"Re-Animator" (1985) [Ignite Films 4K UHD Restoration]

by Mike Imboden

Normally here at “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict”, both Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. However, here and there they will be taking the reins in a solo outing. For this installment, it’s Mike with a solo review of Re-Animator, courtesy of Ignite Films and their 40th Anniversary 4K UHD restoration.

Synopsis

After an odd new medical student arrives on campus, a dedicated local and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue.

The Good

A wildly entertaining combination of horror and dark comedy, Stuart Gordon's frenzied feature debut, Re-Animator, Loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft's "Herbert West-Reanimator," the picture is graphic, absurd, and often funny without losing its fundamental horror qualities, so it significantly benefits from its innovative tonal balance. Jeffrey Combs, as the compulsive and socially awkward Herbert West, provides a performance that defines his career by irresistibly blending the parts of deadpan comic and crazy scientist. The practical effects are a highlight; for a low-budget film, their violent, inventive, and unexpectedly strong body horror sequences have stood up quite well. True to its campy tone, Richard Band's score, which honors Bernard Herrmann's Psycho theme, also gives the film a morbid pulse.

The Bad

Though it has gained cult status, Re-Animator is certainly not for everyone. Even by 1980s criteria, its copious gore and graphic violence can be too much, and some viewers may find the more obscene scenes—especially those including sexual violence—to be exploitative or disturbing rather than exciting. Though intentional, the film's campy tone may alienate those looking for a more traditionally gloomy horror experience. The film's depiction of women is likewise outmoded and often problematic; female bodies are treated as shock value tools. To individuals who are sensitive to these concerns, Re-Animator can appear more like an obnoxious relic of its time than a guilty pleasure.

The Verdict

A bold horror-comedy, Re-Animator revels in its own excess and absurdity. Gory, irreverent, and very inventive, it provides a cult cinematic experience that celebrates its low-budget roots while creating some scenes that will remain in your mind. Though some may consider its material too harsh or insulting, lovers of splatter horror and dark humor will discover a bloody treasure that spares no effort. Whether you view it as a masterwork or a chaos, it’s certainly memorable.

The Extras

With four versions available, from a rather vanilla edition serving up a Blu Ray copy of the film to an Ultimate Limited Edition Box Set that includes a 150-page hardcover book, a bobblehead, and art cards, there sure to be something for every fan.

All editions include the following new features:

Re-Animator at 40: A Conversation with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna
Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator – A New Interview with Editor Lee Percy
The Horror of It All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator
I Give Her Life: A Look Back at Re-Animator: The Musical
Re-Animating a Horror Classic: The 4K Restoration of Re-Animator
The Organic Theater Company of Chicago: A 1977 documentary featuring Stuart Gordon
New 40th anniversary 4K UHD trailer

as well as the following legacy features:

Integral Version (105 mins)
Isolated Score
Audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical
Audio commentary with Stuart Gordon
Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson
Re-Animator: Resurrectus - Feature-length documentary on the making of the film featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.
Interviews with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone
Music discussion with composer Richard Band
The Catastrophe of Success: Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater - Director Stuart Gordon discusses his early theater roots and his continued commitment to the stage.
Theater of Blood - Re-Animator: The Musical lyricist Mark Nutter on adapting the cult classic for musical theater
Extended scenes
Deleted scene
Trailer & TV spots
Stills gallery
Barbara Crampton In Conversation: The Re-Animator star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning 2015 interview.
A Guide to Lovecraft Cinema: Chris Lackey, host of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, provides a comprehensive look at the many cinematic incarnations of Lovecraft's work.
Doug Bradley's Spinechillers: Herbert West, Re-Animator actor Jeffrey Combs reads H.P. Lovecraft’s original classic story.