Bad Taste (1987)

Director:

Peter Jackson

Writers:

Ken Hammon (additional material)
Tony Hiles (additional material)
(more)

Release Date:

June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

One thing the aliens hadn't counted on was Derek, and Dereks don't run!

Plot:

The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Fast Food | New Zealand | Chainsaw | Small Town

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Terry Potter	...	Ozzy / 3rd Class Alien
Pete O'Herne	...	Barry / 3rd Class Alien
Craig Smith	...	Giles / 3rd Class Alien
Mike Minett	...	Frank / 3rd Class Alien
Peter Jackson	...	Derek / Robert
Doug Wren	...	Lord Crumb
Dean Lawrie	...	Lord Crumb SPFX Double / 3rd Class Alien
Peter Vere-Jones	...	Lord Crumb's Voice
Ken Hammon	...	3rd Class Alien
Robin Griggs	...	3rd Class Alien
Michael Gooch	...	3rd Class Alien
Peter Gooch	...	3rd Class Alien
Laurie Yarrall	...	3rd Class Alien
Shane Yarrall	...	3rd Class Alien
Philip Lamey	...	3rd Class Alien
Costa Botes	...	3rd Class Alien
Graham Butcher	...	3rd Class Alien
Bob Haliburton	...	3rd Class Alien
Andrew McKay	...	3rd Class Alien
Clive Haywood	...	3rd Class Alien
John McTavish	...	3rd Class Alien
John Nelson	...	3rd Class Alien
Graham Nesbitt	...	3rd Class Alien
Steven Smith	...	3rd Class Alien
John Logan Jr.	...	3rd Class Alien
Matt Noonan	...	3rd Class Alien
Cameron Chittock	...	3rd Class Alien
Ray Battersby	...	3rd Class Alien
Mike Appleby	...	3rd Class Alien
Peter Appleby	...	3rd Class Alien
Michael Kane	...	3rd Class Alien
Robert Johnston	...	3rd Class Alien
Scott Bradshaw	...	3rd Class Alien
Mark Lamey	...	3rd Class Alien
Giles Forrest	...	3rd Class Alien
Grant Taylor	...	3rd Class Alien
Carol Taylor	...	3rd Class Alien
Dean Taylor	...	3rd Class Alien
Kim Taylor	...	3rd Class Alien
Dave Hamilton	...	3rd Class Alien
Jock Fyfe	...	3rd Class Alien
Tony Hiles	...	Coldfinger
John Ruby	...	3rd Class Alien
Kerry Underhill	...	3rd Class Alien
Robin Watene	...	3rd Class Alien
Garry A. Brown	...	3rd Class Alien
Mark Jackson	...	3rd Class Alien
Peter Henderson	...	3rd Class Alien
Janine Riely	...	3rd Class Alien
Margaret Byford	...	3rd Class Alien

Directed by
Peter Jackson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ken Hammon		additional material
Tony Hiles		additional material
Peter Jackson		writer

Produced by
Peter Jackson	....	producer

Original Music by
Michelle Scullion
Jay Snowfield

Cinematography by
Peter Jackson

Film Editing by
Peter Jackson
Jamie Selkirk

Makeup Department
Cameron Chittock	....	makeup effects assistant
Peter Jackson	....	makeup effects

Art Department
Caroline Girdlestone	....	art department

Sound Department
Brent Burge	....	post-production sound recordist
Brent Burge	....	sound mixer
Kit Rollings	....	sound editor
Ken Saville	....	location sound recordist
Ken Saville	....	sound effects recordist
Jamie Selkirk	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Peter Jackson	....	special effects

Editorial Department
Matt Noonan	....	assistant editor
Matt Noonan	....	assistant post-production supervisor

Music Department
Nigel Stone	....	music recording engineer & mixer

Other crew
Grant Campbell	....	car explosion
Ken Hammon	....	film crew
Tony Hiles	....	consultant producer
Bill Jackson	....	special assistant to producer
Joan Jackson	....	special assistant to producer
Arie Ketel	....	graphic artist: titles
Philip Lamey	....	film crew
Dean Lawrie	....	film crew
Mike Minett	....	film crew
Pete O'Herne	....	film crew
Terry Potter	....	film crew

