The Brain That Wouldn't Die - 12/22

[Oscar Rothman]

https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/fi...t-wouldn-t-die

[rdodolak]

A macabe, madcap whirlwind of horror." – Cult Movies Magazine

Medical science leaps light years into the future in this "great, absurd movie" (The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film) that explores the strange world of transplants, cloning and mutant regeneration. Strangely relevant in today's ethically challenged world, this presents a truly psycho-surgery case and is "one of the great sci-fi sleaze classics" (Starlog).

When Dr. Bill Cortner loses his sweetheart, Jan, in a car accident, he refuses to give up hope for her life. Scooping up her decapitated head, he brings it back to the lab for resuscitation. But keeping her head alive is one thing – finding her a new body is quite another. So while the mad doctor is out looking for spare parts, she's stuck at home going out of her mind – literally! And nothing will stop her from getting revenge on the man who is keeping her as a trophy girlfriend!

[redrunner97]

Already one of my most anticipated Scream Factory releases!!!

Can't wait to own it in HD! Any word on if it's the longer cut?

[ParkerAL]

Neat. Manos will have company soon. Seriously though, I love this silly movie. No doubt, it will be an improvement over the cruddy public domain copy I watched on one of Mill Creek's 50 movie DVD packs. And that cover art is superb.

I wonder if Shout! Factory will include the Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary? I guess it's possible - they're the go-to company for releasing the show on physical media. At any rate, the movie is already goofy enough as is. For someone who didn't have a pair of lungs, that bodyless lady could sure talk a lot.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Scream Factory FB

The version we have will be the one that was previously on the 4-film Timeless release on DVD--which according to MGM (where we licensed it from) is the longest version of the film.

Sounds like it's the longer cut!

[HowieM]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

A macabe, madcap whirlwind of horror." – Cult Movies Magazine

Medical science leaps light years into the future in this "great, absurd movie" (The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film) that explores the strange world of transplants, cloning and mutant regeneration. Strangely relevant in today's ethically challenged world, this presents a truly psycho-surgery case and is "one of the great sci-fi sleaze classics" (Starlog).

When Dr. Bill Cortner loses his sweetheart, Jan, in a car accident, he refuses to give up hope for her life. Scooping up her decapitated head, he brings it back to the lab for resuscitation. But keeping her head alive is one thing – finding her a new body is quite another. So while the mad doctor is out looking for spare parts, she's stuck at home going out of her mind – literally! And nothing will stop her from getting revenge on the man who is keeping her as a trophy girlfriend!

Love the cover and the synopsis!
That said, this movie makes me think of the saying that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. I read in the news last week that the first human head transplant has been scheduled for 2017...
http://www.alphr.com/science/1001145...7-will-it-work
I'd actually read about this a few years ago, both the question of whether it would actually work, and also the ethics behind it. Well, it looks like they are going to try.
I also wonder how long it will be until they start transplanting computers into our brains / head. With today's love affair / addiction to the smart phone (many of my friends sleep with their smart phones), it doesn't seem that far fetched to have them implanted. <warning.. begin rant> It seems like almost every teenager I see is always staring at their smart phone like a zombie. That's why I got my daughter a Republic Wireless wifi-data only smart phone, so she doesn't always have constant access to the internet (just on wifi). Plus it's cheap (which is probably why my daughter calls me a Republic Wireless fanatic, but hey... she's still happy with her smart phone and it hasn't turned her into a zombie like many of her friends). <end rant>
I think a lot of these "crazy" sci-fi movies may end up being more real (and scary) than we ever imaged. The guy who recently warned us about artificial intelligence being the greatest threat to mankind might just be right... or at least it would make a cool movie!
In the meantime, this looks like a classic I could thoroughly enjoy with some hot buttered popcorn!

[NoirFan]

Well, that was unexpected! I wonder if we can expect further Timeless Media upgrades? There are about a half-dozen of those that I'd buy on BD.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Well, that was unexpected! I wonder if we can expect further Timeless Media upgrades? There are about a half-dozen of those that I'd buy on BD.

I hope they do decide to upgrade some more of them.

The Screaming Skull and The Man from Planet X in particular.

[NoirFan]

At last my pillow has some company!

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

At last my pillow has some company!

[Show spoiler]

That's great! Where did you get it?

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

[/SPOILER]

That's great! Where did you get it?

Horror Decor. I also have their Poltergeist and Creepshow 2 pillows. They have excellent customer service - my original Brain pillow started to fall apart somewhat after a month, and they sent me a replacement as well as a free pillow-case. Of course, the pillow case is covered in (fake?) blood splatters, so I keep it hidden away in the closet, which would likely look even worse if discovered by a rummaging guest! For the record, the replacement has been holding up just fine for two years, as have the other 2.


Edit: They've got all kinds of other cool stuff - what home would be complete without a Critters potholder?

[Professor Echo]

I love the film, but not enough to pay nearly $20 for it. I sure wish they would take some of these vintage guilty pleasures and pair them off with another one in the same package. But as physical media begins to fade from the mainstream, we will be seeing pricing get higher and higher due to the niche marketplace.

[NoirFan]

Family Video usually sells Scream/Shout discs for 40% off, this will likely be $16 or less from them with a free shipping/$5 off of $50 code.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Family Video usually sells Scream/Shout discs for 40% off, this will likely be $16 or less from them with a free shipping/$5 off of $50 code.

But with a movie like this, I find it hard to pay over ten bucks for it unless it was a double feature or had some really attractive extras. I'll check out reviews and see what's up and then make my decision. The film is a lot of fun and Virginia Leith is plenty hot, if you'll pardon my bodyless objectification.

[charlieray1]

The version we have will be the one that was previously on the 4-film Timeless release on DVD--which according to MGM (where we licensed it from) is the longest version of the film.

I have that release and it's a beautiful print, Totally uncut, wide screen. Easily the best the movie has ever looked, EXCEPT that it's crammed onto one DVD with THREE OTHER movies, so there are jaggies and compression artifacts everywhere.

On it's own on a BD it should be gorgeous!

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

had some really attractive extras.

Shout's listing does say:

Extras in progress and will be announced at a later date.

Personally, I'd love a Tom Weaver commentary, but I'm guessing some sort of RiffTrax thing is more likely.

[Undeadcow]

The Brain that Wouldn't Die is a personal favorite of mine; I have the great Synapse Films DVD... really excited to see this come to high definition.

For some reason I thought BtWD was 'public domain.'

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

The Brain that Wouldn't Die is a personal favorite of mine; I have the great Synapse Films DVD... really excited to see this come to high definition.

For some reason I thought BtWD was 'public domain.'

I believe it is PD

[redrunner97]

The shorter cut is public domain, but the uncut elements that MGM owns are entirely their property. That being said, I don't think the uncut version itself is actually outright owned by MGM.

The Brain That Wouldn't Die also a favorite of mine. I have a huge soft spot for public domain horror movies, since they're so easy to come by, in many cases, they got a lot of playtime from me.

[gpn]

I'll definitely be picking this up. It's the movie that freaked me out the most when I was a kid, so of course I watched it whenever it was on.