Dead Alive | Forgotten Horror 7

The Goriest Love Letter to Horror Ever Made

We dive headfirst into one of the most gloriously over-the-top horror comedies ever made. It's Dead Alive, also known as Braindead outside the U.S.

We both absolutely love this movie. It’s zany, it’s silly, and it’s soaked in more blood and guts than any film has a right to contain. Like a deranged Looney Tunes cartoon splattered across a haunted house floor, Dead Alive manages to balance absurd comedy with genuine craftsmanship in a way only early-’90s Peter Jackson could pull off.

What Makes Dead Alive Work

We talk a lot about how Jackson (yes, that Peter Jackson) crafted something so grotesque yet so joyous. The film’s energy is infectious, from its wild practical effects and jaw-dropping set pieces to its perfect blend of slapstick and splatter. It’s a movie that knows exactly what it is: an unhinged, blood-soaked love letter to horror and to filmmaking itself.

A Masterclass in Controlled Chaos

For all its insanity, Dead Alive is surprisingly well-made. The camera work is kinetic, the editing razor-sharp, and the practical effects, especially in the lawnmower scene, are still jaw-dropping decades later. Beneath the gallons of fake blood, there’s also real heart, a twisted sense of romance, and that offbeat New Zealand humor that makes it impossible not to grin through the carnage.

Final Thoughts

Whether you call it Dead Alive or Braindead, this movie is an absolute blast. It’s disgusting, hilarious, and completely unforgettable. A perfect reminder of just how far practical effects and imagination can go when a filmmaker decides to lean all the way in.

Listen to our full breakdown of this splatter classic, available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

Just… maybe don’t eat spaghetti while you listen.