Bad Taste (1989) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place in Kaihoro, a small town on New Zealand's North Island. Once a peaceful rural community, the town becomes overrun by space aliens and serves as the main battleground for the story. An alien base resembling a colossal spaceship sits at the heart of the town, serving as the command center for the extraterrestrial invasion.

• kaihoro
• new zealand
• north island
• setting
• alien base

The film was shot in New Zealand, which serves as the realistic home country of the two protagonist brothers. The small-town New Zealand setting provides a stark contrast to the alien invasion narrative, making the absurd extraterrestrial threat feel even more out of place against the otherwise ordinary town. The setting grounds the fantastical horror-comedy in a recognizable world.

• new zealand
• filming location
• australia
• auckland

The film takes place in a contemporary setting, though within a fictional narrative that blends comedic elements with horror. The story combines typical aspects of small-town New Zealand life with the absurdity of an alien invasion, creating a surreal experience where realistic mundane elements contrast with bizarre otherworldly threats.

• contemporary
• modern
• time period
• 1980s

The film centers on the theme of alien invasion, showcasing the tension and absurdity of a battle between humans and extraterrestrials. The story highlights human resilience in the face of bizarre otherworldly threats, blending comedic elements with genuine horror. The aliens plan to enslave humanity and use humans as ingredients in an intergalactic feast, creating a grotesque premise that the film embraces with over-the-top action.

• alien invasion
• extraterrestrial
• theme
• humanity
• survival

Survival is a key theme as the characters navigate the chaos brought by the aliens. The protagonists are forced to adopt guerrilla tactics and showcase ingenuity in their fight for their lives. The struggle highlights camaraderie and determination as they confront their fears and fight against overwhelming odds, even as the situation becomes increasingly bizarre and dangerous.

• survival
• guerrilla tactics
• camarade
• determination
• fight

Derek (real name Craig Smith) is the film's resourceful and witty protagonist. He is a trigger-happy brother who returns home to New Zealand seeking revenge for his father's murder. Derek showcases both bravery and a dark sense of humor as he battles the alien threat. His ability to handle absurd challenges while injured highlights his tenacity and adaptability, and he reveals a fiercely determined spirit despite his comedic nature.

• derek
• craig smith
• protagonist
• brother
• hero

Frank (real name Dean Lawrie) is Derek's loyal friend and valuable team member who provides comic relief throughout the film. He demonstrates bravery by infiltrating the alien gathering disguised as one of them. Frank's resourcefulness and ability to think on his feet are crucial in the group's strategic escapes, making him an essential part of their survival efforts against the extraterrestrial threat.

• frank
• dean lawrie
• friend
• comic relief
• ally

Lord Crumb is the film's main alien antagonist, representing the larger threat posed by the extraterrestrial invaders. He is characterized by arrogance and cruelty, embodying the alien menace that the protagonists must overcome. Lord Crumb leads the alien invasion and their grotesque plan to harvest humans as food for an intergalactic feast. His pursuit of the main characters exemplifies the high stakes of the conflict.

• lord crumb
• antagonist
• villain
• alien leader
• extraterrestrial

Giles is an unsuspecting charity collector who stumbles into the chaos of Kaihoro. He represents the innocence caught in the crossfire of the alien invasion, showcasing vulnerability and desperation. His journey from being an unaware victim to becoming a pivotal character in the struggle for survival underscores the unpredictability of the situation and how ordinary people get pulled into extraordinary conflicts.

• giles
• innocence
• civilian
• victim
• survivor

The aliens have invaded Earth with the specific plan to enslave humanity and use humans as ingredients in a grotesque intergalactic feast. This premise forms the basis of the film's horror-comedy tone, presenting a nightmarish scenario where humans are nothing more than livestock to the extraterrestrial invaders. The aliens' culinary intentions drive the conflict and explain why the protagonists must fight to save their town and humanity.

• human harvesting
• cannibalism
• alien food
• enslavement
• feast

Bad Taste combines sci-fi, horror, and comedy genres into an over-the-top blend. The film features graphic violence, grotesque body horror, and plenty of bodily fluids characteristic of horror, while also incorporating outrageous humor and absurd situations typical of comedy. The tone is dark and gruesome but consistently undercut by overtly absurd and comedic execution, creating a unique campy experience.

• horror
• comedy
• sci-fi
• gore
• body horror
• absurdism

The two brothers are motivated primarily by revenge after returning home to New Zealand and discovering their father has been murdered by the alien invaders. Their background as trigger-happy hitmen by trade gives them the skills necessary to wage an all-out battle against the extraterrestrial menace. Personal loss transforms into a broader fight to save their country and humanity from being harvested as food by the aliens.

• brothers
• revenge
• fathers death
• motivation
• killers