Dead Alive (1992)

Dead Alive (1992)

Author: Film Trace April 21, 2022 Duration: 1:02:21

The fourth film in our Self-Aware Horror cycle is 1992's gonzo horror splatterfest Dead Alive aka Braindead

Dead Alive is a shocking film for a variety of reasons, but perhaps most astonishing is that it came from the same man who helped create the most recognized and beloved films of the last 20 years. Peter Jackson became famous for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film series. They exist alongside the Star Wars and MCU films as some of the most popular global cinema ever made. But Jackson started out where most young aspiring filmmakers do, in the free-for-all low-budget haven of horror. It was there that Jackson developed as a great filmmaker. Dead Alive was his first masterpiece, a zombie comedy masquerading as a bizarre period piece that devoured all notions of good taste with its insatiable appetite for blood, guts, and pus. Beautifully deranged.

Special Guest: Brian Eggert, RT approved film critic of Deep Focus Review 

For our chaser film, we had no other choice than Evil Dead 2 (1987). Two of the best horror comedies ever made, back to back. We talk at length about how comedy and horror overlap, and how they work together to tickle and titillate a piquing audience.


Ever find yourself falling down an internet rabbit hole after the credits roll, clicking from a film’s trivia page to the director’s biography and then to some obscure piece of production history? That’s the exact feeling Film Trace aims to capture and expand upon in audio form. This isn't just another review show. Instead, each episode is a deep, meticulously researched excavation of a single movie’s entire journey. We start with the initial spark of an idea-the script found in a drawer, the chance meeting that got it greenlit-and follow every twist and turn through casting, chaotic production, and post-production. The story continues to the film’s release, its critical and cultural reception, and what legacy it holds now. Think of it as a comprehensive, narrative-driven biography of a film, built on primary sources and genuine curiosity. The hosts at Film Trace use their collective nerd superpowers to do all that obsessive digging for you, weaving together context, history, and behind-the-scenes details into a compelling story about how art gets made. You’ll come away from each installment of this podcast not just with an opinion on a movie, but with a real understanding of its place in the wider world of TV and film. It’s for anyone who believes the story off-screen is just as fascinating as the one projected on it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 131

Film Trace
Podcast Episodes
Bullitt (1968) and Le Samouraï (1967) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:14
In episode seven of our Manhunt series, we traverse a gritty and rebellious San Francisco in Bullitt (1968) alongside an oddly sleek and barren Paris in Le Samouraï (1967).Bullitt is famous for two reasons: Steve McQueen…
Apocalypse Now (1978) and Logan's Run (1976) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:16
In episode six of our Manhunt series, we face the masterpiece that is Apocalypse Now (1978) alongside the much lesser Logan's Run (1976)Special Guest: the great Mike Field, Co-host of the Forgotten Cinema podcastAny film…
Manhunter (1986) and The Running Man (1987) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:08
In episode five of our Manhunt series, we discuss two films very rooted in the 1980s Aesthetic. First up is Michael Mann's neon blue serial killer thriller, Manhunter from 1986 followed by the bombastic and preposterous…
Cure (1997) and One False Move (1992) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:32
In episode four of our Manhunt series, we explore two films that veer off the beaten path of their genre linenage. From Japan, Cure (1997), an atmospheric and fatalist horror film that helped launched J-Horror and the co…
Memories of Murder (2003) and The Bourne Identity (2002) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:24
In episode three of our Manhunt series, we delve into two films that helped redefine and revive the genre of pursuit. From South Korea, Memories of Murder (2003), a haunting and postmodern crime drama. From the United St…
New World (2013) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:38
In episode two of our Manhunt series, we explore two international films. From South Korea, New World (2013), a topsy-turvy crime drama. From New Zealand, the playful and whimsical, Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).Crime…
Longlegs (2024) and Trap (2024) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:48
We kick off a new season of Film Trace exploring Manhunt Movies with Longlegs and Trap.In this season of Film Trace, we will dive into movies about being hunted or being the hunter. While these hunted vs hunter films spa…
Johnny Guitar (1954)	and Imitation of Life (1959) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:12
We conclude our Camp Cinema season with our eighth episode covering Johnny Guitar (1954) and Imitation of Life (1959).In our finale, we delve into the origins of Camp Cinema in the 1950s, spotlighting Nicholas Ray's flam…
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and Barbarella (1968) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:55
We continue our Camp Cinema season in our seventh episode covering The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and Barbarella (1968)Special Guest: Manish Mathur, host of the It Pod to Be You, covering romantic comedies from classi…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Day of the Locust (1975) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:33
We continue our Camp Cinema season in our sixth episode covering The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and The Day of the Locust (1975). Special Guest: scholar, artist, author, and curator Marisa C. Hayes of the wonderful…