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Bad Taste
New Zealand - 1987
Directed by Peter Jackson
Imagine Mars Attacks as a zero budget production made without regard for the
certificate. Alternative titles could have included
`Man-eating space
aliens invade New Zealand and lots of bad imitation gunk and chainsaw accidents ensue', or
even ,`The film that will have you laughing to death and wanting to be violently ill at
the same time' On reflection however, `Bad Taste' sums it up far better. Aliens
have landed on earth and they aren't friendly: "There's no glowing fingers on
these bastards. We've got a bunch of extra-terrestrial psychopaths on our hands."
Representatives of an intergalactic fast food company, they're here to turn humanity into the galaxy's new taste sensation. The only thing that stands in their way is the unfortunately acronymic Astro Investigations and Defence Service (the indefatigable Derek and three others, armed with uzis, magnum, rocket launcher and chainsaw).
The characters of the film are classic comic figures falling somewhere between
the three stooges and Harry Enfield's scousers; witness their sheer determination and
imaginative efforts as to the best way to kill the
alien invaders and
splatter serious amounts of intestine over the screen. In its 90 minute running time Bad
Taste gives us an alien who accidentally slits his own throat; vomit eating; multiple
mutilations; an exploding sheep and an incredible finale where Derek chainsaws the head
off an alien only to exit out of its bum, "reborn".
It's very sick. It's also very, very funny. The gore effects are so unrealistic and taken to such parodic excesses that you can't but help laugh. Jackson clearly understands the difference between good and bad taste; and it's a point of interest that his supposedly bad taste film, with its all male cast, pointedly avoids that bete noire of the horror genre: misogyny.
Its easy to see Bad Taste's flaws/charms: Post synchronised sound
which isn't in synch; acting (from Jackson's schoolfriends and workmates) that doesn't
merit the term; an atrocious score played by some of these same friends (memorably
described in a previous EUFS magazine as "James Last plays The Professionals").
But the real question is whether anyone else could have done any better with the extremely
limited resources available and the answer has to be "no". Jackson (more
recently directing Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners)
took a hand in the
production, writing, camera operation, editing, effects and acting, for reasons of budget
more than rampant egotism.
Anyone who manages to last to the end will be able to do nothing but agree that Jackson has created a masterpiece (of bad taste). Bad Taste is guaranteed to make you laugh more than many films costing 100 or even 1000 times as much. The challenge for Jackson, now a respected mainstream director, is to continue making great entertainment within a system that doesn't like to take risks.
Review by Keith H Brown/Andrew Hesketh
Taken from EUFS Programme 1997-98
Copyright © 1995-1998 Edinburgh
University Film Society
Guest Comments
From: "hank"
"one of the best movies i ever saw! a cult classic now if you can tell me where i can find a copy to buy that would make me very happy!? "
From: "reddevildriver"
"Bad taste is the best movie in the world I come from Finland and me and my friends
like to watch it couple time in a month I have a very bad English sorry for that Bad
taste is just best movie in the world i am 14 years old"
From: "Joachim Ringstad"
"Bad taste is the best movie in the world","Where can i start? I
have bought the bad taste movie around 6 times, and i have probably seen it more than one
hundred times. the reason i have to buy it again and again, is because i have lived all
over the world, and wherever i go, my friends want me to leave them a copy. Being abit
high and sitting close to a bigscreen tv and watching it takes cake. The metallic sound
quality kills you, and the way it its taped makes your head spin too.
Exquisite bouqet Robert. I would say exquisite movie. From Joachim in Norway"
From: "Stuart Mogford"
"Derek Vs Ash","I have just seen the movie ""Bad Taste""for the first time and wonder who would win in a chainsaw fight between our very own Derek or ""Evil Dead"" character Ash."
From: "Jon Soldehed from Finland"
"Bad Taste! What a movie!","It includes: blood, more blood and gore than
Braindead, comedy, ultra violence, big guns, (Thank God!) no women actors, no dramatic
scenes, aliens, guy named Derek with a chainsaw, pieces from some guys brains and more
bloody things what are just like my bad taste!"
From: "Mike Hunt"
"Quite possibly, Peter Jackson's ""Bad Taste"" is the greatest low budget horror film ever made. I mean, sure ""Chainsaw Massacre"" was good, and I haven't seen ""Dawn of the Dead"" yet, but, come on, this is pure genius. Made for just $250,000 on Jackson's Evening Post payroll, over a period of four years (on a freaking camcorder!), this notoriously gross gore-fest is quite frankly a fast-paced thrill ride from start to finish, blowing away all Hollywood crap. You never get bored watching ""The Boys"" take down a group of gun-toting aliens, just itching to make human an item on their fast food menu. I mean, this film, in which Jackson did almost everything and his unpaid friends did the rest, is so fun and talented that you can't help to enjoy it and laugh along the way. I would strongly recommend this to any horror buff, along with all of Jackson's other gore flicks. See 'em and love 'em! And see ""Bad Taste""
From: "Jusu"
"When i saw this movie, i could'nt understand that, why i haven't saw this movie before? It has so Blood-Funny Things, that i laughed so much, I almost come Crazy!½!""=#=""`?!"
