Bad Taste (1987)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Ken Hammon (additional material)
Tony Hiles (additional material)

Release Date:

June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

One thing the aliens hadn't counted on was Derek, and Dereks don't run!

Plot:

The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Fast Food | New Zealand | Chainsaw | Small Town

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Terry Potter	...	Ozzy / 3rd Class Alien
Pete O'Herne	...	Barry / 3rd Class Alien
Craig Smith	...	Giles / 3rd Class Alien
Mike Minett	...	Frank / 3rd Class Alien
Peter Jackson	...	Derek / Robert
Doug Wren	...	Lord Crumb
Dean Lawrie	...	Lord Crumb SPFX Double / 3rd Class Alien
Peter Vere-Jones	...	Lord Crumb's Voice
Ken Hammon	...	3rd Class Alien
Robin Griggs	...	3rd Class Alien
Michael Gooch	...	3rd Class Alien
Peter Gooch	...	3rd Class Alien
Laurie Yarrall	...	3rd Class Alien
Shane Yarrall	...	3rd Class Alien
Philip Lamey	...	3rd Class Alien

Also Known As:

Roast of the Day (New Zealand: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min | Australia:86 min (1989 video release) | Belgium:98 min (DVD version)

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 (DVD release) | Finland:K-15 (DVD release) | Spain:18 | Australia:(Banned) (queensland only) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | USA:R (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (cut) | Germany:12 (heavily cut) | Austria:16 | Germany:Not Rated (uncut DVD version) | Germany:18 (re-rating, uncut) | France:-16 (DVD rating) | Brazil:16 | Chile:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:(Banned) (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:Unrated | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:R21 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Gear Homestead, Okowai Road, Papakowhai, Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Company:

New Zealand Film Commission

Trivia:

Director Peter Jackson shot the film on weekends over a four-year period with friends playing the lead roles. Jackson funded most of the film himself until towards the end of the shoot when the New Zealand Film Commission gave him money to finish his project after being impressed with what he'd already produced. There was never a script for the movie; each scene was filmed from ideas the director had come up with during the week.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase through the forest, there is a grill over the rear window that keeps disappearing & re-appearing

Quotes:

Derek: There's no glowing fingers on these bastards.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Soundtrack:

ROCK LIES

If this is not a classic of its genre, what is?

When it comes to splatter-flicks it's hard to find a bigger milestone than "Bad Taste". I laugh my ass off when I think of the ignorant and unaware Tolkien-fans who are about to watch it in order to check out what Peter Jackson has done before "The Lord of the Rings". If they haven't seen "Bad Taste" they're in for a bit of a surprise even though mere name says it all. The foolish plot of "Bad Taste" is unessential - film is made to show audience as much everything that's sickening and repulsive as it's possible from an alien that splits into two pieces when its being hit by a car and then fiddles his own entrails, hero who's squeezing pieces of brain back into a cracked head and a bunch of lunatics from outer space who are eating steamy and lumpy vomit. This is not the most disgusting flick ever made. That's because luckily the gore effects are so hilariously clumsy that instead of making you throw up they make you laugh hard. This is still a bloody disgusting film. I love "Bad Taste" and I've seen it too many times but obviously it's impossible for me to judge people who don't like it.

Peter Jackson has directed so much better movies after this with more money and real actors. Nevertheless, in one way "Bad Taste" will always be his very best work - no matter what he has done and will do in the future. Jackson had mom and dad (!) as special assistants to the producer and his pals as an actors. You have to respect a movie that was originally made during several years with no bigger commercial motives - just because of the fun of making a motion picture. This is a film that is good because it looks cheap, clumsy and stupid and has a ridiculous plot, awful script and absolutely terrible actors. Usually those are faults and the main reasons why a film is lousy but in this case it's all part of the fun. Movie history has rarely seen as horrible acting as especially Terry Potter and Mike Minett as Ozzy and Frank are having. Actually Doug Wren who's playing the alien leader is the only one who I can call an actor with a bit of a talents. Peter Jackson's own unhealthy character Derek who forces himself through alien's anus with a chainsaw is an amusing bloke too. Taste couldn't possibly get any worse, so if you don't possess an extremely sick and perverse sense of humor don't bother. Phenomenal trash: 10/10.