Flying Saucer Cinema Presents: The Brain that Wouldn't Die

The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (aka The Head That Wouldn't Die aka The Brain That Couldn't Die) was completed under the name The Black Door in 1959 but not released until 3 years later as part of a double feature with Invasion of the Star Creatures. This iconic no-budget sci-fi shocker concerns a mad scientist who carelessly decapitates his fiancé in a car crash and then keeps her head alive in a baking dish while searching for a perfect body on which to reanimate her. Sleazy? Repugnant? Gratuitous? For sure. Brilliant? Unparalleled? Groundbreaking? Yowza! The Brain that Wouldn’t Die is one of those so over-the-top films that one cannot remain neutral about it. While it’s often dismissed as budget schlock or so-bad-it’s-good grindhouse fare, this gem has lived on as must-see cinema for good reason, and we will break down the ways in which it’s rife with entertainment value and meaning, intentional or not. If you’re in the mood for a phenomenal mad scientist experiment-gone-wrong movie with a healthy dose of sex and gore, this one has your name written all over it.

Participants are strongly encouraged to watch the film before the event. Rent it from Scarecrow or check here for streaming options. This program is free but registration is required.

Discussions are led by Mark Daniels and Eric Cohen, who are both passionate about science fiction and co-teach Flying Saucer Cinema, a classic sci-fi film class at North Seattle College. Daniels is a board member and volunteer at Scarecrow Video and guest host on the podcast Treks in Sci-Fi, while Cohen has been leading a psychotronic film club for years.

Hungering for more classic science fiction cinema? Under the same Flying Saucer Cinema banner, Eric and Mark teach an in-person science-fiction film class every quarter at North Seattle College! For details about the program, including dates, times, and sign-up information, click here.