From: "Blob."
"Great Film!", Bad Tatse is a friggen great film! It rules
because it's cheap, funny and rank! Everyone has to see it! And I would like
to know where, and when the hell it's coming out on DVD."
From: "Carrie Tagawa"
"The best movie ever"..."I saw Bad Taste many years ago and I keep watching it every now and then. It´s awesome. I wish I could have been there....All my love to ""THE BOYS""
From: "Daniel Alonso"
"I love all Peter Jackson films, but Bad Taste is my favourite. It's humour.
It's the greatest movie ever made. Now I just have one thing to say: ""I'm
a Derek. And Dereks don't run."""
From: "Johan Weimarsson"
"I love bad taste thats the best movie I have ever seen!"
From: "Dofa from sweden"
"Bad taste is a very bad/good movie But i like ""Braindead"" more. Is a very cool style on this films i think!!! You dont know if you should laugh or be scared, of this movies.. Sweden is best!!! from Dj DreamMaster"
From: "Brunst"
"Bad Taste is the best movie I've seen in this genre. It's so bloody and gory and so funny at the same time. I'd never thought such a violent movie could be so amusing!"
From: "Rude"
"Bad Taste is a superbly funny and completely sick film, not as bloody as Braindead but certainly a whole lot more disgusting. This is probably the only film which has made me feel physically sick."
From: "Wi$i from Germany"
"This film is only shit. Good shit, i think. Bloody, silly and very funny. I'm german, so i can't speak english very well, but I want to comment this cool film...Thanks to Peter, who made it for me....."
From: "Alice Wonderland"
"Bad Taste The Bastards Have Landed f***ing rocks not just because it's made by Peter Jackson the creator and director god but because it's the best movie to see when your high and sober and never get sick of it and to me that's hard to find these days. If they needed a president in the Hollywood industries to dominate what should be made and shouldn't be I would definately vote for Peter. If their was a cure for bad expensive movies and sequels that irritates the hell out of you that Hollywood makes this movie would be the dose. "
From: "Cyberbob"
"Bad Taste is the best film i had ever seen. i am here at my school and watching for bad taste pages. This is the best page we found."
From: "Dono"
"Bad taste's a great gore movie and this is the best Peter Jackson's movie."
From: ???
"merci Barry, Frank,Oz et Dereck.On ne peut echapper a bad taste.
From: "homie n tha hood"
"bad taste kicks ass!"
From: "DAVE THE RAVE (WIGAN ENGLAND)"
"I LOVE WATCHING BAD TASTE. PETER JACKSON'S FILMS ARE SO FUNNY AND BAD TASTE IS JUST SO CHEAPLY SICK AND GORY IT HAS YOU PI.SING YOURSELF WITH LAUGHTER......WELL DONE PETER"
From: "spoony"
"Many a drunken 'lads night' has been spent watching Bad Taste. How to sum it up, greeaaatt! funny, over spill of blood, mushy brains and the gruel. With the low budget Peter Jackson has created a cult movie, which I myself love. Thankfully my friends have the same warped sense of humour, so long live Bad Taste. And you never know, they may be coming to get you bastards...he..he..he..."
From: "Steven" - Ireland
"Excellent film, I loved it... Another P. Jackson masterpiece is ""DEAD ALIVE"" sort of a more greusome
Bad Taste... Worth watching."
From: "HB"
"Hah","Great. There's nothing like the smell of boiled brain in the morning. It's impossible not to laugh at this film. Ok, maybe not impossible but hard. And the fact that it's shot on a normal camcorder just makes it better. I was amazed the first time I saw it. I knew it was very low budget, and it showed. (somewhat) bad acting and poor quality - But the effects were great for a low budget movie.. Hell.. Even for a high budget movie... And if you don't wanna watch bad taste for the blood and gore don't watch it at all. But before you discount it try and imagine a man walking around with a sledge hammer in his head and brain running down his cheaks. Cheers."
From: "luiz, o suíno"
"bad taste rules","bad taste is even better than dead-alive(braindead)!!!!The gore is wonderfull and the history is the greatest!"
From: "GronHog"
"when will this film be available. I haven't seen it in about 10 years. I have told so many people about how great it is, and haven't been able to get it. The video store that I use to rent it from has shut down years ago, so sad for me. Great to see I'm not the only nut that loves this movie. A must see for anybody with a funny bone!"
From: "Woody"
"Bad Taste Is Better Than Star Wars, and I'm A Star Wars FREAK!!"
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