Bad Taste

'Bad Taste' offers a distinctively Antipodean flavour, being set and filmed in New Zealand. While the plot involves extraterrestrial invaders, the film retains a down-to-earth, almost parochial feel in its depiction of the small town of Kaihoro and the local response. The humour often stems from this juxtaposition of the mundane and the utterly bizarre. For Australian viewers, there's a familiar sense of regional identity and a shared appreciation for darkly comedic, genre-bending cinema that 'Bad Taste' proudly embodies. It's a quirky piece of Kiwi filmmaking with broad appeal.

Prepare for a truly unique and often unhinged viewing experience with 'Bad Taste'. This is a film that embraces its limitations, turning them into a strength through sheer audacity and comedic timing. The special effects are famously rudimentary, the plot is gloriously absurd, and the tone swings wildly between gratuitous gore and slapstick humour. It’s a cult classic for a reason, offering a raw, unpolished, and undeniably entertaining spectacle that prioritises fun and shock value above all else. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted or those seeking polished filmmaking.

Released in 1987, 'Bad Taste' is an early work by Peter Jackson, predating his later, more mainstream successes like 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. It serves as a foundational piece, showcasing his raw creative energy and penchant for the unconventional. Shot over several years with a small budget and featuring Jackson himself in multiple roles, the film is a testament to his independent spirit and visual inventiveness. It’s a fascinating look at the genesis of a filmmaker who would go on to redefine blockbuster cinema.

While 'Bad Taste' features aliens with a taste for humans, it defies easy categorisation. It leans heavily into a unique blend of science fiction, gore, and absurdist comedy. The film revels in its low-budget, DIY aesthetic, creating a tone that is both shocking and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s less about genuine terror and more about pushing boundaries with its outlandish premise and often crude, yet inventive, execution. Viewers should expect a wild ride that prioritises outrageousness over traditional genre conventions.

'Bad Taste' plunges us into a bizarre intergalactic conflict centered around the fast food chain Crumb's Crunchy Delights. These aliens have set their sights on Earth, specifically the small New Zealand town of Kaihoro, with the intention of making human flesh their next culinary sensation. The local authorities, the Astro-Investigation and Defense Service (AIaDS), are dispatched to combat this extraterrestrial threat. The narrative takes a turn with the arrival of Giles, an aid worker whose presence complicates the already dire situation as AIaDS prepares for a full-scale assault.