Bad Taste Review

MPAA Rating: NR
Released: 1987

Bad Taste was an independent horror comedy made by a group of friends that possessed a budget that would make most low-budget films seem extravagant by comparison. So why waste time reviewing a film that was little more than a weekend art project that took place over the course of three years? First, the result was surprisingly decent, and second… the director of this independent film was none other than Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings).

The residents of a small New Zealand town have been abducted and killed by a race of aliens working for an intergalactic fast food chain; it appears that human flesh has become a culinary delight among the beings on other planets. The government of New Zealand isn't about to take this harvesting sitting down, so they hire a band of mercenaries known as the Astro-Investigation and Defense Service (AIDS) to hunt down the aliens.

AIDS is composed of Ozzy (Terry Potter), Barry (Pete O'Herne), Giles (Craig Smith), Frank (Mike Minett) and Derek (Peter Jackson), and together the five toughened yet quirky individuals take the fight to the rural streets in a series of outlandish and disgustingly gory battles.

It's pretty obvious that Bad Taste's plot is about as basic as they come, but when the base premise is as fun as this one then such simplicity actually works to enhance the film. Nothing about this film should be taken at more than face value; it is pure, unadulterated schlock that really contains none of the magnificent and awe-inspiring cinematography and/or acting of his Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Then again, Bad Taste was Peter Jackson's first film, crafted independently for the sum of $11,000 until the New Zealand Film Commission donated enough money for Jackson to complete his project. There was no studio support, no budget and no real actors… just a deep passion to create a decent flick. As such, it would be laughable to compare this project with the multi-million dollar epic that made him a big name in Hollywood circles.

Normally I am wary of independent films; you won't catch me turning on the Sundance Channel very often at all. Although I am not so highbrow as to turn up my nose at anything less than polished studio releases (I quite enjoy low-budget B-movies, when they have something to offer), independent films created on shoestring budgets are often too inferior and cheap for me to stomach. They are like family videos – they may be charming for those related to the project, but those who have no connections to it just won't develop any real "draw."

That having been said, I enjoyed Bad Taste quite a bit. The acting is hammy and over the top, but then again it was intended to be since the entire movie is built upon a foundation of outrageousness and irreverence. While generally classified as a horror, Bad Taste is not in the least bit scary… but it sure is gory. Some of the scenes in this film could test the constitutions of more sensitive viewers, for there are scenes of heads being blown off, brains slipping from a fellow's cranium (and being reinserted), vomit being eaten and much more. Believe me, folks, this is gross stuff, but because the film is so tongue-in-cheek the film gets away with it. It never really horrifies, it just makes us roll our eyes in amusement and wonder how much further Jackson could possibly go.

The tongue-in-cheek vibe really makes the film a lot of fun to watch, but sometimes scenes of pure hilarity ambush us when we least expect it. One example is where a member of AIDS barricades himself from a group of aliens inside a woodshed. The aliens wish to enter, so they grab one of their own and swing him back and forth into the door, using his head as a battering ram. All the while the fellow being used as a ram has a goofy grin splayed across his face… it's just a madcap scene.

Bad Taste cannot be classified as a great movie, but it is a whole lot of visceral fun if you can accept its zany premise and excessive gore.

Movie rating: 7 stars

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Bad Taste
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Other Resources:

Bad Taste IMDb Page
Bad Taste Fan Site - Features interviews, a multitude of photos, and more.

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