Mind Control is the topic and basic premise of this low-grade sociological study/campy horror film from director, Ed Hunt (Bloody Birthday). A thought provoking but muddled metaphor for the brainwashing effects of Scientology, T.V. marketing propaganda and other pseudo-scientific religious hogwash is at times unintentionally laughable for its cheesy portrayal of a giant brain with teeth that murders people after subjecting them to a series of hallucinations brought on by a mad doctor played by the straight-faced, hammy, David Gale. (He was the hilarious talking severed head from 'Re-Animator'). Fans will enjoy seeing Gale as the maniacal genius who hosts a television show that tricks people into thinking that they are "independent" and "individuals" all the while they are just experimental guinea pigs and food for "The Brain" creature. This is obviously a statement on a conformist society, but it falls short due to erratic direction and some pretentious overacting. Although, Tom Bresnahan makes for a good character. He's paranoid but intelligent, and he seems to be the only one that is on to the crooked intentions of Dr. Blake which makes for an interesting battle of wits. The brain creature is typically ridiculous 80s cheese as it swallows up hopeless idiot victims in its wake. Non-conformist horror fans will get some enjoyment out of this mess, and Gale's Re-Animator tribute scene is a real hoot, and the sodium washroom brain-exploding sequence is just too funny for words. Its not-so-bad if you're in the mood.

"The Brain" is a harmless but brainless cheesy creature feature romp.**SPOILERS**Dealing with behavior problems, Jim Majelewski, (Tom Bresnahan) is counseled by his parents and principal that he should be sent to a psychologist. Sent to the nearby Psychological Research Institute run by Dr. Anthony Blakely, (David Gale) he is soon inundated with treatment to help cure him, but it only starts off a series of hallucinations that concern his friends Janet, (Cynthia Preston) and Willie, (Bret Pearson) to begin to question what's happening at the facility and attempt to break in, revealing a plan from the heads of the institute are putting a plan into effect that concerns a television show being used as the catalyst for the transmission of hypnotic brain waves from a gigantic alien brain to take over the world. With their influence controlling others, they race to stop them before they are put in control.The Good News: This was a really entertaining and cheesy effort. This one here really piles it on and offers up some real fun, mostly coming from the central brain. It's a wonderfully cheesy looking creature, with a demonic face and a mouthful of fangs that leave a great impression on first viewing. The plot itself is another example, and manages to include a lot of great cheese in it. The film, as a whole, simply reeks of cheese and there's a lot of fun to be had from that part. It's also got some great action scenes to impart some fun into it. There's a couple of car chases in here, all of which are quite fun and exciting. A fantastic sequence, where a family watching the show on TV doesn't notice when one of them slips upstairs. There, strange things begin to happen, as the teddy bear starts bleeding from his eyes and an arm crashes through her portable TV set and tentacles break through the wall. When the mother rushes in the room, all this paranormal fun disappears for a moment. Then it re-emerges and the girl repeatedly stabs one of the tentacles to get free. Outside of the girl's delusions, it's seen that she has actually just stabbed her mother to death. Then, frightened by the image of a brain with a hideous face coming at her from her mirror, the girl falls out of her window to her death. The fact that the last half of the film mostly consists of chasing through the town or the institute grounds means that there's very rarely anything dull happening and it stays upbeat and exciting for these segments to keep interest. There's also some nice blood and gore to be found in this, which is quite nice. There's a decapitation with an ax, several gunshot wounds, a chainsaw sliced into the waist that cuts in half and a couple of really impressive brain-devouring that look far more graphic than they should. Capped off with some mild humor moments and a couple of fun little sleaze bits, this one isn't that bad.The Bad News: This one here doesn't have a whole lot of flaws, but there are some. One of the main ones is that there's a large helping of cheese in here that might not be for everyone. The general plot itself may be enough to put some off the film altogether, as it's really as brainless and thought-less as it suggests. That's a knock that some might not get over, and it really manages to make that seem like something big and important, since it relies so heavily on something like that which is such a judgment call on most viewer's cases. From the fact that there's nothing to keep the thought going for what happens in the plot. There's way too many instances where it's way too easy to question the logic going on and force the film to a halt. It's pretty common, especially once it gets to the point where the television show comes in to force the viewers of it to do their bidding. It comes with a lot of areas that don't have to deal with intelligence that anyone can catch on but the characters don't. It leaves a few bad areas, but otherwise these here are what really hurt in the long run.The Final Verdict: Filled with cheese, often to the point of it being a crime, there's enough here for fans of the style to get some entertainment out of it. Worth seeing for the true hardcore cheese fans of the time or are in the mood for brainless fun, otherwise for low-cheese tolerance, seek caution with it.Rated R: Violence, Nudity and Language

I found this really cheap on DVD recently and just HAD to snap it up - it's one of those horror flicks I kept seeing on ebay but didn't want to pay too much for it.It turns out that it's not a bad cheesy monster flick, but nothing special either. I would describe it as average. The brain itself is funny to watch, especially when it attacks. The scene at the end where it explodes in a shower of sparks is hilarious. The plot is silly and loosely ties all the events together. There's some boring moments and some fun moments.Overall I would rate it as average. There's loads of better films out there, if you're a fan of The Brain then you may want to check out The Suckling (a film about an aborted killer foetus) or The Deadly Spawn. Both have similarities to The Brain and are much more entertaining.

Cheap, poorly acted and poorly filmed though it may be, the Brain still has something to offer: the joy that accompanies a truly terrible movie. This is a real stinker, but it's because of its awfulness that it merits watching. The Brain is a plastic teddy which eats people and exerts a dominance over their mental well-being. A crazy alien professor type controls it. Naturally, some teenage hero has to fight it and bring justice to the endeavour. A young chap who mucks around at school ends up being sent to the mad professor to get help. Plugged into the Brain, he fantasises about some foxy chick doing a striptease, but actually the Brain is striking! Later on, he hallucinates that he's being attacked etc and his girlfriend has to help him out. Loads of ludicrous scenes take place and it all ends up OK. Along the way we meet a funny fat man, always laughable stuff. The special fx etc are all rubbish, but that adds to the charm really. This film is trash, but good fun. If you expect a proper film, leave well alone my friends.