Thanks
Henry Jackson	....	special thanks
Ron Jackson	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Zealand Film Commission
• WingNut Films

Distributors

• Astro Distribution (2000) (Germany) (theatrical) (limited re-release)
• Blue Dolphin Film Distribution (????) (UK) (theatrical)
• Future Film (1991) (Finland) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• American Producers Associated (????) (France) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2000) (Germany) (all media)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (Australia) (VHS)
• Colourbox (UK)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• Evolution Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Future Film (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
• Future Film (2002) (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (GCTHV) (2003) (France) (DVD)
• Hollydan Works (2007) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Magnum Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Movies Select Video (1988) (Belgium) (video)
• PolyGram Video (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• Substance Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (????) (France) (VHS)
• Van Blad (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (VCD)

Also Known As:

Roast of the Day (New Zealand: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min | Australia:86 min (1989 video release) | Belgium:98 min (DVD version)

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 (DVD release) | Finland:K-15 (DVD release) | Spain:18 | Australia:(Banned) (queensland only) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | USA:R (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (cut) | Germany:12 (heavily cut) | Austria:16 | Germany:Not Rated (uncut DVD version) | Germany:18 (re-rating, uncut) | France:-16 (DVD rating) | Brazil:16 | Chile:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:(Banned) (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Iceland:Unrated | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:R21 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Gear Homestead, Okowai Road, Papakowhai, Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Company:

New Zealand Film Commission

Trivia:

The movie technically takes place on Peter Jackson's birthday. You can find it out by checking the envelope that the collector is carrying with him in the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Derek jumps on top of the lead Alien with a chainsaw, the chainsaw falls to the ground between the Alien's legs. The camera pans back to the Alien who does not move, however in the next shot the chainsaw has moved a few feet away.

Quotes:

Frank: Well, I guess we'll have to issue a gun to Ozzy
Barry: Yeah, but don't forget about his personality disorder

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Perfect Getaway (2009)

Soundtrack:

ROCK LIES

If this is not a classic of its genre, what is?

When it comes to splatter-flicks it's hard to find a bigger milestone than "Bad Taste". I laugh my ass off when I think of the ignorant and unaware Tolkien-fans who are about to watch it in order to check out what Peter Jackson has done before "The Lord of the Rings". If they haven't seen "Bad Taste" they're in for a bit of a surprise even though mere name says it all. The foolish plot of "Bad Taste" is unessential - film is made to show audience as much everything that's sickening and repulsive as it's possible from an alien that splits into two pieces when its being hit by a car and then fiddles his own entrails, hero who's squeezing pieces of brain back into a cracked head and a bunch of lunatics from outer space who are eating steamy and lumpy vomit. This is not the most disgusting flick ever made. That's because luckily the gore effects are so hilariously clumsy that instead of making you throw up they make you laugh hard. This is still a bloody disgusting film. I love "Bad Taste" and I've seen it too many times but obviously it's impossible for me to judge people who don't like it.

Peter Jackson has directed so much better movies after this with more money and real actors. Nevertheless, in one way "Bad Taste" will always be his very best work - no matter what he has done and will do in the future. Jackson had mom and dad (!) as special assistants to the producer and his pals as an actors. You have to respect a movie that was originally made during several years with no bigger commercial motives - just because of the fun of making a motion picture. This is a film that is good because it looks cheap, clumsy and stupid and has a ridiculous plot, awful script and absolutely terrible actors. Usually those are faults and the main reasons why a film is lousy but in this case it's all part of the fun. Movie history has rarely seen as horrible acting as especially Terry Potter and Mike Minett as Ozzy and Frank are having. Actually Doug Wren who's playing the alien leader is the only one who I can call an actor with a bit of a talents. Peter Jackson's own unhealthy character Derek who forces himself through alien's anus with a chainsaw is an amusing bloke too. Taste couldn't possibly get any worse, so if you don't possess an extremely sick and perverse sense of humor don't bother. Phenomenal trash: 10/10.