inequality, and the intellectual appropriation of Black trauma.

• Be My Victim: Analyzing Tony Todd's mesmerizing, seductive performance and the haunting score by Philip Glass that turn this slasher film into a gothic nightmare about the terrifying power of belief.

Look in the mirror, say his name, and let the legend live. (We promise we'll only say it four times.)

Beyond the Veil: Deconstructing Nicole Kidman's The Others

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Step out of the sun and into the permanent shadows of a remote Jersey manor. This week, we're locking all fifteen doors and pulling back the heavy velvet curtains on Alejandro Amenábar's 2001 gothic masterpiece, The Others.

Nicole Kidman delivers a career-defining performance as Grace Stewart, a devoutly religious mother protecting her two photosensitive children from the deadly threat of sunlight. But when three mysterious servants arrive, Grace's meticulous routine is shattered, and she begins to suspect that her family is not alone—they are being haunted by the very others in their own house.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Power of Atmosphere: How the perpetual darkness and isolation of the manor house serve as both a protective barrier and a psychological prison.

• Grief, Guilt, and God: We analyze the film's profound themes of faith, denial, and a mother's devastating struggle with loss in the wake of World War II.

• The Twist That Changed Everything: Unpacking the jaw-dropping final revelation that forces us to re-examine every chilling sound and flickering candle. Is it a clever plot device, or the ultimate portrait of a soul trapped in its own self-deception?

Don't listen alone. The house may be quiet, but you never know who is listening on the other side of the door.