Bad Taste (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Unknown H

  
  I have never understood and probably never will understand the fascination with this movie. It gets another star just for being so awful its actually watchable, which I think was the point of making it to begin with.

• Phil H

  
  Mr 'Lord of the Rings' Jackson directs and stars in this gloriously tacky yet extremely gory sci-fi spoof cum comedy as one of a bunch of rather ugly fat aliens in human disguise trying to capture humans for their fast food chain...yes. Sounds like a sketch from the mind of… More
  Mr 'Lord of the Rings' Jackson directs and stars in this gloriously tacky yet extremely gory sci-fi spoof cum comedy as one of a bunch of rather ugly fat aliens in human disguise trying to capture humans for their fast food chain...yes. Sounds like a sketch from the mind of Terry Gilliam and Monty Python and it actually plays like it too to be honest, its very wacky and over the top with really gut wrenching deaths and mutilations on show but they are so extreme they become comical. As for production, what production? lol! talk about minimal!! the whole film is hand held cam with the film looking like a home movie made by your uncle at Christmas when he's had too much to drink bahahahaha! Everything is done on the mega cheap and clearly allot of help from friends who got nothing for their work...for the love of their project for sure. The only thing that does look quite good are the rather unnerving alien masks, pretty fake looking of course yet somehow eerie, abit like something from 'Naked Lunch' maybe, the films cover always had a kind of 'video nasty' feel to it, or maybe that's just me. The end of the film is a nonstop gun fest with death all around and major claret on show hehe good use of weapons too by the looks of things, some definite training would of been required there I reckon unless they knew how to handle weaponry already. Totally bizarre plot mixed with a cheap as chips film that almost puts you off watching at first as its so basic yet a good example of guerrilla type filming with very little to work with.

• Kevin C

  
  Peter Jackson's first feature is one of the finest B-movies of all time. Chances are, you've never seen, and probably will never again see, something like this. Bloody, vile, and hilarious.

• Martin S

  
  Uaaghh....This was totaly crap. I know then the budget was laughable. But he didn't do a good thing with what he got. I'm not gonna say Peter Jackson is a bad director....but back here...he was. Not funny what so ever...

• Jeff "

  
  This is one sick horror comedy by Lord Of The Rings director, Peter Jackson. Everything about this movie is over the top, the story, the acting, the special effects; everything seems so outrageous. This movie is the directorial debut of Peter Jackson. It's filled with gross out… More
  This is one sick horror comedy by Lord Of The Rings director, Peter Jackson. Everything about this movie is over the top, the story, the acting, the special effects; everything seems so outrageous. This movie is the directorial debut of Peter Jackson. It's filled with gross out humour and and crazy characters. If you love these movies, I highly recommend it. It's got plenty of laughs and gore to spare. Bad Taste is a fun gory ride you won't want to miss I much preferred this film over Braindead, which I thought was good and funny, but it doesn't compare to Peter Jackson's masterpiece of shock cinema, a very good and original film. What's even more shocking is that it was directed by the same guy who directed The Lord Of The Rings.

• Wahida K

  
  I m still trying to figure out if this was a Joke or a Movie?

• Anthony L

  
  Filmed on a very low budget but most of the best horror films are! This is the only film that has nearly made me throw up! Good stuff!

• Jani H

  
  "There's no glowing fingers on these bastards." I still enjoy 'Bad Taste', very much so. This film is Peter Jackson's, the man behind 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, feature debut. There's no point to compare these films, as they're… More
  "There's no glowing fingers on these bastards." I still enjoy 'Bad Taste', very much so. This film is Peter Jackson's, the man behind 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, feature debut. There's no point to compare these films, as they're completely different as in the ways of filmmaking, budgets etc. But one thing's for sure! 'Bad Taste' is one hell of a movie! The budget of the film would've probably covered one second worth of special effects for the 'LOTR'. What I've heard, this film was made when Jackson had time, money or when he had the chance to get his friends to participate in the making. The result can be seen! I'm sure that all of the guys have had one hell of a time making it. The story is simple and effective. The pacing is good and the settings for the scenes give amazing potential for a true gore fest. The special effects work nicely, may seem a bit cheap but so what? The point is only to give the viewers a nice ride. And that is guaranteed here. Some scenes may even make those of you who have a weak stomach, nauseated. Very much so. Brains, guts and plenty of blood! The characters are good, especially Derek. He's the hero of the film and I'm sure that the evil mastermind, whose mission was to do some recon on Earth for potential meat, cursed the day it met him. The sidekicks of the movie, part of a government department investigating aliens, are your typical weekend warrior types who read 'Soldiers of fortune' magazines and have a fetish for guns. They don't take nothing seriously but will surely kick some ass and insult you while they're at it. 'Bad Taste' comes highly recommended. Don't take the film seriously, watch it and enjoy. Laughs are guaranteed with some very nice, gory visuals. A cult movie that really deserves its status. "Just remember, we're only authorized to use violence when protecting the planet. - And the moon."

