AmateurMovieReviews.com

The Story: Four men from the New Zealand National Air and Space Defense protect a small New Zealand fishing town against aliens killing humans to use for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Many of us have already seen Dead-Alive, and if you're one of the ones who hasn't, go get it! Prior to Dead-Alive, Peter Jackson and four of his close friends put together a film called Bad Taste. Filmed over a four year period and on a budget no bigger than $250,000, this sci-fi horror epic set the tone for his later Dead-Alive.
A small fishing town in New Zealand has been captured by aliens other than earthlings. Derek, played by Peter Jackson, heads a group of three others working for the New Zealand National Air and Space Defense. They're brought in by their superiors to eliminate the aliens and save the town.

Derek is working on a hillside via a two way-radio. This gives him an over view of the town and its surroundings and allows him to communicate with Barry (Pete O'Herne) down below. Barry however, has problems of his own; he's being run down by a man with an axe. In an attempt to guide Barry to safety, Derek guides him out to the rocky beach, unfortunately, the man follows and Barry must disperse of him with his .45. (What we see here is a man who loses half his head, and the first indication that this movie is going to be great!)

After the man's (or should I use the term alien's) death, we're taken just outside of town to a man driving a car to the same place our dim-witted hero's are trying to save. Giles, played by Craig Smith, is in route to collect donations for a charity. Although you're left wondering whether or not this charity is legit. Even further from town are Ozzy (Terry Potter) and Frank (Mike Minett) awaiting further instructions from Derek.

Eventually, our four hero's attempt to save the collector from the aliens who've captured him. In doing so, they find out the towns people have all been killed, dismembered, and packaged for an intergalactic fast-food chain. And I'm sure if I continue to give any more of this film away, I'll be killed, dismembered, and packed away for intergalactic fast-food from those of you reading this!

Where to begin? Peter Jackson is brilliant! Both on film and behind the camera as the films director. His character Derek is both funny and repulsive at the same time. Jackson has the uncanny ability to splice gore scenes with live action sequences seamlessly. Thus giving the movie its unusual sense of reality. And the gore comes thick and fast. From a big bowl of vomit soup, to a guy jumping through someone with a chainsaw.
Terry Potter (Ozzy), Pete O'Herne (Barry), Mike Minett (Frank), and Craig Smith (Giles) all work together exceptionally well. Doug Wren as the alien leader also plays his role perfectly.
Jackson's make-up effects are also extremely effective. While not nearly as abundant as in Dead-Alive, there's still plenty to write home about and you'll be using your frame by frame button to see this over and over again.

So what's wrong with the film? I have some minor gripes about some of the acting, but over-all it's acceptable. Near the end of the film, the gunfight is a bit to long and the choreography leaves a lot to be desired. Specifically with some of the hand to hand combat scenes. Outside of this though, the film's a boatload of fun and you can see where this film set the tone for Dead Alive. With this film, Dead Alive (A.K.A Brain Dead) Meet the Feebles and the Frighteners, Jackson was on top form. I prefer watching these old school shlock horror gore fests then sitting through his laboriously long Lord of the Rings trilogy. Don’t get me wrong, they are cinema masterpieces, but a tad too long to be watching midgets talk about a magic ring. Though they do kick the ass of Harry Potter any day.

In the end, this is a must own. I doubt you'll find it at your local video store, but if you do, rent it! I guarantee you purchase it afterwards.