So last week's Mid-Week Movie Massacre featured comedy exploding head death scenes, inspired by the previous week's post about the Hong Kong cult film Riki-Oh from 1991. Off the back of that, we bring it all together with movie comedy deaths by quite literally blowing-up! My top three favourite over-inflated death scenes from cult films. A form of comedy death that's not used more than enough in my humble opinion. As the idea of someone blowing-up like a balloon is just too funny.

The scene towards the end of the movie where Thunder feels dishonoured, and so obviously chooses the only honourable way out, by self inflating until he explodes. Often listed as one of the most ridiculous death scenes in cinema, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. And looks hysterical. The only down-side, it being a kids movie and all, that they cut-away before you actually see him explode. But still, a brilliantly funny death scene.

Okay, so Mr. Creosote doesn't actually die in the famous sketch, from the much under-rated Monty Python movie. But there is no way back for him, seeing how the whole of his internal organs are spread across the restaurant. Showering the other patrons. Plus, this has to be one of the most famous exploding body scenes in movie history. How many times after eating too much have you quoted it, "No. Fuck off - I'm full..."? No?! Just me then!

I've always loved the original British TV movie version of Max Headroom. Which was later remade into a British/American sci-fi TV series. The blipvert scene, showing a poor unfortunate being subjected to intense subliminal advertising, resulting in him exploding is one of the most memorable parts of the original movie. And I think probably the very first exploding body death scene I ever saw.

Bringing it full circle, back to the original post that inspired the spate of exploding death scenes, with Riki-Oh. The movie is full of over-the-top death scenes. And the scene where Assistant Warden Dan is shot by the Warden with a gas-pressure bullet (who knew such things existed), is just one of the truly imaginative ways the makers of this cult classic came up with to kill people. I really must go back and re-watch this movie some time soon.

If you scanned the shelves of most video game stores, you wouldn't think that video gaming and Christianity were two things that go together. Most games are filled with all manner of unholy horrors, with their themes of death and destruction, just look at the Sodom and Gomorrah that is the Grand Theft Auto series of games for example.

However there have been a few small game makers that have dipped into scripture and released righteous video games for kids. One such example is Captain Bible in Dome Of Darkness, produced by Bridgestone Multimedia Group in 1994, for PC platforms.

Just what ever child wants, to play a superhero that defeats evil right? Whether driven by the "good book" or not, kids will still want to play it right? Wrong! As Captain Bible is simply dumb, and that's got nothing to do with its theme. Really it says it all at the top of the box, "Educational Adventure", two words that should never grace the from of a video game box. As it's the kiss of death for any piece of software.

The sequel to the 1986 sci-fi comedy horror Critters, this one has the eggs of the ravenous little aliens being mistaken for Easter eggs. The first feature film of director Mick Garris, and featured his wife Cynthia Garris. Who also wrote and performed the soundtrack. The small town of Grover’s Bend is celebrating their Easter Festival, when the Critters hatch and start eating everything in sight. Just as much campy silliness in Critters 2 as the first one, not taking itself seriously, and making for fun horror ride. 

Detractors of the Critters movies may say its a b-movie derivative of Gremlins. But the omnivorous little crites are campy comedy gold in their own right. But at the same time deliver enough gore to satisfy and blood thirsty horror fan. And some memorable moments. When the sheriff gets killed, ushering in the return of the Critters, it's a stand-out moment. The Critters getting inside his Easter Bunny suit and start eating him, sending him crashing through the church window during the service. It's one the moments when the movie really gets the balance right.

There's the tongue-in-cheek scene when Lee the faceless bounty hunter from space looks at a Playboy magazine and transforms into the Playboy model and b-movie scream queen Roxanne Kernohan.

The special effects and creatures are exactly what you'd expect from the Chiodo Brothers, who worked on the original, and are probably best known for writing, producing and directing cult comedy sci-fi horror Killer Klowns From Outer Space in 1988. 

