1 / 7
RUNTIME
Did you know
86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Brain Damage
"It's a Headache from Hell."
1988 1h 26m EN
👍
6.7
SOLID
🍅
69%
FRESH
👌
61
METACRITIC
⭐
6.5
IMDB
★6.7TMDB · 319🍅69%Rotten Tomatoes●61Metacritic★6.5IMDB · 14,582
HorrorComedyScience Fiction
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Brian comes under the addictive spell of a parasite with the ability to induce euphoric hallucinations in its hosts.
“It's a Headache from Hell.”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Rick Hearst
Brian
Gordon MacDonald
Mike
Jennifer Lowry
Barbara
John Zacherle
Aylmer (voice)
Theo Barnes
Morris
Lucille Saint-Peter
Martha
Vicki Darnell
Blonde in Hell
Joseph Gonzalez
Guy in Shower
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Frank Henenlotter
- Writers
- Frank Henenlotter
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 7
ERA
Did you know
38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Frank Henenlotter, shot by Bruce Torbet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Frank Henenlotter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Rick Hearst and Gordon MacDonald and Jennifer Lowry carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "It's a Headache from Hell.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0094793 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Frank Henenlotter directs. Bruce Torbet behind the camera. Frank Henenlotter cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 238 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Directed by Frank Henenlotter, shot by Bruce Torbet. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Editor Frank Henenlotter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Rick Hearst and Gordon MacDonald and Jennifer Lowry carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "It's a Headache from Hell.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0094793 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Classified under 16 themes, including "hallucination", "addiction", "faust", "public restroom".
- 9Released under 19 different titles around the world.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Bruce Torbet
- Editing
- Frank Henenlotter
- Makeup / hair
- Gabriel Bartalos
- VFX supervisor
- Al Magliochetti
- Runtime
- 86 min · 1h 26m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 69% 🍅 Fresh
- Metacritic
- 61/100
- IMDB rating
- 6.5/10 · 14,582 votes
- MPAA
- R
Awards
1 nomination total
Also by
Frank Henenlotter
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
- PA
Palisades Partners
- LE
Levins-Henenlotter Productions
US
Key crew
- First Assistant DirectorGregory Lamberson
- ProducerEdgar Ievins
- Executive ProducerAndre Blay
- Executive ProducerAl Eicher
- Sound EditorPeter Clark
- Sound RecordistRussell Jessum
- Sound MixerAaron Nathanson
- Sound EditorBruce Torbet
- SoundJoe Warda
- Wardrobe DesignerIvy Rosovsky
- Additional MusicMatthias Donnelly
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistGabriel Bartalos
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistJames McLoughlin
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistNick Santeramo
- Special Effects Makeup ArtistRichard Mayone
- CharactersDavid Kindlon
- Associate ProducerCharles C. Bennett
- Associate ProducerRay Sundlin
- MusicClutch Reiser
- MusicGus Russo
- EditorFrank Henenlotter
- EditorJames Y. Kwei
- Art DirectionIvy Rosovsky
- Makeup ArtistDan Frye
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- hallucination
- addiction
- faust
- public restroom
- parasite
- withdrawal
- high
- subway train
- metaphor
- faustian pact
- 1980s
- hookup
- euphoria
- communal shower
- body horror
- fellatio
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical (limited)1988-04-15R· Theatrical version had some more gorey scenes cut to avoid an X-Rating. The Unrated DVD release contains these segments uncensored.
- Theatrical1988-04-22
Also known as
International titles
- O Soro do MalBR
- Elmer le remue-méningesFR
- Ekrixi egefalouGR
- Έκρηξη ΕγκεφάλουGR
- Pgua mohinIL
- Brain Damage (La maledizione di Elmer)IT
- Il succhiacervelliIT
- Zniszczenie mózguPL
- Danos CerebraisPT
- Повреждение мозгаSU
- ElmerDE
- Sin controlAR
- Εγκεφαλική βλάβηGR
- Burein DamêjiJP
- ブレインダメージJP
