The Brain That Wouldn't Die
USA - 1962
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Movie Review By Monica Sullivan
"The Brain That Wouldn't Die" is the nightmare that never ends if you watch it too late at night. What IS it about the decapitated head of an angry young woman who only wants to rest in peace that is so unsettling? Virginia Leith, a sweet ingenue in films of the 1950's ("Black Widow", "A Kiss Before Dying"), is a fury as Jan. Her handsome fiance is a guilt-ridden doctor (Jason/Herb Evers) & it's HIS fault that Jan is a talking head. Since his reckless driving got Jan into this mess, he is determined to find her a new body so everything will be just the way it was in the good old days. Too late! Jan hates his guts because he won't let her die & she make a friend via telepathy with a locked-up mutant while the doctor hunts for babes he can cut up. His search for a suitable body is like pornographic voyeurism at its raunchiest. "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" repels at the same time it elicits sympathy for everyone but the doctor (so deeply in love with Jan, he tapes her mouth so he won't have to listen to her, BOO)! It was a tremendously bloody cautionary tale when first released & you're most likely to see it uncut on late night television.
© 2001 - Monica Sullivan - Air Date: 2/28/01
