Brain Damage [1988]

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1988
Running Times: 84 mins [USA - cut R-rated version] 86 mins [USA - full version]
Format: colour
Ratio:
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: An Ievins Henenlotter Production/The Brain Damage Company
Executive Producers: Andre Blay, Al Eicher
Producer: Edgar Ievins
Associate Producers: Charles Bennett, Ray Sundin
Production Manager: Ed Walloga

SCRIPT
Script: Frank Henenlotter

DIRECTION
Director: Frank Henenlotter
Assistant Director: Gregory Lamberson

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Bruce Torbet
Camera: Peter Clark
Assistant Camera: Britton Petrucelly
Steadicam Operator: James Muro
Gaffer: Paul Carruthers
Best Boy: Warren Webster
Key Grips: Harry Archer, Watson Pritchard
Dolly Grip: James Mah
Second Grip: Rick Boyle
Stills: Karen Ogle
Colour: TVC

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editors: Frank Henenlotter, James Y. Kwei
Assistant Editors: Karen Ogle, Britton Petrucelly, Emily Webster
Editing Equipment: The Cutting Edge Enterprises Inc
Negative Matching: L&D Film Service

MUSIC
Music: Gus Russo, Clutch Reiser
Songs: J. Calder, A. Poston, J.F. Garnett, B.Elsey, B.Burton, Elmer Albrecht, Sammy Gallop, Dick Jurgens
Songs Performed By: The Swimming Pool Qs
Songs Copyrighted By: Irving Music Inc; CBS Robbins Catalog Inc

SOUND
Sound: Joe Warda
Sound Recording: Russell Jessum
Boom: Mort Tashman
Sound Editors: Bruce Torbet, Joe Warda, Peter Clark
Post Production Sound: Magno Sound Inc
Sound Mix: Aaron Nathanson

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Daniel Frye
Wardrobe: Ivy Rosovsky
Assistant Wardrobe: Artemis Pizarro

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Gabe Bartalos
Make Up Effects: Jame (?) McLoughlin, Richard Mayne, Nicholas Santerano
Elmer Created By: Gabe Bartalos, David Kindlen

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Supervisor: Al Magliochetti
Optical Effects: Peter Kuran Visual Concepts Engineering, Tom Heitman, Balazs Nyam, Cineric Inc
Computer Programming: Mathias Donnelly
Titles: Techni Process Lettering; Cineric Inc

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: Ivy Rosovsky
Assistant Art Director: Artemis Pizarro
Set Designer: Charles Bennett
Props: Frederick Loren
Construction: Ken Behm, Lee Bush, Benito Diaz

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Karen Ogle
Production Auditor: Barbara Coston
Payroll: Academy Systems Inc
Production Assistant: Christina Pizzaro
Assistant to Henenlotter: Nancy Archer
Equipment Rentals: Mike Spera, Pr Camera Rentals
Insurance: R.A. Boyer
Maquillage Francais (?): Benoit Lestang
Catering: Anita Muro
Firearm Rentals: Centre Firearms
Driver: Jerome Horowitz
Historical Research: Babe Wozenthal

LOCATIONS
Location Co-Ordinator: Ray Sundlin

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks To: Society of Saint Vincent De Paul; Hubert Des Forges; W.H. Christian and Sons; Mikes Pipe Yard and Building Supplies, Bronx, New York; Spence Chapin Thrift Shop; Jeanie's Found Money, Roslyn, New York; Peter Weissburg and Bloom and Krup; A.B.C. Carpet Co Inc; Channel Club; Tunnel; Jos. Williams of Satisfaction Sales Co; Primal Art Source; Canal Jean Co Inc; John Gray; Marev; 3M; Dead World Comics
Special Thanks To: John Witek; George Ritter; Janice Brown; Bob Schultz; Toney Edwards; Cafele Madeleine; Statewide Auto Parts; Hunter Johnson; Scott Sanders; Michael Sussell; Harold Wallace; New York Transit Authority; City of New York Mayor's Office For Film; Andrew, Walt and Al Contributing Art Galleries: Metropolitan Primitives New York; La Belle Afrique Gallery; Himalayan Crafts and Tours; J. Franco's House of Pain

CASTING
Casting: Frank Calo (?)

