Brain Damage (1988)

Frank (Basket Case) Henenlotter's second film as writer/director is 1988s thoroughly entertaining horror/comedy Brain Damage. The movie follows the downward spiral of main character Brian, who becomes involved with a talking parasite named Aylmer. This creature injects a narcotic fluid into Brian's cranium and simply demands that he be supplied with consumable brains in return.  It's twisted and sometimes gory while the bodies pile up as Brian feeds his voracious Aylmer habit.

the trailer

the feature

Basket Case (1982)

Frank Henenlotter wrote, directed, and handled many additional duties on 1982s Basket Case. It's a classic exploitation movie that proved to be successful in both the quickly disappearing world of grind house theaters and drive-ins, while also breaking out as a vhs home rental.

For me, much as was the case with The Evil Dead, Fangoria magazine alerted me to the upcoming horror film in the early 1980s with brief articles and photos detailing the production. I eagerly awaited the vhs release and was more than pleasantly surprised when the hype was exceeded by the actual item.


the trailer