More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011)
Studio: CAV/MPE
DVD Release: October 18, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
From the makers of the amazing and detailed look at the Nightmare on Elm Street films called Never Sleep Again (which I reviewed on this site a few months back), comes a new documentary on another 80's horror classic. More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead is every fans dream come true. This two hour documentary gives us everything we wanted to know about the history of Dan O'Bannon's cult horror comedy classic, Return of the Living Dead. If you love the film as much as I do or even enjoy documentaries on film making, then More Brains is a must-see.
Narrated by Brian Peck (Scuz from Return of the Living Dead and also cameos in Return 2 and 3) this documentary takes us inside the entire making of the film. More Brains starts off with Return's original concept which had Night of the Living Dead's writer John Russo talk about his script based on his book which was more of a sequel to Night of the Living Dead with director Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) originally attached. We hear how Dan O'Bannon was brought on as writer once Russo's script was turned down and fought his way to direct the film although O'Bannon had never directed before. From the beginning of the film, no one holds back. Everyone that is interviewed is honest and wastes no time in dishing out some of the dirt or feelings about the making of the film and its final product.
Some of my favorite highlights include O'Bannon hiring Jewel Shepard after he saw her at a strip club he frequented, Clu Gulager's explosion over O'Bannon's handling with actors, the original make up artist being fired from the film, Miguel Nunez hiding the fact that he was homeless while they were shooting the film, and Linnea Quigley's nude scene that had the producers making her shave her pubic hair and then forcing her to wear a contraption much like a cod piece.
More Brains interviews not only everyone involved with the film but even showing some behind the scenes footage while on set. It's interesting to see certain cast and crew members talk about how the shoot was a difficult one while others talk about how much fun they had. Like Never Sleep Again, the conclusion of the documentary ends on a bitter sweet note with Beverly Randolph tearing up when talking about the fans of the film and how special they are to her and footage of Dan O'Bannon's last interview as he tells the fans how much he loves them and thanks them (Dan O'Bannon died on December 17, 2009 of Crohn's Disease).
The DVD is also loaded with some amazing special features. We get a 30 minute documentary about the making of Return of the Living Dead Part II and another 30 minute documentary on Return of the Living Dead III. I almost wish these were included in the feature length documentary as there are some interesting highlights like Thom Mathews discussing his feelings on making part II (they are not good feelings) and Brian Yuzna's decision on having a homeless man portray a zombie in Return of the Living Dead III whose penis kept falling out in front of the entire crew. There are also deleted scenes that are included from the documentary and also a look at the locations of the first film which have definitely changed throughout the years.
More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead is no doubt the definitive look at one of the greatest zombie films ever made. You would have to be brain dead to not want to see this.
DVD Release: October 18, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
From the makers of the amazing and detailed look at the Nightmare on Elm Street films called Never Sleep Again (which I reviewed on this site a few months back), comes a new documentary on another 80's horror classic. More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead is every fans dream come true. This two hour documentary gives us everything we wanted to know about the history of Dan O'Bannon's cult horror comedy classic, Return of the Living Dead. If you love the film as much as I do or even enjoy documentaries on film making, then More Brains is a must-see.
Narrated by Brian Peck (Scuz from Return of the Living Dead and also cameos in Return 2 and 3) this documentary takes us inside the entire making of the film. More Brains starts off with Return's original concept which had Night of the Living Dead's writer John Russo talk about his script based on his book which was more of a sequel to Night of the Living Dead with director Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) originally attached. We hear how Dan O'Bannon was brought on as writer once Russo's script was turned down and fought his way to direct the film although O'Bannon had never directed before. From the beginning of the film, no one holds back. Everyone that is interviewed is honest and wastes no time in dishing out some of the dirt or feelings about the making of the film and its final product.
Some of my favorite highlights include O'Bannon hiring Jewel Shepard after he saw her at a strip club he frequented, Clu Gulager's explosion over O'Bannon's handling with actors, the original make up artist being fired from the film, Miguel Nunez hiding the fact that he was homeless while they were shooting the film, and Linnea Quigley's nude scene that had the producers making her shave her pubic hair and then forcing her to wear a contraption much like a cod piece.
More Brains interviews not only everyone involved with the film but even showing some behind the scenes footage while on set. It's interesting to see certain cast and crew members talk about how the shoot was a difficult one while others talk about how much fun they had. Like Never Sleep Again, the conclusion of the documentary ends on a bitter sweet note with Beverly Randolph tearing up when talking about the fans of the film and how special they are to her and footage of Dan O'Bannon's last interview as he tells the fans how much he loves them and thanks them (Dan O'Bannon died on December 17, 2009 of Crohn's Disease).
The DVD is also loaded with some amazing special features. We get a 30 minute documentary about the making of Return of the Living Dead Part II and another 30 minute documentary on Return of the Living Dead III. I almost wish these were included in the feature length documentary as there are some interesting highlights like Thom Mathews discussing his feelings on making part II (they are not good feelings) and Brian Yuzna's decision on having a homeless man portray a zombie in Return of the Living Dead III whose penis kept falling out in front of the entire crew. There are also deleted scenes that are included from the documentary and also a look at the locations of the first film which have definitely changed throughout the years.
More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead is no doubt the definitive look at one of the greatest zombie films ever made. You would have to be brain dead to not want to see this.
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