Sheila and the Brainstem

Somewhere in the American southwest, Taz, a nutty visionary, has temporarily misplaced the wizened dried-out Brainstem he found in a mysterious subterranean world -- which he believes is the key to immortality. Three rebellious punks, Sean, Head and Billy Dork, unknowingly steal it in the course of a convenience store robbery believing it to be a stick of beef jerky. Newlyweds Bruce and Sheila have the misfortune to stumble into the confrontation between Taz and the Punks. The punks kidnap Sheila as a hostage, Taz kidnaps Bruce as his hostage; the bizarre chase is on! The two "teams" race across a landscape of identical convenience stores, housing developments, and rampant consumerism.

Directed by Russell Bates, Matt McDowell, Sheila and the Brainstem leans on a strong ensemble — Lisa Jane Todd, Darren Harris — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1989.