After years before AIP decided to distribute it, and months of dithering, they finally released The Brain That Wouldn’t Die on 10 August 1962. They released it to the drive-in circuit in a double feature with Invasion of the Star Creatures.
These two films show something important about the ecosystem of low-budget production at that time. Star Creatures was an AIP production. So they produced it in order to distribute it. And it is almost unwatchable. It is the kind of film you dash off because all involved know it doesn’t really matter because it is guaranteed distribution. Kind of like The Terror but not nearly as interesting.
On the other hand, The Brain That Wouldn’t Die is, regardless of what you think of it, creative. True, it was the high point of all the principals’ careers. But (sadly), you could say the same of VeSota’s and Haze’s directing and writing careers!
A big reason that The Brain That Wouldn’t Die works is that it breaks out of the typical single-location film with Jason Evers’ trips to find a suitable body — despite the other scenes also being in simple indoor sets.
Of course, what I most love about this film is Virginia Leith (the title character). Even though she spends almost the entire film in a photographic development tray, she isn’t passive. She drives the conclusion of the film and even gets the final black screen laugh.
But there is so much else that works in this film. The acting is really good. And the film looks good — both inside and outside. The trips to find the body also give the narrative enough content to make this all justify 80 minutes. And much of the dialogue is kind of deep.
But above all, the film provides one of the most iconic images in all of film history. That alone makes it worth watching. But I think if you give it a chance, you will find that it’s a lot more than simply “the pretty head in the pan.” And this print from Archive is fabulous:
Other 10 August Anniversaries
Filmmakers
- Jack Haley (1898-1979): The original Tin Man.
- Curt Siodmak (1902-2000): Writer-director of tons of interesting films including Bride of the Gorilla and The Magnetic Monster.
- Alexander D’Arcy (1908-1996): Actor known for Horrors of Spider Island and Blood of Dracula’s Castle.
- Noah Beery Jr (1913-1994): Character actor best known as Rocky on The Rockford Files but also starred in The Cat Creeps.
- Tom Laughlin (1931-2013): The one and only Billy Jack.
- Rosanna Arquette (1959-): Actor known for a lot but notably Pulp Fiction and The Whole Nine Yards.
- Antonio Banderas (1960-): Actor known for Interview With a Vampire and The Mask of Zorro.
- Claudia Christian (1965-): Actor known for The Hidden, Maniac Cop 2, and more.
Films
- The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu (1929): Foreigners kill his family so Dr Fu Manchu is out for revenge.
- Sunset Boulevard (1950): Classic film starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson.
- Dinosaurus! (1960): Dinosaurs are released into the modern world.
- Massacre Time (1966): Fulci western about brothers who battle the evil man who has taken over their town.
- Kentucky Fried Movie (1977): Sketch comedy film featuring an Enter the Dragon parody and several fake psychotronic trailers.
- The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984): Hero must stop space invaders.
- Red Dawn (1984): Hugely popular fascist propaganda for military cosplay fans.
- Flatliners (1990): Medical students test near-death experiences.
- Highway To Hell (1990): Cop chases a murderer through the desert. Don’t mistake it for the 1992 Highway to Hell.
- King Cobra (1999): What else? Mutant snake escapes lab.
- The Others (2001): Excellent haunted house film.
- Session 9 (2001): Asbestos removal in an abandoned mental hospital turns deadly.
- Blade of Death (2004): Ancient monster accidentally delivered to a family.
- Skinwalkers (2006): Mother and son get caught in the middle of a werewolf war.
- Fraid (2009): A man descends into terror as he investigates an old crime.
- The Meg (2018): Massive prehistoric shark.
- Slender Man (2018): A small group tries to disprove a legend.
The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962) poster via Wikimedia. It is in the public domain.
