4/5 Brain Damage is a real trip!
  by M. Ryan Fairbanks (Cleveland, Ohio)
Frank Henenlotter really offers up a wild one with Brain Damage. In the same vein of strangeness as the previous Basketcase, Brain Damage is a campy gorefest that has raked in a sizable cult following among fans of movies such as Evil Dead 2.

Brian's life takes a turn for the bizarre when he awakes one night with an intense headache and unexplained bleeding. The cuprit behind this soon reveals himself to be a purple, worm-like parasite named Aylmer who has an interesting proposition for Brian. That is Aylmer will inject Brian with a hallucinogenic drug in exchange for feeding him brains (preferably of the human variety). As Brian quickly becomes physically dependent on the stuff, he and Aylmer become inseparable while relationships with his concerned brother and girlfriend rapidly vanish. Upon realizing that he's become an accomplice to murder during his high, Brian tries to sever his ties with Alymer, but finds that he may already be too reliant on the drug to escape.

Brain Damage is a very imaginative, but not so subtle take on drug addiction, and it pulls it off magnificently. The scene during which Brian shacks himself up in a hotel room determined to leave Aylmer behind, only to become deathly ill and beg Aylmer for a fix is very effective. It's quite disturbing to see Brian helplessly deteriorate out of his need for the drug while Aylmer mocks him and laughs at him, perfectly aware that he now has complete control. Although the conclusion is a tad nonsensical, albeit entertaining, the outcome suggests that drug addiction is a dead end path for anyone who decides to venture down it.

Of course as this is a Henenlotter movie, it's low budget, packed with dark humor, and loaded with over the top gore scenes that will satisfy even the most demanding horror fanatic. We even get a cameo appearance from the main character of Basketcase, carrying his basket on a subway train. Overall Brain Damage is must see material for horror fans, highly recommended.

5/5 why you need to own this movie (or at least watch it)
  by Corpse Seller (CA)
Great visuals, original story line, awesome music, best monster ever!

The speacial features are great, hilarious commentary, and an audio only track (sweet)

I use to watch this movie alot when i was very young,and since growing up i had completely blacked it out of my memory,,, until one day i saw it here on amazon for sell
i bought it on a whim since i couldn't remember if it was cheesy good or cheesy bad
well, since receiving it (in like 2 days form the order, hella fast) i have watched this movie 20 times in the last 7 days (how is this possible, i work full time, have a girlfriend, and go to school on my off days,,, oh yeah, thats right i don't sleep)

i don't know how i got by without this one in my dvd collection, it should have been on my shelf years ago

if you liked "they live" or "evil dead" or :the stuff" or any other cheesy cult classic, you better believe that "Brain Damage" is the must have dvd to add to your collection
so get now, it's out of print, so get it while it's available

4/5 cult horror
  by Andrew J. Covell (CT)
This film was listed in Fangoria's 100 must see Horror films. It was a good movie, with some hints to the real world going on at the time of production in NYC, and NJ. Well worth the purchase

5/5 Gonna Suck That Brain Right Outta Your Head...
  by Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein (under the rubble)
BRAIN DAMAGE is Frank Henenlotter's masterpiece of comical chemical dependency and insane cranial carnage! Brian (Rick Herbst) is a decent enough guy, just trying to survive in NYC. Well, it seems that a hideous parasite named Aylmer has ditched it's previous victims and found it's way into Brian's apartment. Brian has been inexplicably ill, unable to go out w/ his girlfriend. So, he sends her out w/ his brother. Brian has strange, unexplained hallucinations. He then meets Aylmer in his bathroom, and is introduced to the "juice". What is the juice? It's an incredibly addictive substance that Aylmer injects into Brian's brain, by thrusting a needle-like organ through the base of his skull! Brian has no recollection of what happens under the influence of the juice. He becomes a zombified transport for the murderous, brain-devouring Aylmer. There are several shocking scenes, so make sure that granny and the youngsters are far away from this one! This is definitely adult fare, but a classic nonetheless. BD is right up there in the upper echelons of the slime pantheon w/ the likes of STREET TRASH, DEAD ALIVE, and BASKET CASE! See it today...

5/5 surprisingly fun horror on low budget
  by B. Andre (maine)
the more i see from henenlotter the more surprised i get. now i need to check out frankenhooker. this guy can work with pennies to make a kickass film. in a production sense, brain damage is like an impoverished re-animator and equally fun. extra star for the release. well done as usual for synapse. its a keeper.