Character Analysis: Lionel Cosgrove

Character Analysis: Lionel Cosgrove

By: Brian Cotnoir

     

I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to see “Braindead” (or “Dead Alive as it’s more popularly known in North America).  I had heard so many things about this film, that I was really unsure of whether or not I wanted to see it, and it was mostly due to me believing that I wouldn’t like it, but I decided to give it a chance, and Oh Your God did I enjoy this film.  It is wonderful, it is violent, it has scares, laughs, shocking imagery, and lots of other things I like to see in films.  So in honor of me finally seeing this amazing film, I have decided to do a Character Analysis on the main character “Braindead”; Lionel Cosgrove.

CHARACTER: Lionel Cosgrove from “Braindead” (or “Dead Alive”)

Lionel Cosgrove, our hero

Lionel is a young man who lives in Wellington, New Zealand with his widowed mother in the year 1957.  Lionel is a shy, quiet, and unintentionally socially awkward.  Lionel partly blames himself for his father’s death, and is overwhelmingly loyal and caring towards his mother, Vera, as a way to compensate their loss.  One day Lionel catches the attention of the local shopkeeper’s daughter, Paquita.  Paquita finds Lionel very attractive and fun to be around, so the two of them go out on a date.  Lionel’s relationship with Paquita does not please his mother and she confronts the two of them at the Wellington Zoo.  It is during this confrontation at the Zoo that Vera walks too close to one of the animal cages and is bitten by the vicious and blood thirsty “Sumatran Rat-Monkey”.                     

     The bite from the Sumatran Rat-Monkey causes Lionel’s mother to transform into a ravenous zombie.  Being ever, the good son, Lionel decides not to destroy his mother, but rather take care of her, and hide her from the rest of the World.  That sounds all fine and dandy until, she rises from the grave after her funeral and bites a few people, thus creating more zombies for Lionel to have to watch over.  Lionel’s problems only worsen when his greedy Uncle Les finds out about what really happened to Lionel’s mother and he threatens to blackmail Lionel unless he gives him the house and all the money that his mother left him.  Things go from Bad to worse when the zombies escape from their basement prison and begin to wreak havoc on the massive house party that Les has thrown.  Now it’s up to Lionel and his girlfriend Paquita to stop the zombies from taking over Wellington and possibly the world.

"Party's Over"

THE ACTOR:

Timothy Balme plays Lionel Cosgrove

Lionel Cosgrove in “Braindead” is played by actor Timothy Balme.  This was Balme’s first movie role and it goes without saying he does a fantastic job in this role.  I honestly couldn’t picture anyone but Balme in this role.  He’s funny, he’s quirky, and he’s entertaining.  In some ways he reminds me of a socially-awkward version of David Tennant.  Why don’t more directors or studios cast Balme in their Horror films?  He is just so good.  Balme has actually gone on to do more TV movies and TV series then he has studio released films.  I certainly hope the reason why is because it was his own decision and not because no studio wants to cast him. If no film studio wants an actor like Timothy Balme, then I think most studios seriously need to reconsider how they cast actors in their films.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

     So I think Lionel Cosgrove is like New Zealand’s equivalent of Ash Williams.  He’s nerdy, he’s funny, he’s likable, and he kicks ass.  Like Ash, Lionel uses a landscaping tool to slay the undead (Ash has a chainsaw, Lionel has a lawn mower).  Also both characters get covered in gallons and gallons blood.  I mean both of these characters/actors get covered in enough fake blood to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool in their respected films.  Yeah, if you like Ash Williams and the “Evil Dead” franchise then you’re going to enjoy the hell out of Lionel Cosgrove and “Braindead”

Hi, I'm Lionel.  Please to meet you.

Nice to meet you Lionel!  I'm Ash.

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

I hope these two found happiness together

So after Lionel and Paquita slay (what seems like) dozens of zombies, they are left to face their biggest challenge yet.  Lionel’s mother Vera has transformed into a giant zombie-monster hybrid and is bent on destroying her son and Paquita.  Lionel finally has the courage to stand up to his mother, and calls her out.  Lionel tells his mother that he knows his father didn’t drown trying to rescue him as a boy, but rather it was her who drowned him in the bathtub after he found out he had been cheating on her.  It all comes to an epic battle between Lionel and the monster that his mother has become.  All looks lost for him when he is consumed by his mother, but using a protective talisman that Paquita’s grandmother gave him, he is able to escape from inside his mother.  With his mother and all the other zombies vanquished, Lionel and Paquita walk off into the night, and that’s where our film ends.  I like to think that the two of them went on to live happily ever after, but part of me also believes that this ending could leave it open to a sequel.  I mean we never did see Baby Zombie Selwyn die in the house fire.  Come on, you’ve got the perfect set up.  If Peter Jackson ever finishes with these “Hobbit” films the next thing he should do is work on a sequel to “Braindead”, but if he decides not too I’m sure his legions of fans will be able to live off of the excessive violence and gore from his 1992 classic.