2 thoughts on “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die”
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Other titles: O Cérebro Que Não Poderia Morrer | O Cérebro que Não Queria Morrer | Le cerveau qui ne voulait pas mourir | Der Kopf, der nicht sterben durfte | O dolofonos tou call girl | To myalo pou den pethaine | Το μυαλό που δεν πέθαινε | Il cervello che non voleva morire | 死なない頭脳 | El cerebro inmortal | Mózg, który nie może umrzeć | O Cérebro Que Não Podia Morrer | Мозг, который не мог умереть | El cerebro que no podía morir | Brain That Wouldn’t Die | The Black Door | The Head That Wouldn’t Die
Year Released: 1962
Month released: February
Certification: Australia:PG, Canada:G, Canada:PG, Germany:16, Norway:12, Sweden:(Banned), United Kingdom:12, United Kingdom:Rejected, United States:Approved, United States:TV-PG, West Germany:18
Directors: Joseph Green
Cast: Adele Lamont, Anthony La Penna, Arny Freeman, Audrey Devereau, Bonnie Sharie, Bruce Brighton, Bruce Kerr, Doris Brent, Eddie Carmel, Fred Martin, Jason Evers, Lola Mason, Marilyn Hanold, Paula Morris, Sammy Petrillo, Virginia Leith
Production Companies: Rex Carlton Productions
Art Department: Walter Pluff Jr.
Certification: Australia:PG, Canada:G, Canada:PG, Germany:16, Norway:12, Sweden:(Banned), United Kingdom:12, United Kingdom:Rejected, United States:Approved, United States:TV-PG, West Germany:18
Cinematographers: Stephen Hajnal
Colorization: Black and White
Country: United States
Distributors: American International Pictures (AIP), American-International Television (AIP-TV), Astral Films, Austria-Filmverleih, Elstree Hill Entertainment, Film Detective, Gemini Entertainment, Legend Films, Media Target Distribution, MGM Home Entertainment, Orion Pictures, Ostalgica, Pave TV, Penteo Films S.L., Reel Media International, Rogue Video, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory, Sinister Cinema, Tubi TV, VCI Home Video, Warner Home Video
Editors: Marc Anderson
Languages: English
Makeup Department: George Fiala
Music Department: Thomas J. Valentino
Other Companies: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Reeves Sound Studio, Thomas J. Valentino
Production Managers: Alfred H. Lessner
Script and Continuity Department: Eva Blair
Special Effects: Byron Baer
Okay real review now that I’ve gotten past the first five minutes of ‘wait I know those voice clips-.’
Surprisingly good horror. From the first words and the black opening screen I realized this wasn’t going to be like any other hokey, campy 60s horror flick. It is a campy 60s horror flick, but the horror is so well done. They took a bit of a silly premise (silly to modern viewers who are used to goofy ‘living head in a jar’ type representations) and ran with it. The horror of being alive. Of being dead. Of being neither. Of being helpless. Of being powerful beyond comprehension. It’s just so evocative and beautifully done.
I also like that they didn’t reveal what’s as behind the door until the end of the film (it’s very good practical effects but if we had seen too much of it the creature would have lost its shock factor). Speaking of that ending – I adore it! It’s open-ended and yet so finite.
This is the kind of film that has me wishing for an HD surround sound remaster and rerelease in theaters.
The song Neurachem by Circle of Dust, Celldweller samples liberally from this film! The nurse saying ‘strong and steady’ is so iconic. Insane that I didn’t intentionally seek the sample source out and somehow found this film!