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Creepy Classics Spotlight Movie Last Weekend - THE BRAINIAC (1959) Every week, readers here are selecting a movie to view...then we all try to watch it together utilizing our DVD/video library. This past Saturday night, many of us watched THE BRAINIAC (1959). This was suggested by by Herb Salisbury, Everett, WA. Details about movie nights to come are HERE. Please include your name and location after your comments, so we can see how we're all joining together from diffeent locals around the globe! Let's all Synch-Up Saturday nights at 7:30PM, or catch it sometime over the weekend!
Salazar (who normally plays the good guy) is the evil Baron resurrected after three hundred years by the curse on a comet...? For some reasom, he's not only back (the fallen meteor turns into him), but he can change into one of the wildest looking movie monsters ever. Pulsating big head, suction cup fingers, and serpent tongue that can drill into the back of people's nexts and steal their brains. Plus, you get to see Salazar, in human form, sneaking snacks on brains like pudding for dessert. Crazy, goofy dubbing, but never boring -- sheer South-of-the-Border monster entertainment. Ha! On the CasaNegra DVD there are a few scenes that never made it onto the American televised dubbed version. One cool scene is of Salazar turning into the monster at a gas station! -Ron Adams, Ligonier, PA.
Hey Bash Synchers! Here is my commentary during my first viewing ever of Brainiac, the Baron of Terror. I am in Mexico right now as I view and comment, and have been for 19 years. I hope to bring a unique perspective that living in Mexico and being bilingual might bring to viewing this south of the border classic. I am watching the movie in Spanish with English subtitles with the CasaNegra version of the DVD.
Ahhh, nothing like a nice hot steaming bowl of brains! Well, this has to
The bowl of brains! that was -Kevin Slick, Louisville, CO. More from Kevin, on THE BRAINIAC...because we must find answers...
Okay, so it appears that he uses his tongue for the brain extraction, does Oh yeah, is that chest he keeps the bowl of brains in a refrigerator?
Hi Ron, The comet as seen through the telescope looks like a Colorform cutout. Despite all the absurdity, everyone plays it completely straight. Steven Thornton
Perhaps the best Mexican film ever made!! Abel Salazar is a warlock who returns to earth 300 years after his death as a brain sucking monster that is one of the coolest monsters I ever saw.
Hey Ron, Bob, Paisley, Ken, Kevin, Steven and all other Fellow Bash Synchmates out there in "Mexican" Monster Movie Heaven, I too watched the "Braniac" this past weekend! (late Saturday night at 2:30 A.M.!!)--Just like I first remember watching it on Cleveland`s "UP 8-ALL NIGHT" back in 1980!! {I was 13 years old at the time!!) -on Channel WJW-TV8!! Later on (in 1985) I also remember watching this guilty pleasure on Channel 19 on "Elvira`s Movie Macabre" as well! --and remember the Mistress of the Dark cracking her usual sassy jokes at this cheesy, fun production from South of the Border!-complimented by her buddy-"The Breather"!!!
Anyway- at the climax of the film, the Brainiac goes after our hero`s girlfiend (another ancestor) only to be stopped in his tracks by a pair of flamethrowers weilded by our loyal lawmen! The Brainaic burns to a total crisp and smolders till nothing is left but ashes! THE END. This is one of the most entertaining Mexican monster movies of all time, and except for "The Curse of The Crying Woman" (1961) It would be MY favorite Mexican monster movie of all-time!! So until next time folks when I meet you on the fog-shrouded British moors and watch and review my choice of the week "The Man From Planet X" (1951) I wish you all a safe return to your hacienda!---Dan Brenneis-Strongsville,Ohio-Monster Bash Staff Member And FilmFan Extroadinairre Ron,
2. Matte shot or maybe just a picture of an observatory: Whenever someone is getting into or out of their car at the observatory, this shot is always used. Where the car is in relation to the observatory, the observatory looks about a mile away. That's the closest anyone could park? 4. Did the monster ride on the comet ala Slim Pickens on the bomb in Dr. Strangelove? Was he in the comet? Was the comet actually a ship? 5. I've never seen a film with so much eye movement. I bet the number of headaches on set was huge. 6. The brains that he has in a dish, are they the brains from the people that he just killed? If so, when he sucks up the brains, where do they go? Does he store them in his cheeks like a chipmunk? 8. The death of the newly married couple- The girl is not receptive to his stares. Why? In the sub-titled version, her husband meets a fairly 10. In the sub-titled version, one of the policeman orders brain tacos in a diner. Or did I imagine that? 11. The death of the monster: If he can turn invisible, why doesn't he do it to avoid dying? If he rode through the solar system for three centuries on a fiery comet, why is he so easily consumed by fire? 12. The policemen really had no idea that The Baron was an alien. Why did they bring flame-throwers? Was that their weapon of choice? So many questions. One left. Did I enjoy the film? The answer is yes. Ironically, when the film was over, unlike other films of this type, my brain didn't feel like it got sucked out of my head.
Hello Ron, Greg here, the Brainiac is a good flick, I watch it at least once a year. The coolest part is when he catches a ride on the comet..And also if all the police today carried flame throwers, very little crime..........Thanks...-Greg, Cleveland, Ohio
Hi Ron: Sorry I’m a little late with my review of “The Brainiac. Better late then never!!
Able Salazar appears to be smirking throughout the entire film. His over the top performance perfectly keeps pace with the action of the film. German Robles’ popeyed eye rolling act when he see his daughter first molested, the killed is one of the funniest I’ve ever see.