• Coxxie M

  
  its hard to believe this was made by the same person who concieved the walking trilogy (lord of the rings)

• Tim S

  
  Damn it this movie is so much fun to watch. Bless you Peter for all the toil it took to get it made.

• Chris W

  
  This is ultra low budget splatter schlock, but it's really good ultra low budget splatter schlock. That, and it's really damn funny. Look this one up. It's worth it.

• Curtis L

  
  Pretty fun. I like dead alive better, but watching peter jackson eat green crap is fun too.

• Dr Blood  

  
  This is supposed to be a cult classic but I just can't find anything of merit in this low-budget piece of trash. It's just stupid and not even very well filmed. As a black comedy, I just don't get it. Peter Jackson did much better with "Braindead" a few years… More
  This is supposed to be a cult classic but I just can't find anything of merit in this low-budget piece of trash. It's just stupid and not even very well filmed. As a black comedy, I just don't get it. Peter Jackson did much better with "Braindead" a few years later.

• Lafe F

  
  Peter Jackson' first major film. Big gross foam-bodied aliens come to earth and lots of gore takes place. I found the New Zealand accents a bit thick. We used to love this movie, but we've moved on to other things. It has really good gore effects however.

• Cassandra M

  
  If you thought David Cronenberg or David Lynch could make weird but interesting movies then see this horror comedy from 'The Lord of the Rings'-director Peter Jackson. There is a good chance that a lot of people don't like it or simply can't stand it, but I must… More
  If you thought David Cronenberg or David Lynch could make weird but interesting movies then see this horror comedy from 'The Lord of the Rings'-director Peter Jackson. There is a good chance that a lot of people don't like it or simply can't stand it, but I must admit I had a very good time watching 'Bad Taste'. The story is about four guys from the New Zealand National Air and Space Defense League. They arrive in a small town in New Zealand that has been taken over by aliens. The aliens have disguised themselves as human beings. The four start a battle against the aliens. The scenes are bloody, filled with gore but in a way it is so over the top it gets more funny than filthy. There is one scene involving alien-vomit that is really disgusting, but I was able to sit through. Although it is funny most of the time there is also suspense. The music helps with that and the camera that is always moving also helps creating a certain atmosphere. Of course this is a movie where the heroes (almost) never get hit and the aliens every time, but here it is done with a reason. The shoot-outs are hilarious in their own weird way. If you can stand the gore and if you are a little open minded there is good chance you find something interesting in this movie.

• Mike S

  
  Can´t believe PJ made this. Not bad, but not very good either.

• xGary X

  
  This early feature by Jackson is hilariously tasteless low budget schlock horror, complete with exploding sheep, vomiting aliens and chainsaws. Like Sam Raimi before him, I can't help wishing he still did this kind of thing...

• Eric B

  
  The first 40 minutes just seem like aging nerds having a lark, filming themselves playing cowboys and Indians in a field by the ocean somewhere. Tough to stick with. But the action gains some shape, once the invading Indians (aliens) are tracked back to their stronghold. Still, severe… More
  The first 40 minutes just seem like aging nerds having a lark, filming themselves playing cowboys and Indians in a field by the ocean somewhere. Tough to stick with. But the action gains some shape, once the invading Indians (aliens) are tracked back to their stronghold. Still, severe budget limitations are not enough to forgive all the film's flaws. Best recurring gag is the skull-bashed lad worried about losing his mind (literally). And the young Peter Jackson? Oddly Mick Foley-esque.

