Movies
Dead Alive (Braindead)
“Though it has been substantially scaled back since ‘The Frighteners’, Jackson’s bizarre and outlandish sense of humor was at its peak in Dead Alive. Like ‘Evil Dead II’, a film which the ‘Lord Of The Rings’ used as a template for his early output, the tone is set through the ridiculousness of the special effects gags, which range from simple zombie bites to having Lionel going full-on Ash with a lawnmower instead of a chainsaw in what could be one of the greatest scenes in genre history.”
Blu-ray Review
Before Peter Jackson went to Middle Earth or fulfilled his lifelong dream of visiting Skull Island, he was an ambitious horror junkie, churning out over-the-top splatter flicks in New Zealand. Dead Alive, his third feature length film, furthers the idea of something lurking behind the white picket fence seen in earlier efforts – aliens in Bad Taste; sexual depravity, drugs, and mob antics in Meet The Feebles – while using three hundred gallons of fake blood for a slapstick gore set piece. Unlike his first horror production, Jackson had a shooting schedule and a budget that would let him finish the film in under four years, and a script – which was reportedly not changed at all during production – instead of a random assortment of ideas he came up with during the week prior to shooting. Tightly directed by Jackson, Dead Alive is a dumb but incredibly fun horror-comedy with more than a few memorable scenes and one of the best movie quotes of the 90’s.
In conservative 1950s New Zealand, Lionel (Timothy Balme) is harboring a terrible secret: his house is filled with zombies. After his overbearing mother ruins his date with Paquita (Diana Penalver) and is bitten by a Sumatran Rat-Monkey at the zoo, she becomes ill and falls into a degenerative state. After succumbing to the sweet embrace of death and becoming one of the undead, the always faithful son keeps her immobile with anesthetics but, for one reason or another, she keeps escaping and turning others. Lionel rounds up all of the zombies and keeps them sedated in his basement, and somehow manages to keep the sweet Paquita in the dark about everything until Uncle Les – who’s a bit of a cad – shows up and begins blackmailing the undead babysitter for his inheritance.
Though it has been substantially scaled back since The Frighteners, Jackson’s bizarre and outlandish sense of humor was at its peak in Dead Alive. Like Evil Dead II, a film which the Lord Of The Rings used as a template for his early output, the tone is set through the ridiculousness of the special effects gags, which range from simple zombie bites to having Lionel going full-on Ash with a lawnmower instead of a chainsaw in what could be one of the greatest scenes in genre history. The only downside to the non-stop barrage of gore and Three Stooges nods is that there’s never a truly scary bit in the film, and yet Jackson’s frenzied momentum is enough to make Dead Alive work.
Dead Alive basically boils down to a Freudian journey of a man living in fear of his mother. Lionel is subservient to her, not even able to hold a steady relationship without her becoming involved – directly or indirectly – in it. The infection is the result of her poking her nose where it didn’t belong and being sneaky, and even in her undead life, she consistently makes things difficult for him. She becomes such a handful that the climax of the film is a rebirth of sorts – a grotesquely fun one at that.
A/V
Lionsgate’s 1080p transfer is incredibly uneven, with some parts stirring up bad memories of the studio’s early high-def output. During the opening scene with Stewart trying to escape Skull Island with the Rat-Monkey, the picture quality is on par with a print that’s been through the ringer; there’s noticeable digital noise of all kinds. Similar problems do pop up for the remainder of the film, but the heavy grain and softness are more distracting. Those hoping for the 104-minute international cut will be sorely disappointed but, if it’s any consolation, Jackson prefers the unrated 97-minute version that’s featured on the disc.Dead Alive wasn’t made on a huge budget and the finest masters available are almost assuredly not in immaculate condition, but there’s nothing here beyond a few shots with fine detail that make the HD upgrade worth purchasing. Same goes for the lossless 2.0 mix, which balances Peter Dasent’s goofy score and the gushy sound effects nicely but isn’t really anything to write home about. Father McGruder might kick ass for the Lord, but this Blu-ray definitely doesn’t.
This week’s big new horror release is of course Evil Dead Burn in theaters later in the week, but you don’t have to wait until this weekend to inject fresh nightmares into your eyeballs.
Five brand new horror movies have already released at home this week.
Here’s all the new horror that released on Tuesday, July 7, 2026!