As far as the plot, I have many questions. Is the Baron human? It seems that nothing can kill him. Another point, if fire didn’t kill him the first time, how did it kill him the second time even though the flame throwers never actually touched him! The biggest question I have is why, when he returns, does he turn into the creature? He was never one before! Why does he need the brains? My final question is that is he keeps a bowel of brains if a trunk in his study, wouldn’t the brains start to rot and smell after a day. There doesn’t appear to be any air conditioning in his house. Apparently the smell of rotting brains is quite common in Mexico so no one notices it. “The Brainiac” is one of my favorite Mexican horror films. I watched the Casa Nova print which was excellent. I started with the English dub but found it to be annoying as the voices did not match the characters at all. I switched to the original Spanish with subtitles and the film was much more enjoyable. I highly recommend “The Brainiac” to anyone who want to enjoy 76 minutes of inspired craziness. Bruce Tinkel, Edison, NJ You can get the CasaNegra DVD of THE BRAINIAC in the Complete DVD Catalog in-line at Creepy Classics.
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One of the wackiest Mexican horror movies ever made. I watched this with my daughter and friend, Bob Pellegrino, over the weekend. We watched the really sharp version on the CasaNegra label. Wow! I had seen it once before, but this time I watcthed more closely. The story line is full of nonsnse, even beyond the dubbing and tranistion to English. But, it appeared that this was intended to be satirical and over-the-top from te beginning....and boy, does it succeed! 
Before I start the video, a little about my expectations. In my 19 years here, I have seen very view Mexican Monster Moives. They just do not have the popularity here. Rarely shown on TV, and not overly available in video. For a time I was attempting to see the 100 Greatest Mexican Movies, according to a popular magazine called Somos (We Are). El Vampiro, Body Snatcher and Cronso were the only monster movie in that list (See the Whole list here). One thing I can say about Mexican Cinema in general is "over the top." Everything they do is outrageous. Their comedies are hilarious, because they are no holds barred, the crazier the better. Their melodramas are so dramatic they are ridiculous and laughable. You don´t find much subtelty in the Mexican cinema. So I am expecting the same here, wild, over the top, outrageous, ridiculous, which is alway good for a chuckle and a fun viewing time. So on with the show!!! 
Crazy, he put the chains on the guards, and willingly goes to be burned. Outrageous! 
Brain Tacos mmmm good...some gruesome black humor, Mexican style. Don´t forget the Xylophone, to remind you to laugh! 
Speaking of that, why
Here are my thoughts on THE BRAINIAC:
As far as the film goes~ All I can say is INCREDIBLE- This is only the 4th time I have ever viewed this film (and the first time since 2002) - and for me it retains that sense of "innocence lost" (what I mean by this term is a movie that captures a time and place where you remember yourself as a child and where and when you saw this film as a kid-and the circumstances surrounding it!!)-I remember trying to stay up watching this schlocky film and rubbing my eyes and sipping coffee while my mom was watching it with me and remarking "What lousy special effects those were" (The monster itself) and "those look like vacuum cleaners attached to long hoses" (the flamethrowers that the police use to kill the Brainiac with!)-I would remark to her "Hey Mom- they are working on a really low budget monster movie!"--Give`em a break!!"-"Hey-At Least They Are Being Creative!" and she would reply back "This Movie`s Terrible!" HA!! (Oh Well- Hey-at least us Monster Kids know what`s good for us!!) 
ANYWAY- I love the opening scene in this film (The Trial)- the music is quite eerie and I love the overacting by Abel Salazar {the smug look on his face and his laugh is priceless!} when he is being accused of his many crimes {he seems to know his accusers will get their just "desserts"-HA!!- in the future when their descendants get their brains sucked dry by HIM!!!!- After he comes back to Earth after 300 years (1661-1961!) riding the "coat-tails" of a comet! The scene where the big rock containing "The Brainiac" lands on Earth is hilarious and must be seen to be believed!- and then he proceeds to kill a man (sucking his brains out with his long tongue) before taking his clothes and leaving the guy dead in the dirt!! (with only his shorts on!- Geez-doesn`t this guy have any class??!!) He then proceeds to do in a few gals before eliminating his enemy`s ancestors during the rest of the film. He also enjoys slurping raw brains from a spoon from a big glass that he keeps in a chest whenever he gets "Chest Pains" or whenever he feels like having a early brunch! (whether he has guests over or not) YECCHH!! 
1. In the sub-titled version: When the inquisitors are reading off the charges against The Baron, the sub-titles read the following: "...for having used
witchcraft, superstitions and spells for clumsy and dishonest purposes." Clumsy? Apparently, among all his other sins, The Baron is also a
klutz.
3. The monster: The head is a cross between a devil, a werewolf, and a lizard. It's obvious the actor couldn't breathe in the mask. That's why the
sides of the head kept moving in and out. There were no air-holes. 
7. The brains in a dish looks like quiche or some kind of meringue. Shouldn't the brains be refrigerated or do they have a long shelf-life like 
9. The policemen: They look like Kojak and his partner. 
The plot makes no sense. The acting is way over the top. The sets are cardboard with photo backdrops. All the people, including myself, who are in the “Monster Kid Home Movies” had better special effects than this The monster wears a rubber mask and rubber hands. In other words, “The Brainiac” is probably the funniest, most entertaining of all the Mexican horror films.You have to check your brains (no pun intended) before watching this film. If you try to think about it, your head will hurt.I cannot believe that the producers and screenwriter thought this story up after having way too many drinks. That’s fine because the craziness that goes on in “The Brainiac” is unmatched. 
The monster is absolutely hysterical. I loved the pulsating face, the wobbly tongue and the bending claws. I still haven’t figured out how he makes the brain matter he sucks out into solid brains!