• Matthew Y

  
  Possibly the best almost completely self-financed film ever made. Peter Jackson and his friends shot this thing over a period of four years largely shooting on weekends because, hey, they all had day jobs. Don't you just feel like a lazy bum right now. The film is outrageously… More
  Possibly the best almost completely self-financed film ever made. Peter Jackson and his friends shot this thing over a period of four years largely shooting on weekends because, hey, they all had day jobs. Don't you just feel like a lazy bum right now. The film is outrageously gory and hilariously campy. The success of the film gave Jackson the leverage he needed to advance in the industry and as we all know make the greatest epic trilogy of our time fifteen years later. Bad Taste obviously has low-production value and those who can look past this will be treated to an off-beat, bloody violent and yet somehow charming film.

• Cameron J

  
  Wow, the great Peter Jackson's big breakout, even though he was clearly waiting for this project to get picked up since he actually was breaking out, and by that, I mean in pimples, because you would have to be some hormone mad teenager to think up something like this. Fast food,… More
  Wow, the great Peter Jackson's big breakout, even though he was clearly waiting for this project to get picked up since he actually was breaking out, and by that, I mean in pimples, because you would have to be some hormone mad teenager to think up something like this. Fast food, absurd jokes, aliens and - oh man - so much gore. Well, I don't know if there's a lot of gore, but I can tell you that there's a boatload of red paint. No wonder these aliens want humans for their fast food resturaunt; they come with their own ketchup. Well, I suppose that it's realistic, because New Zealand is the discount Australia, so I'd imagine that they have to settle for paint in their blood. I bet that New Zealand is pretty much a bigger version of Detroit, but the people in it are so high from their blood that "we're" seeing it as a beautiful place, which would explain why that gumdrop I found on the road when I visited tasted like a bullet. No, I've never been to New Zealand, and after that comment, I don't think that they're going to let me try, for which I'm kind of thankful for, because after seeing this, I say that they can keep their explosive gore. Okay, now, I'm not one to harp on gore, unless it's gratuitous, and for me to call this insane, over-the-top gorefest that opens up with someone getting the top of his head blown off before stumpling around a bit before he dies appropriate should tell you just how crazy this film is. Of course, that's not the only thing to praise about the gore, because it at least makes the film interesting, for when there's no action or explosion of red paint, the film is unengaging, and it doesn't help that the film is completely underdeveloped. Now, if you think that I'm crazy now for critisizing the "story", then you're gonna go ape when I critisize the performances. Okay, now, most of the performances are - at best - mediocre, but there are some that dip into weak, and even downright terrible, and I could dismiss some of the bad acting as all part of comedic plan, but this isn't that type of over-the-top comedy. I'm not asking for Oscar caliber performances, but seriously Pete, I know you're not much of an acting director, but you could have at least played the field to make sure it was your thing. I'm certainly not going to blame him for everyone acting so - at best - mediocrely, because he is probably the best performance in here, which isn't saying much, but his charm is so delightful and his presence as a lead is so surprisingly sharp that it's quite satisfying seeing him whenever onscreen. Of course, that's not the only thing that he does right, for although this isn't a terribly stellar debut for him, he does give us glimpses of that style that we've all come to know and love. Pete Jackson has a great taste in cinematography, and although this is no Andrew Lesnie caliber of camerawork, Jackson does a solid job at translating his own style, even with him calling the shots everwhere else, including onscreen. Sure, the low budget is palpable through the lighting in the cinematography, but the camerawork itself has the life to an almost dizzying level of slickness that Jackson is known for. Also, although the crazy gore does help, it's the way Jackson handles the action that makes it the most interesting thing about the film. Jackson keeps the action and gore cool and slick in the editing and filmming, but he still adds that life and humor to keep it from drowning out the true comedic spirit of the film. Speaking of which, as much as I've been complaining that this film is rather unengaging when there's no action, I did fly off the handle when I said that the gore is the only interesting thing in the film. Sure, the "story" and "characters" aren't really strong enough to consistently hold your attention, but the real strength in the script are, well, the jokes, which have a bit of casualness to slip into the environment, but are still absurd enough to catch you offguard. The film is far from great, but it's also quite a ways away from bad, because when it comes to action and amusement, the film, or at least Pete Jackson delivers well enough to really show his potential, maybe not as the great director he ended up being, but a decent entertainer nevertheless. When it's all said and done, it'll often fail to hold your interest with its lack of development and story, and it doesn't help that most of the performances range from bad to mediocre, but Pete Jackson still delivers on the fun, not just onscreen, but offscreen, where he gives us fine cinematography to liven up the action and fine humor to liven up the film all together, thus leaving "Bad Taste" to stand as an ultimately fun debut the now great filmmaking talent. 2.5/5 - Fair

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