Critters 2 is as schlocky as you'd expect it to be. In an all out "you know what you're getting, so don't complain about it" dose of cinema. Delivering a great big chuck of 80s horror nonsense, and it's all the better for it. It lulls in places, and the kill count could be higher. But the giant ball of rolling Critters at the end of the movie, makes the dull moments worth suffering. Right, off to check that the Easter eggs in my cupboard aren't really alien eggs.  

A brilliantly awful sci-fi/horror from the Corman stables, is typical 80s stuff. Full of horny teenagers who you know are going to die in hopefully gruesome ways. The girl that first buys it in Chopping Mall, is chased through the mall by one of the renegade killbots. As the semi-clad teen tries pathetically to run (slowly) away, the killbot shots her in the arse. Which still makes me laugh. Unable to run, she turns and faces her pursuer, only to be shot in the head! And BLAM!!!

1986, must have been a good year for exploding heads, as in Wes Carven's bizarre sci-fi horror we have another one. The scene when the cyborg Samantha takes revenge on the nasty neighbour Elvira, by slamming a basketball at her head. In what is one of the most laughable exploding head scenes ever. In what has become a cult classic film for it's awfulness. A film that was so hacked and slashed that even Craven himself has said he's not even sure what kind of movie it is.

Jumping forward to the much more recent Irish horror comedy, Stitches. As the revengeful birthday clown that has returned from the dead catches up with one of his intended victims. Sticking his balloon pump in the back of his head, and blowing his head up until it eventually bursts. Played for laughs, this scene from the movie that is a homage to 80s slasher flicks, is just brilliant. As with many of the 80s films it is paying respect to, the film is just so-so, but makes it up with a great death scene like this one.

The 1977 animation Wizards and that kiddies sci-fi horse opera in space, Star Wars have quite a lot on common. Not only where they both released in 1977, by 20th Century Fox. But Mark Hamill was in both movies. Playing the voice of Sean, king of the mountain fairies, in Wizards. And some bloke called Luke something in Star Wars. Both Ralph Bakshi, the genius behind Wizards, and George Loosearse were in the same meeting with 20th Century Fox, asking for money. Neither of them got any. Bakshi finished the movie with his own money. Not sure what Loosearse did with his little film. Apart from that he spat his dummy out because Bakshi was originally going to call Wizards, "War Wizards". But Loosearse wanted to call his little flick Star Wars, and he felt the names were too similar. The words "Wizards" and "Stars" both sounding like they're both sort of magic like.

Look, when you lay one over the other, the match is uncanny! Loosearse you plagiarising bastard! It doesn't end there you know. Oh no, not by a long shot. Wizards has characters called "stormtroopers" in it. Guess what Star Wars has? Yeah you know it, stormtroopers, who just happen to look a lot like Peace from Wizards. Did little old George Loosearse never have a original idea of his own?

Oh and talking of Peace in Wizards. He started out as an evil "robot" called Necron 99, controlled by the evil ruler Blackwolf. Who is the dark-side one of twins, born to a queen, the other being to good-side called Avatar. Avatar changes Necron 99 it a force for good called Peace. Now, come on, dark-side, light-side, imbued with magical force, evil becoming good and bloody twins!!! Loosearse took the whole of Wizards, chucked in a massive dollop of Just Garland, and a bunch of crappy westerns he'd once seen and stretched it over 6 bloody movies. What a twat! 

I'd almost forgotten about the ITV comedy series called Astronauts, that featured Hull actor Barrie Rutter. The series was written by comedians and ex-Goodies Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie. The show told the story of the first three British astronauts in space, who had been sent on a six month mission to a "sky lab". They all lived in the cramped two room little space station, with a dog they took up with them called Bimbo. The comedy of the show predominately (as it would) revolved around the claustrophobic conditions under which they lived.

What has been called The Goodies in space, simply didn't work. How it even made it through the six month mission and into a second series is a mystery. The three actors involved are all Shakespearean actors, what possessed them to do this show is another mystery. All of them have somewhat of an exemplary list of acting credentials, apart from this weird little blip, that I'm sure they Tiptex out of their CV's. Bruce Boa, continued to play the token American in British comedies and TV shows, despite being Canadian. The whereabouts of Bimbo are unknown.

