What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBraindead
Film · 1992
If you loved Braindead, start with BrainDead (Michelle King, 2016) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Braindead across media.
You loved the way Braindead gleefully weaponizes domestic absurdity and gore to turn everyday life into a chaotic, gruesome spectacle.
Start with the source
Adaptation
BrainDead
Michelle King · Series · 2016
Books on the same thread
Goosebumps
R. L. Stine · Book · 1992
Explores: Monsters, Supernatural, Fear.
If the creature-feature chaos of Braindead kept you hooked, you will appreciate how this story traps its characters in a dangerous, isolated environment filled with unexpected monstrous threats.
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1962
Explores: Good vs Evil, Loss of Innocence, Temptation.
Braindead excels at making small-town life feel deeply unsettling, a tone that mirrors how this narrative forces boys to confront the encroaching darkness hidden within their own quiet community.
Welcome to Dead House
R. L. Stine · Book · 1992
Explores: Small town secrets, Relocation anxiety, Undead.
Much like the zombie-infested town in Braindead, this story thrives on the tension of a family struggling to survive against an undead presence that neighbors choose to ignore.
The Lurking Fear and Other Stories
H. P. Lovecraft · Book · 1982
Explores: Ancient Evil, Isolation, Madness.
The sense of mounting dread and ancient, uncontrollable threats found in these tales provides a literary foundation for the cosmic absurdity that defines the horror of Braindead.
Series on the same thread
Mr. Bean
Richard Curtis · Series · 1990
Explores: Social Awkwardness, Misunderstanding, Incompetence.
You enjoyed the slapstick violence in Braindead, so you will recognize that same spirit of disaster in these sketches where a single person creates absolute mayhem in public.
Santa Clarita Diet
Victor Fresco · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Braindead: Zombie Comedy, Dark Comedy.
This show shares the exact dark comedic DNA of Braindead by focusing on a family unit navigating the gory, literal transformation of a loved one into a zombie.
Beetlejuice
Tim Burton · Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Braindead: Dark Comedy.
The gothic, lighthearted approach to death and the afterlife seen here echoes the colorful, macabre aesthetic that made the undead interactions in Braindead so uniquely entertaining to watch.
Dead Set
Charlie Brooker · Series · 2008
Explores: Media Satire, Celebrity Culture, Social Commentary.
The claustrophobic, media-saturated apocalypse featured here captures the same manic energy of a society collapsing under the weight of an outbreak that you witnessed in Braindead.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If you appreciated how Braindead finds humor in the darkest of small-town tragedies, you will enjoy this deep dive into the bizarre and violent history of provincial life.
Morbid
Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart · Podcast · 2026
Explores: macabre humor, skepticism, human mortality.
This podcast mirrors the balancing act of Braindead, blending genuine forensic interest with a dark sense of humor to make the macabre feel accessible and surprisingly fun.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 1992 Braindead movie related to the 2016 BrainDead television series?
No, the 1992 film Braindead and the 2016 television series BrainDead are separate productions. The movie focuses on a Sumatran rat-monkey bite and a zombie outbreak, while the television series shares the title but does not continue the plot of the original film.
What is the premise of the 1992 film Braindead?
In Braindead, Lionel Cosgrove struggles to manage his mother after she is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She transforms into a zombie and begins killing and turning the residents of their town, forcing Lionel to attempt to keep the situation under control.
Does the 2016 BrainDead show follow the plot of the 1992 Braindead movie?
The 2016 BrainDead television series is not a direct adaptation or sequel to the 1992 film Braindead. While they share a title, they feature different stories and characters, as the film focuses on a zombie outbreak caused by a rat-monkey bite.
Should I watch the movie Braindead before the television show BrainDead?
You do not need to watch the 1992 film Braindead to understand the 2016 television series BrainDead. They are distinct projects with different narratives, so the viewing order does not impact your ability to follow the plot of either production.