CAST
Rick Herbst [Brian]
Gordon Macdonald [Mike]
Jennifer Lowry [Barbara]
Theo Barnes [Morris]
Lucille Saint-Peter [Martha]
Vicki Darnell [blonde in Hell]
Joe Gonzales [guy in shower]
Bradlee Rhodes [night watchman]
Michael Bishop [toilet victim]
Beverly Donner [neighbour]
Ari Rousimoff [biker]
Michael Rubinstein [bum in alley]
Angel Figueroa [junkie]
John Reichert, Don Henenlotter [police]
Kenneth Pachard, Artemis Pizarro [subway riders]
Slam Wedgehouse [mohawked punk]
Kevin Vanhentenryck [man with basket]
John Zacherle [voice of Elmer (uncredited)]

Brian finds his brain invaded by a fast-talking parasite, Elmer, that floods his nervous system with a hallucinogenic substance that keeps him under control wheile Elmer goes on a killing spree.

Another very funny and twisted classic from Frank Henenlotter, a violent but hallucinatory exercise in cinematic dementia. You can't help but admire Frank Henenlotter. His reactions to fanboy adulation is commendable and his taste [or lack of it] is impeccable. He treats the Hollywood system with the contempt it deserves, making the films he wants, when he wants to and primarily for himself. And if you don't like his films, it's not going to cause him any sleepless nights. Definitely a man to be admired. And this is one of his best.

UK
Video Distributor: Virgin Video

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Video Distributor: Paramount Home Video
DVD Distributor: Image Entertainment [SFD0005DVD - Special Edition; includes audio commentary by Frank Henenlotter; isolated musical score; uncut version]

Australia
Rating: R

France
Rating: -12

Iceland
Rating: banned

UK
Rating: 18 [with cuts]

USA
Rating: R [with cuts]; unrated [uncut version]
Theatrical and early home video versions of the film were missing the fellatio and ear-pulling scenes which were later restored to the DVD release.

1988
March
4: UK - theatrical release

May
25: France - theatrical release

1999
August
17: USA - DVD release [Image Entertainment [SFD0005DVD - Special Edition]]

October
4: UK - television broadcast [on Bravo]

...Now You're Really Losing Your Mind!

Hang onto your hats... Elmer's here!

The Tingler Takes a Trip - early title

SEE ALSO
Basket Case [1982]
Frankenhooker [1990]

MAGAZINES

Cinefantastique March 1988 pp.8-11 [USA]
illustrated article

Cinefantastique vol.18 no.5 [July 1988] pp.48, 55 [USA]
illustrated review [A repellent splatter film for gorehounds only by Todd French]

City Limits no.335 [3 March 1988] p.27 [UK]
review [by Kim Newman]

Empire November 1998 pp.95-96 [UK]
review

Fangoria no.71 pp.51-53, 68 [USA]
review

Fangoria no.188 [November 1999] p.68 [USA]
illustrated DVD review [by Michael Gingold]

Mad Movies no.51 pp.38-39 [France]
illustrated review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.55 no.651 [April 1988] pp.106-107 [UK]
illustrated credits, synopsis, review [by Kim Newman]

Scapegoat no.1 p.12 [UK]
note

Screen International no.642 [5 March 1988] p.24 [UK]
credits, review [by Marjorie Bilbow]

Shock Xpress vol.2 no.3 [Spring 1988] p.26 [UK]
illustrated review

Starburst no.116 pp.23-24 [UK]
article

Stills no.30 [March 1987] p.78 [UK]
production notes

Time Out no.915 [2 March 1988] p.34 [UK]
illustrated review [by Nigel Floyd]

Variety 8 April 1987 p.8 [USA]
credits

Variety 20 April 1988 p.18 [USA]
credits, review [by Lor]

BOOKS

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.54
credits, review

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

brains, brainwashing, drugs, hallucinations, monsters, parasites, subways

Last Updated: 6 March, 2007