Chocky was a creepy 1984 sci-fi series, based on a John Wyndham novelette, first published in the March 1963 issue of Amazing Stories. And later developed into a novel, which was published in 1968. Although before the publication of the novel, there was a 60 minute BBC radio play adaptation of the original story, written by John Tydeman. The story revolved around a young boy called Matthew, who developed a bizarre relationship with what his parents think is an imaginary friend. 

The friend however is an extra terrestrial being, that communicates with and through Matthew to gain an understanding of humanity, as part of a potential colonisation mission that the being is a scout for. Through its connection to Matthew, Chocky imparts extraordinary intelligence and abilities to Matthew. Which come to the notice of shadowy groups that wish to exploit Matthew, and ultimately get access to Chocky.

It is the ITV adaptations that most people remember, which were produced by Thames Television. Chocky ran for three series, each made up of six 30 minute episodes. They were Chocky, Chocky's Children and Chocky's Challenge. They were written by Anthony Read, who was previously a writer and script editor for Dr. Who and co-wrote the fifth season of the dark and creepy sci-fi series Sapphire & Steel.  Apparently Wyndham's estate considered Read's adaptation to be the best.

Apparently the series was very popular in Czechoslovakia, where it was translated and dubbed into both the Czech language and Slovak language. It was also dubbed in French and broadcast in Canada in the late 1980s and early 90s. It was also released in the mid-80s, in the French speaking part of Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. Of all places, where it was known as Ystävä avaruudesta. Which means "a friend from space".

Stephen King's directorial début, and only movie as director. After seeing Maximum Overdrive, it's best that he has since stuck to writing. Based loosely on his own short story Trucks, after the Earth passes through the tail of a comet, electrical objects come to life and quickly turn killers. It stars Emilio Estevez, who along with King was nominated for a Golden Raspberry, for the movie. Even King himself described this literal car crash of a sci-fi horror as a "moron movie", as he put his director's chair into storage forever. Rumour is that King was coked-up throughout the whole production of this camp classic.

The movie is a "take your brain out" masterpiece of mayhem. No one is spared in what is just an excuse for blowing shit up to an AC/DC soundtrack. And let's be fair, there's nothing wrong with that. King's favourite band, AC/DC's classic album Who Made Who was released to coincide with the movie release. The album featured what are now AC/DC standards, such as the title track Who Made Who and Hells Bells.

 In a movie that contains scene after scene of machines going haywire, and stuff blowing up, you'd expect there to be some accidents. And Maximum Overdrive had its fair share. One involved the director of photography losing an eye, after being sprayed by splinters of wood, after a lawnmower went rogue. He later sued King for damages. The whole movie is littered with goofs and gaffs. In fact IMDb lists 43 goofs on its website.

The British "virtual" TV host that first appeared in the cyberpunk TV movie on Channel 4,  Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into The Future. First broadcast in 1985, the character was so successful that he was developed into a VJ, with his own show, The Max Headroom Show, that same year. The show ran for 3 seasons, until 1987. In 1987 a further spin-off sci-fi drama series was made, which ran for 2 seasons.

Max became such a massive hit, especially among youth audiences that he began to appear everywhere. He was used to promote New Coke, he appeared on Sesame Street, he appeared at the 1988 Winter Olympics and released a song Paranoimia with the synthpop group The Art Of Noise. In 1986, Quicksilva released a Max Headroom game, which was sold in the UK for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

Max has been parodied on many occasions. From David Letterman to Back To The Future and an Eminem music video. Infamously in 1987, Max's character was hijacked as part of a TV broadcast signal intrusion prank. When a hacker dressed in a suit and wearing a Max Headroom mask, hijacked the TV signal of a Chicago TV station and its affiliate, in an incident known as the "Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion". Most recently Max was revived as an old man to promote Channel 4's digital switch-over.