Peter Jackson's 'Bad Taste': A Hilariously Twisted Journey into AbsurdityI have recently been watching ": Breaking Bad " - yes, I am a bit late to the party. Well, this article is not about that superb series ( that will be another piece once I have finished watching it ) but it is about a film I watched back in the late 80's.
It was called " Bad Taste. "
It was a B Grade low-budget movie, made in New Zealand, and had to be one of the most poorly acted, shockingly crazy gory bloodthirsty movies I have ever seen. And my daughters loved it.
This 1987 New Zealand science-fiction comedy horror film directed, produced and filmed by Peter Jackson was a flop. Yet it is now considered a cult movie and was a far cry from the blockbusters that he is now famous for ..... such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
In "Bad Taste," Peter Jackson took on multiple roles behind the scenes due to the film's low budget and limited resources. Here are the various roles he played:
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Director: Jackson directed the film, bringing his unique vision to life and guiding the overall creative process.
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Writer: He also wrote the screenplay for "Bad Taste," showcasing his knack for blending humour and horror in a really twisted manner.
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Producer: Jackson served as one of the film's producers, overseeing the production aspects and ensuring the project stayed on track.
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Cinematographer: Due to budget constraints, Jackson operated the camera himself, handling the film's cinematography. This allowed him to capture the desired shots and maintain creative control.
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Special Effects Artist: Alongside his co-workers and friends, Jackson created the practical effects for "Bad Taste." He crafted the gory and grotesque visuals that define the film, showcasing his resourcefulness and ingenuity.
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Actor: In addition to his work behind the scenes, Peter Jackson also had an on-screen role in "Bad Taste." He portrayed multiple characters, including Derek and Robert, two of the film's bumbling alien-hunting agents. In fact. Derek is still celebrated in our family for his famous line " I'm a Derek and Derek's don't run. "
I first heard about it from a friend in New Zealand. Apparently, it was rated R18 and was banned in many places due to its bloodthirsty scenes. Needless to say, that made me want to watch it even more. And so it was that, while on a cruise and in Suva, Fiji for the day, I stumbled on a pirate copy of this wicked film. I passed the money over and high-tailed it back to the ship with my contraband.
Back home in Australia, I popped the VHS tape into the machine and started to watch one of the worst, most brilliant, dreadful, corny movies I have ever seen. And I have been a fan ever since.
"Bad Taste" takes us on an outrageously over-the-top journey, filled to the brim with excessive violence, crude humour, and a generous dose of splatter. The film follows a group of bumbling, alien-hunting agents from an intergalactic organisation known as "The Astro Investigation and Defense Service" (AIDS). Yes, you read that right—Jackson's irreverent humour starts with the acronym itself, setting the tone for the madness that ensues.
One of the standout elements of "Bad Taste" is Jackson's use of grotesque imagery and practical effects to create a unique blend of horror and comedy. The film revels in its absurdity, presenting us with scenes of alien encounters that range from hilarious to stomach-churning. From brain-munching extraterrestrials to explosive headshots, no boundary is left uncrossed.
Essentially it is about a census collector who comes to an isolated New Zealand town that has been overrun by aliens who pose as Kiwi farmers. The AIDS division have been summoned to sort the problem out as the alien farmers embark of a cannibalistic rampage through town.
Yet, beneath the layers of splattered blood and severed limbs lies a surprisingly endearing camaraderie among the characters.They were having FUN making this movie.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, my daughters, aged around 10 and 12, loved having sleepover parties with their friends. It was not uncommon to have 20 young girls in sleeping bags, eating popcorn and potato chips and set for a late of horror movies.
They were not interested in chick flicks. No, they wanted scary stuff and preferred " Gremlins" and " Goonies". And so it was that they discovered the VHS tape of " Bad Taste. "
No, it wasn't like this.
I pretended not to know that they had purloined it. If I heard shrieks of horror, I could easily march into the rumpus room and confiscate it and plead ignorance to a mother of a now traumatised daughter.
But no. Instead I heard hoots of laughter, shrieks of " EEEEEEWWWWW ! " and " That is so gross! " quickly followed by hearty claps of applause.
It began a long tradition of slumber party silliness and, even today, as my daughters approach the big 50 in birthdays, they still remember when Derek and his mates squished through brains and blood in order to save the country.
The magic of movies like " Bad Taste " does not lie in their message. There is no message. It doesn't preach. It doesn't deliver diversity quotas or sensitivity or safe places.
Their aim was to entertain. To delight. To make us laugh and offer us an escape into a world that is far removed from reality.
The film is more focused on providing a wild and outrageous entertainment experience rather than conveying a profound or moralistic message.
That being said, one could argue that the film's underlying theme could be seen as a celebration of creativity, DIY filmmaking, and the pursuit of artistic passion. Despite the limited resources and budget, Peter Jackson and his team pushed the boundaries of what they could achieve, showcasing their inventive practical effects, humorous storytelling, and sheer enthusiasm for filmmaking.
In fact, without " Bad Taste " we may never have seen the brilliant film maker that he became.
While " Breaking Bad " is chocker block full of messages, questions and sub-texts, " Bad Taste" was just a shitty, funny movie that was really in essence, bad taste.
And my daughters' slumber parties may never have been as popular as they were had it not been for Peter Jackson having a go at making a movie while he was at University.
Popcorn anyone?
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