SMALLS GETS BRAIN DAMAGE...AND ENJOYS IT!

In Brain Damage, everyday normal guy Brian (Rick Herbst) wakes up to find a brain eating parasite named Aylmer (voiced by famed late night horror host John Zacherle) attached to his body. In return for hosting him, Aylmer doses Brian with a powerful, orgasmic hallucinogen whenever Brian needs it. Brian quickly becomes addicted to the powerful drug, and soon finds himself complicit in Aylmer's carnivorous exploits.

I have to give Brain Damage credit, it's not just schlock. There is more to it than that. The whole film acts as a metaphor for drug addiction (Brian goes from blissful ignorance, to horror when he realizes what Aylmer has been up to, to eventual bargaining when he realizes he isn't strong enough to resist Aylmer's "drug juice"). It's nice to see schlock that is attempting to be something more.

Rick Herbst as Brian is basically a blank-slate, but is still pretty likable despite doing some horrendous things throughout the film. We don't really learn a whole lot about Brian, the film starting out with Aylmer just having attached himself to him. It would have been nice to get some character development, but it's not exactly needed for a film like this.

The effects throughout range from decent to just plain bad (I'm looking at you train scene). The kills for the most part are fine (with the best being the blowjob kill), but the multiple hallucinogenic scenes aren't impressive, creative, or all that well done (The only half-way decent one is the very first "trip" Brian goes on).  Brain Damage also isn't super well made. Frank Henenlotter doesn't seem to know how to effectively transition between scenes as the film is filled with fades and cuts to black (I would suggest taking a shot whenever one of these occur, but I don't want anyone to die of alcohol poisoning). There is also a lack of any real resolution for Brian (though his final scene is cool).

When all is said and done, Brain Damage is a highly entertaining schlocky film that gives you plenty of blood, gore, and fun while also telling a (not too subtle) message about drug addiction. It's a definite recommendation.

3.5 STARS