- Year
- 1988
- Country
- USA
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Director
- Frank Henenlotter
- Updated
- 10 Aug 2026
- Obscurity
- cult (44/100)
- Also known as
- Elmer the Parasite
Brain Damage
A parasite gives a young man euphoric highs in exchange for feeding it brains. Addiction as horror.
Frank Henenlotter's smartest film, an addiction allegory in which a young man is befriended by Aylmer, a phallic ancient parasite that injects him with a euphoric blue fluid in exchange for being fed human brains. The high is ecstatic, the price is murder, and the parasite sings show tunes.
It is grimy, funny and pointed about addiction, made with Henenlotter's usual love of sleazy New York. Aylmer, voiced by horror host John Zacherle, is a great creation. Under the gore is a real film about needing something that is killing you.
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