Rita Bridell is a minor character in Peter Jackson's horror-comedy film Braindead. She was portrayed by Elizabeth Mullane.
Rita was a close friend of the film's deuteragonist Paquita Maria Sanchez. She and Paquita were invited to a party at Lionel Cosgrove's house by Lionel's sleazy uncle Les who had a fondness for younger women. During the party, the zombies that Lionel had previously tied up in his basement broke free after being dosed with animal stimulant. The ghouls broke down the cellar door and began slaughtering all of the party-goers, which subsequently reanimated as well. During the carnage, Rita was bitten on the cheek by a zombie. Though the wound was small, Les urged Paquita to kill her as she would surely turn in a matter of minutes.
Death[]
Fortunately, Rita does not turn into a zombie. Unfortunately, however, she still suffers a gruesome and agonizing death. Just after Lionel has slaughtered most of the zombie horde with a lawnmower, Rita is ambushed by Baby Selwyn. The mutant child rips into the back of Rita's head and pulls it apart, sticking his face out through the gash in Rita's face.