Hailed as ‘brutally effective’ (Screen Rant), ‘a forgotten classic’ (Horror News) and ‘graphic and unapologetic’ (Sex Gore Mutants), Nightmares in a Damaged Brain (also known as Nightmare) remains one of the most reviled, controversial and misunderstood genre films of the 1980s. Banned as part of the video nasty campaign here in the UK in the 80s it was eventually released and certified by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) in 2002 but was still censored and was for many years.

Now ‘the most repulsive, degrading and horrifying movie ever made’  (as stated by the NY Daily News), can be experienced like never before and is the most complete version ever assembled in this Severin release. 

The set which comprises of two discs, includes a never-before-seen restored version and more than five-hours of brand new special features (3 hours of documentaries plus the 2 full length commentaries). This limited edition is out now as also is a standard edition Blu-ray release.

From Writer/Director Romano Scavolini

Until 2024, I hadn’t seen this film but was very familiar with its super creepy title and the cover art as well as a still image of a woman’s severed head in a pool of blood. I’m guessing that image was on the back of the VHS box when the film was originally released back in the 80s as i recall seeing it when I frequented video store near my house after school for hours at a time. I remember picking up many VHS boxes and whilst I was way too young to watch the films, much of the artwork from those films, stuck in my brain over the years (thankfully my brain isn’t a damaged brain)  

So what is ‘Nightmare’ about, well the film focuses on George Tatum (played by Baird Stafford) ,a paranoid schizophrenic who is plagued by really nasty and grotesque nightmares harking back to his childhood. George is being medically treated at a facility in New York and when classed as ‘cured’ he is released into an outpatient programme and back onto the streets of New York. But George takes to the road and legs it  back to his hometown in Florida where….well lets just say. things don’t go well, for George or the young family George encounters. (to be fair, its not just George that’s creepy as hell, some of the family yes CJ (played by C J Cooke) I’m talking about YOU is a creepy little kid too.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Disc 1: 4K UHD

Audio Commentary with star Baird Stafford and special effects assistant Cleve Hall moderated by Lee Christian and David DeCoteau

Audio Commentary with producer William Paul

Trailers

Disc 2: Blu-ray

Damaged: The Very British Obscenity of David Hamilton-Grant (71 minutes)

Audio commentary with Baird Stafford and Cleve Hall moderated by Lee  Christian and David DeCoteau

Audio commentary with producer William Paul

Kill Thy Father and Thy Mother – Interview with director Romano Scavolini (71 minutes)

Dreaming Up A Nightmare (39 minutes)– Featuring former president of 21st century distribution Arthur Schweitzer, actor/unit production manager Mik Cribben, Production Supervisor Simon Nuchtern, Florida producer/special effects artist William Milling, uncredited editor Jim Markovic and archival interviews with actor Baird Stafford and special effects artists Edward French and Cleve Hall

The Nightmare Of Nightmare (7 minutes) – interview with erroneously credited special effects director Tom Savini

Legendary Loser – Music Video by R.A. The Rugged Man Thorburn

Deleted scene (1 minute)

Image Gallery – publicity pics, behind-the-scenes shots, video covers and death pix

Trailers

‘Nightmare’ is a grotty film, and I mean that as a compliment. Bearing in mind this is my first viewing of the film, the film unnerved me with its raw, creepy look to it that always unsettles me. It looked like a film from the 70s or early 80s (and yes I know its an early 80s film) but I’m sure fans of films from that around that time, know what I mean. It looks ‘period’ rather than ‘dated’ and I think that worked really well. The restoration on the disc looked great and didn’t lose the atmosphere that many restorations can cause to happen.  The film itself was fun (and icky)  and whilst I’m very glad I have finally seen it, I’m also pretty glad I didn’t see it as a kid on a grainy VHS as I can imagine it would have scarred me a bit (I’m not a lightweight in horror films now but I was when I was a kid- Jaws was my limit)

Is ‘Nightmare In A Damaged Brain’ a film I would recommend to all? Well perhaps not to those just familiar with solely mainstream horror films of the 21st century, but I would certainly recommend this Severin set to those with an interest in the classic horror films and any type of film history as along with being able to see the best version of the film (many previous editions were censored), in the best restoration, the special features will make you an expert on ‘Nightmare In A Damaged Brain’ once you’ve watched and listened to them all (which is what I’m doing to do now that I’ve finished watching the movie)

Watching the film through my 2024 eyes, its a brutal violent film which is still blood soaked and gory, imagine what it was like watching this film back in 1981- crikey! I cant even imagine! 

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