The Brain (1988 film)
A giant alien brain enslaves a town via TV.
The Brain is a 1988 Canadian science fiction horror film. It depicts a giant brain-like alien that mentally enslaves a town's residents through a television self-help program.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Edward Hunt
- Story
- Barry Pearson
- Starring
- Tom Bresnahan / Cynthia Preston / David Gale
- Producer
- Don Haig
- Music
- Paul Zaza
- Cinematography
- Gilles Corbeil
- Studio
- Brightstar Films / Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment
- Distributor
- Brightstar Films
- Released
- 4 November 1988
- Runtime
- 91 minutes
- Country
- Canada
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Dr. Anthony Berol Blake, who runs a television show called Independent Thinking promoting a self-help program resembling Scientology. With the help of an alien organism called The Brain, Blake uses brainwashing and mind control. The only resistance comes from a brilliant but troubled high school student, Jim Majelewski, who is immune due to being extremely smart and suffering from fantasy. After being caught flushing sodium down a school toilet, Jim is forced to join Blake's program. He begins having visions of The Brain and other hallucinations. With help from his girlfriend Janet and best friend Willie, Jim tries to free the town. Willie is killed by The Brain. Blake and his assistant Verna brainwash the populace into believing Jim is a murderer. Jim beheads Blake on live television, revealing Blake was not human. The Brain kills Verna, then Jim destroys The Brain by throwing sodium into its mouth. Jim resumes a normal life.
Reader's Guide
The Brain is a 1988 Canadian science fiction horror film that uses a giant alien brain as a metaphor for television's power to control minds. The film attempts to comment on the gullibility of viewers and the influence of TV, though a contemporary review in Variety called it a cliche-ridden effort with little comic or ironic relief. The film's ambition to critique media manipulation vanishes quickly according to that review. Despite its low critical reception, the film has gained a cult following among fans of 1980s B-movie horror. Its depiction of a brain-like alien and mind control through a self-help program remains a distinctive, if flawed, entry in Canadian genre cinema.
Did You Know?
- The film was shown in Toronto on November 4, 1988.
- The alien is a giant brain-like organism called The Brain.
- The protagonist Jim Majelewski is immune to mind control because he is extremely smart and suffers from fantasy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Brain (1988 film)?
It is a 1988 Canadian science fiction horror movie that centers on a massive, brain-shaped extraterrestrial taking over a small town.
What powers does the alien brain have in The Brain (1988 film)?
The giant brain-like alien can mentally dominate and enslave the residents of an entire town, effectively turning them into its puppets.
How does The Brain (1988 film) control the townspeople?
The alien broadcasts its influence through a television self-help program, using the medium as its vehicle for subjugating the population.
What country and genre does The Brain (1988 film) belong to?
The film was produced in Canada and is classified as a science fiction horror picture.
Why is The Brain (1988 film) notable in the alien-invasion genre?
It stands out for its unusual premise of a literal giant brain using a TV self-help show as its mechanism for mind control, blending body horror with satirical commentary on media manipulation.
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