A team from the intergalactic fast food chain Crumb's Crunchy Delights descends on Earth, planning to make human flesh the newest taste sensation. After they wipe out the New Zealand town Kaihoro, the country’s Astro-Investigation and Defense Service (AIaDS) is called in to deal with the problem. Things are complicated due to Giles, an aid worker who comes to Kaihoro the same day to collect change from the residents. He is captured by the aliens, and AIaDS stages a rescue mission that quickly becomes an all-out assault on the aliens’ headquarters.
Practical Effects
Guts made from dyed mince and Peter Jackson's own kitchen
Acting
Jackson plays two roles while directing—narcissism or necessity?
Production
Four years of weekends with a $25k budget
Director
Peter Jackson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jackson's mom made the alien costumes; his car appears as the alien spacecraft. The entire shoot happened only on Sundays because the cast had day jobs.
This launched New Zealand's splatter-comedy boom and proved Kiwi filmmakers could compete with Evil Dead—Jackson just needed 15 years and $300 million to pivot to hobbits.
US
NZ
