Bad Taste

Released Dec 12, 1987

1h 32m

Horror

Sci-Fi

Comedy

List

71%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Gun-toting assassins try to wipe out a group of aliens that wants to use humans in New Zealand for food.

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Critics Consensus

Peter Jackson's early low-budget shocker boasts a disgusting premise - aliens harvesting humans for fast food - that gives the budding auteur plenty of room for gross-out visuals and absurd cleverness.

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Ronald R

This film to me screams out 2 things. First is a very well made home movie, and Second is a bunch of guy friends hang outing, being friends and beings guys. It has a lot more charm you would expect from a ridiculously low budget film. It's a great motivation for inspiring young filmmakers. It also plays the gore and comedy amazingly well. Jackson making his own props from mostly common house-hold materials is the type of creativity and imagination I remember having well I was a kid. Seeing this film and the making of titled "Good Taste made Bad Taste" make me want to make a story and script, grab my friends, make own him props (and if possible, have my friends help out with it). go out to my giant childhood park (won't say what is it), and go out and film. Also the song "Bad Taste" by The Remnants is stuck in my head, It's WAY too good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Justin T

This is a total gross out film where more disgusting is better. It is a black comedy that is as funny as it is ridiculous. The acting is very over-the-top which matches the insane gross special effects. The film is low-budget and old which may put some people off. Hopefully you can see past this as it is highly recommended if you can stomach the brain-dripping gore exhibited to you in Bad Taste.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

Full Review

Wayne K

When you think about cheap, cheesy but oh-so-entertaining B-movies that have made an impact in the industry, you can't not talk about Bad Taste. Peter Jackson is rightfully regarded as a powerhouse in the film business because of The Lord Of The Rings &, to a lesser extent, The Hobbit, and its great to see where he got his start, which was, like many great filmmakers, a bit closer to home. It's a delightfully silly idea, featuring a group of New Zealanders who find their country being invaded by an alien race that, for reasons of comedy and, I suspect, the budget, usually look like humans in identical clothing. It's understandably messy, unpolished and riddled with continuity errors, but the premise is simple enough to follow and the action and dialogue amusing enough to make you want to get to the end of it. It's a testament to the concept that producing a film requires little more than a camera, a bunch of mates and a fun idea, and while the results might not be to everyone's taste, pun very much intended, what's important is that Jackson believed in it enough to see it through, and he hasn't looked back since. So thank you Bad Taste, you're so horrible, yet so enjoyable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/02/23

Full Review

Gage A

Is a horror parody about aliens, but the film has some very silly scenes but peter jackson's ideas are smart on making this parody 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/01/22

Full Review

Shrungs 2

One of the best low-budget films I've seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/22

Full Review

Audience Member

it's a bit wacky and hard to follow the plot, but as an absurd horror comedy it's great

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Peter Jackson

Director

Peter Jackson

Derek

Mike Minett

Frank

Pete O'Herne

Barry

Terry Potter

Ozzy

Craig Smith

Giles

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Time Out

A climatic rebirth-by-chainsaw scene almost makes it all worthwhile, though you may have had to visit the bathroom once or twice in the wait.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Dan Fienberg

Zap2it.com

I miss Peter Jackson in his ultra low-budget horror mode. He always looked like he was having fun. Not half as good as Dead Alive, but still a hoot.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 20, 2005

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Jackson does it all in this movie: writes, directs, stars, produces, and designs the makeup.

Mar 10, 2003

Full Review

Pablo Villaça

Cinema em Cena

Divertido em seu humor descompromissado, este trash faz rir, mas no oferece o menor indcio do virtuoso cineasta que Jackson se tornaria.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 6, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 26, 2005

Full Review

Nicolas Lacroix

EnPrimeur.ca

Rated: 2/5

Dec 15, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

Gun-toting assassins try to wipe out a group of aliens that wants to use humans in New Zealand for food.

Director: Peter Jackson
Screenwriter: Ken Hammon, Tony Hiles, Peter Jackson
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Co: WingNut Films, New Zealand Film Commission
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1

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