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Action Cult Classic

Man-eating aliens in blue shirts invade a New Zealand town for an intergalactic fast-food chain.

BAD TASTE

1987 · 1h 32m · R · Action / Comedy / Horror / Science Fiction · IMDB TMDB

The population of a small town disappears and is replaced by aliens that chase human flesh for their intergalactic fast-food chain. Derek and his friends must investigate the missing people in a small village. Then they find out its human formed aliens that are really big headed monsters that used all the people in the small village into their snack burgers. Now, Derek must save the day and the world with his chainsaw before the meat eaters strikes the whole planet. Will Derek kill all the aliens?

Quick Answer

What is Bad Taste about?

Bad Taste is a 1987 New Zealand action, comedy, horror, and science fiction film directed by Peter Jackson about a small town whose population is replaced by aliens harvesting humans for their intergalactic fast-food chain.

Programmer's Pick

Peter Jackson lets his chainsaw and latex fly in this deliciously disgusting debut, where intergalactic fast food means never asking what’s in the burger. Who knew rural New Zealand could serve up so much alien-induced carnage and splatter-laced slapstick?

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

After the entire population of the small New Zealand town of Kaihoro vanishes, the Astro Investigation and Defence Service sends four agents to investigate. They find the town crawling with man-eating aliens disguised as ordinary humans in matching blue shirts. As the agents attempt to deal with these extraterrestrial impostors, one of them is ambushed and presumed dead, while an unsuspecting charity collector stumbles into the bizarre and dangerous situation. With the aliens' true motives hidden beneath their human facades and the local population missing, it's a blood-splattered mix of horror and dark comedy set in a coastal New Zealand village.

Details & Specs

Director
Peter Jackson
Writer
Peter Jackson
Release
1987
Runtime
1h 32m
Country
New Zealand
Language
English
Also Known As
Vesmírní kanibalové, Mal gusto, Fuori di testa

Why This Matters

Bad Taste marks Peter Jackson's debut feature, produced with friends on a shoestring budget over four years, and its cult status and critical reassessment helped Jackson gain industry support, notably through funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Peter Jackson Writer: Peter Jackson
Terry Potter Terry Potter Ozzy / 3rd Class Alien PO Pete O'Herne Barry / 3rd Class Alien Craig Smith Craig Smith Giles / 3rd Class Alien MM Mike Minett Frank / 3rd Class Alien Peter Jackson Peter Jackson Himself Doug Wren Doug Wren Alien Leader Peter Vere-Jones Peter Vere-Jones Narrator KH Ken Hammon 3rd Class Alien RG Robin Griggs 3rd Class Alien MG Michael Gooch 3rd Class Alien PG Peter Gooch 3rd Class Alien LY Laurie Yarrall 3rd Class Alien SY Shane Yarrall 3rd Class Alien DL Dean Lawrie 3rd Class Alien PL Philip Lamey 3rd Class Alien Costa Botes Costa Botes 3rd Class Alien GB Graham Butcher 3rd Class Alien BH Bob Haliburton 3rd Class Alien AM Andrew McKay 3rd Class Alien CH Clive Haywood 3rd Class Alien JM John McTavish 3rd Class Alien JN John Nelson 3rd Class Alien GN Graham Nesbitt 3rd Class Alien SS Steven Smith 3rd Class Alien JL John Logan Jr. 3rd Class Alien MN Matt Noonan 3rd Class Alien CC Cameron Chittock 3rd Class Alien RB Ray Battersby 3rd Class Alien MA Mike Appleby 3rd Class Alien PA Peter Appleby 3rd Class Alien MK Michael Kane 3rd Class Alien RJ Robert Johnston 3rd Class Alien SB Scott Bradshaw 3rd Class Alien ML Mark Lamey 3rd Class Alien GF Giles Forrest 3rd Class Alien GT Grant Taylor 3rd Class Alien CT Carol Taylor 3rd Class Alien DT Dean Taylor 3rd Class Alien KT Kim Taylor 3rd Class Alien DH Dave Hamilton 3rd Class Alien JF Jock Fyfe 3rd Class Alien TH Tony Hiles 3rd Class Alien JR John Ruby 3rd Class Alien KU Kerry Underhill 3rd Class Alien RW Robin Watene 3rd Class Alien GA Garry A. Brown 3rd Class Alien MJ Mark Jackson 3rd Class Alien PH Peter Henderson 3rd Class Alien JR Janine Riely 3rd Class Alien MB Margaret Byford 3rd Class Alien

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Why Cult

Splatter Horror FX

The film revels in over-the-top gore, inventive makeup, and practical effects that made Peter Jackson a cult favorite.

Alien Fast Food Plot

Aliens disguised as humans harvest villagers to supply their off-world snack chain—creatively offbeat even by B-movie standards.

DIY New Zealand Filmmaking

Shot in New Zealand with a small cast (including Peter Jackson himself in two roles), it’s an audacious showcase for Kiwi genre cinema.

Absurd Violence & Comedy

Combines slapstick, body horror, and deadpan rural anarchy for a one-of-a-kind tone.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Population disappearance in small town

Threat

Man-eating aliens disguised as humans

Effect

Humans harvested for intergalactic fast-food burgers

Countermeasure

Agents investigate and attack the aliens

Setting

Sleepy New Zealand coastal village

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Bad Taste? +

Bad Taste was directed by Peter Jackson.

How long is Bad Taste? +

Bad Taste has a runtime of 92 minutes.

What genre is Bad Taste? +

Bad Taste is an action, comedy, horror, and science fiction film.

When was Bad Taste released? +

Bad Taste was released in 1987.

How do the aliens disguise themselves in Kaihoro? +

The aliens take human form and wear blue shirts to blend in while harvesting villagers for their fast-food operation.

Trailers & Clips