I remember walking around the old video store in the town I grew up in. It was called Captain Video. That town only had (has) around 6,000 people in it, but at the time (late 90s) there were two places to rent movies (on VHS!). My high school friend happened to work at the Captain Video so I would just go there to hang out and shoot the shit with him when customers weren't around. During many of these visits I'd wander around reading the back of various movies. I'd walk past the Dead Alive case and always be struck by it. Mind you, I'm not a huge fan of horror films. I just don't like FEELING afraid. But if the horror films also have an element of levity? Something humorous that lessen or negate the terror on the screen? That's right up my alley! Imagine my surprise when I finally rent that VHS and watch this masterpiece for the first time. It was a perfect fit for 15 year old (or so) me. And oh how surprised I was when I was sitting in a movie theater a couple years later and I see that Peter Jackson is set to direct an epic movie trilogy that costs the studio HUNDREDS of millions of dollars. Even as a kid I thought "how the fuck did he manage THAT??". I LOVE Dead Alive but even I was flabbergasted at that decision. Anyway, we all know how that ended. Dead Alive is not for everyone. But it IS for me. It's stupid, gory, and wonderful.