YMMV / The Brain That Wouldn't Die

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Is Jan driven to murder and destruction by the trauma of her situation? Or, as Kurt theorizes, did her soul get lost somewhere when her body and mind were separated, and now she's just plain evil?
• Applicability: As noted below, modern viewers have interpreted the film as a feminist parable, despite that not being the intention.
• Fan Nickname: Jan in the Pan. It's even listed as her character name on the film's IMDB page.
• Fridge Horror: For after the events of the movie:
  • Bill's father is not in for a good time when he gets back from his conference.
  • Doris will likely be killed by the monster. Even if she escapes, unless the monster is revealed, who'd believe her?
• Nightmare Fuel: The beginning of the film where there's a blank screen saying "let me die" is actually pretty disturbing.
• Special Effects Failure:
  • "Hey, the mask is just tied in the back!"
  • After Kurt gets his arm torn off, it's pretty obvious the actor is just hiding his arm with his lab coat.
• Spiritual Successor: Someone involved in this movie was reading their H. P. Lovecraft; the story borders on a Whole-Plot Reference to his novella Herbert West–Reanimator.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: Bill and Pan!Jan having no interaction until the climax of the movie can be seen as a serious waste of potential.
• Values Resonance: As the documentary Shlock! notes, it's probable the filmmakers, who had a five day shooting schedule, had no idea they were making a feminist parable. Taken on its own, the film (almost accidentally) makes a powerful statement on idealized feminine beauty and male desire.
• The Woobie:
  • Kurt, the hapless lab assistant who has been deformed by Cortner's experiments. He loses all sympathy once he inexplicably cops an attitude.
  • Not to mention poor Pan!Jan.
  • Doris had an affair with a guy who cut her out of jealously. She learned to hate all men, and the moment one comes along that she can trust, he drugs her with the intent of murdering her. Talk about Kick the Dog.

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