Say NO to Blue Slug Drugs

It’s hard to believe in this day and age, but you can actually make a decent film with no budget to speak of! A prime example of this is this independent NYC-lensed flick from Frank (Basket Case, Frankenhooker) Henenlotter.

Brian (Rick Hearst, who has been a regular on Guiding Light for many years and is probably embarrassed by this film - though he shouldn’t be) is your regular city kid living with his brother somewhere in the greater metropolitan area. He wakes up one day with a hole in the back of his neck that drips a blue ooze. The ooze comes from a parasitic worm-thing (with a voice like TV’s Frasier) that has decided to roost in young Brian’s head. The worm-thing, a charming ancient being named Aylmer, keeps Brian high on hallucinogenic parasite juice in exchange for company, shelter . . . and the occasional warm human brain. Brian soon becomes addicted to the euphoric qualities of the parasite juice which in turn makes Aylmer more demanding. Brian, spurred by drug addiction but also mortified by the death he inadvertently causes, becomes Aylmer’s unwilling slave. All the while Aylmer’s original owners - an old couple who have been on the parasite juice for years - desperately search for the missing creature as their mental health deteriorates from cold turkey withdrawal. The film climaxes in a bloody and insane scramble for the all-consuming Aylmer and his joy-juice.

In essence a not-too-subtle allegory of drug addiction and the consequences thereof, Brain Damage gets the message across in a much more harrowing and honest way than any After School Special. Brian is just a regular guy who becomes a drug fiend before he realizes anything’s wrong. His exciting experiences with the Aylmer juice drive the people who love him away. He literally becomes a slave to the hallucinogen-producing Aylmer, killing for him on a regular basis. And by the time Brian realizes what he’s become, it’s too late for him to do anything about it. In one of the film’s most surreal and defining moments, Brian has checked into a flea bag hotel to try and go cold turkey. Aylmer, patiently waiting for Brian to cave in to his addiction, sings a poignant Broadway show tune as Brian writhes, foaming at the mouth, on the filthy floor. In the end, the desire for Aylmer juice destroys everyone - Brian’s loved ones, the elderly couple, Aylmer, and even Brian himself.

Henenlotter has long been one of my favorite film makers. He always manages to make interesting, personal films despite the trappings of the horror genre and obvious budgetary limitations. Brain Damage, like his other films, walks a thin line between horror, humor, and social allegory, balancing the elements with a sure hand. While most categorize Henenlotter’s films as schlock, there’s always something deeper about them; an auteur-like consistency of tone that can’t be readily dismissed. The bizarre plot and characters, clever hallucination sequences, and nuances of surreality are the qualities that distinguish Henenlotter from his peers in the realm of horror.

Kudos as well to Gabe Bartalos (the "B" of "KNBFX") for his interesting special effects on a shoestring budget. Aylmer is the most charming ten inches of blue latex to ever hit the silver screen and the "pulling brains out of the ear" scene is truly squirm-inducing.

A blue-tinted pastiche of cityscape, death, addiction, and tragedy makes Brain Damage worth a look (or a second look if you’re like me and have seen it before) - it gets better as time progresses, which is a rare quality in film these days. More fun to watch than Reefer Madness and twenty times more likely to make you swear off drugs.

Henenlotter fans should be on the lookout for the Duane and Belial (from Henenlotter’s Basket Case) cameo on the subway train - the cherry topping of this surreal sundae.

- Editor X