They made this for $3 million?

That's just insane.

Compare this to the other big low(-ish) budget movie of 1992, Reservoir Dogs. That was made for even less ($1.5 million), but also comes across as much more of a budget movie.

Reservoir Dogs:
- Mostly takes place in one location (with the exception of the outdoor parts, even the flashback scenes were apparently shot in the same building).
- Takes place in the (then-)present, which means it doesn't need era-specific costumes, locations, or cars.
- Wardrobe consisted mostly of the actors' own clothes.
- Free of special effects, besides soe practical blood effects.

Braindead:
- Takes place in many different locations, both outdoor and indoor (Skull Island, Paquita's store, Vera's house, the zoo, the graveyard, etc.)
- Takes place in the 1950s, which means it has era-specific costumes, set design, and even cars.
- Wardrobe is likely part of the budget, since it's full of old-fashioned clothes that the actors wouldn't likely have lying around.
- Filled to the brim from start to finish with special effects, ending with what may just be the most complex practical effects gorefest in any movie to date.

I'm not trying to be dismissive of Reservoir Dogs here (it definitely didn't need a big budget to tell the story it did), just trying to show and be appreciative of what an amazing achievement Braindead is with its budget (if it was indeed $3 million).