Director André Øvredal’s (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) new movie Passenger is now available on Digital at home.
Here’s the synopsis for Passenger: “A few weeks into their van life adventure, a young couple witnesses a horrific accident that leaves the driver dead. Soon they’re being pursued by a demonic stalker who’s impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go.”
André Øvredal told Bloody Disgusting in an exclusive chat, “It’s a road movie, which is what I really fell in love with. It’s totally unique for me as a horror movie. Bridging the road movie with a haunting, essentially, on the road. I think it’s the scariest movie I’ve made.”
The cast includes Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Tony Doupe, Bonni Dichone, Devielle Johnson, Jessica Cruz, Miles Fowler, and Alan Trong.
The screenplay is written by Zachary Donohue (The Den) and T.W. Burgess (Mister Howl). Former Warner Bros production executive Walter Hamada, who steered the Conjuring and It franchises, is producing via his 18hz as part of his first-look deal with Paramount. It screenwriter Gary Dauberman is also producing via Coin Operated.
Supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and an eye-catching creature take center stage in The Leaching, now available on Digital from Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment.
“After waking up in a grave on her father’s isolated forest property with no idea of who she is or how she got there, Vivian must use her limited memory to piece together the nightmarish truth, all the while being tormented by the undead, a giant leech monster, and her ‘father.’
“Over the next few days, she will uncover the framework of a truly nefarious supernatural scheme, but will it be too late?”
The Leaching is written and directed by Evan Showalter (Ante Mortem, Bad Music Terry).
“The Leaching is an exploration of faith, the loss of self, and the monsters (literally) that emerge when people surrender themselves to something greater than they can understand,” says Showalter. “It’s an isolating horror film that plays with a very uncomfortable question.”
A film student finds herself trapped in a giallo nightmare in lo-fi horror movie City Wide Fever, which is now streaming exclusively on the Midnight Pulp streaming service.
The meta horror movie is from debut writer/director Josh Heaps.
In City Wide Fever, “Sam, a young film student, discovers a USB detailing the life and career of forgotten Italian horror director Saturnino Barresi.
“As she begins to investigate his mysterious disappearance, Sam finds herself pulled into a violent conspiracy eerily similar to those of the films she adores.”
Diletta Guglielmi, Angelica Kim, and Nancy Kimball star with Onur Tukel (Summer of Blood), Larry Fessenden (You’re Next), Carolyn Farina, and comedian Ian Fidance.
Paul Lê wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “This isn’t just a case of throwback filmmaking that’s been achieved with contemporary technology; the director used era-authentic equipment to help create this striking and nostalgic piece of modern horror. The end result is a movie… teeming with enough verve and style to make it feel fresh.”
A Gen Z slasher that pays homage to ’90s teen slasher movies, You’re Dead to Me is now available on Digital outlets at home courtesy of distributor Dark Star Pictures.
In the slasher film, “Three high school seniors skip prom for a secluded weekend party free from parents, school, and responsibility, but their escape turns terrifying when they learn one of their classmates has been brutally murdered.”
Denise Richards (Valentine) stars alongside Siena Agudong (Sidelined: The QB and Me, Sidelined 2: Intercepted), Jessica Belkin (“Baywatch” ), Ella Anderson (“Henry Danger,” Song Sung Blue), and Conor Husting (“Boo, Bitch”, Hollywood Stargirl).
The film was directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz.
You’re Dead to Me was co-written by Sarah Howard and Terry Castle, the daughter of the legendary producer and filmmaker William Castle (House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler).
Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Final Destination 5) directed the supernatural thriller Black Box, which has now taken flight on Digital outlets courtesy of Aura Entertainment.
The film is based on the short film The Vessel, and an original screenplay from horror writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hell Fest).
Black Box (Flight 298) follows the supernatural events surrounding Vero Airlines 298 from New Orleans to Seattle.
Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Kaja Chan, Asa Ali, Boadicea Ricketts, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Molly Belle Wright, Hanneke Talbot, Danny Mack, and Weronika Rosati star in Black Box.
Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (Barbarian, Boy Kills World) and Jon Oakes (Drive, The Guilty) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Warren Zide (The Final Destination, American Pie), and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker (Vessel) will executive produce.
What happened to Flight 298? Find out on Digital outlets now.
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