Mark Turner
I've written about the movie THE RE-ANIMATOR more than once. That's because various versions have popped up over the years since its initial release on disc. Of those the one issued by Image (I believe) was perhaps the best out there offering the movie in blu-ray format with a slew of extras. All that has changed with this new version from Arrow Video.A quick synopsis for those who've never seen the film. It tells the story of Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), a scientists who dreams of finding a way to beat death. He comes up with a formula that does so but at the same time returns the dead to mindless creatures instead of who they once were. His research carries on with his roommate Dan (Bruce Abbott) helps him with his research and along the way jealous Dr. Hill (David Gale) finds out what is up. Planning on taking credit for the find West kills Gale and decapitates him. In a fit of curiosity he re-animates the head only to find it controls the body. Gale escapes, takes Dan's girlfriend Megan (Barbara Crampton) prisoner since he had a thing for her and a final battle follows.The movie was a breath of fresh air when it was released, a combination of horror and dark comedy that used gore to full effect but not nearly as much as it did quick witted writing. The barbs that come from West throughout the film are memorable, my favorite being "Who's going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow." Taken from a story by H.P. Lovecraft fans were pleased with the final effort. It spawned several sequels only the second of which deserved much attention.The movie did launch director Stuart Gordon's career. After this film he made FROM BEYOND, DOLLS, FORTRESS and ROBOJOX. What surprised me at the time and to this day is that Combs never rose to mega-stardom. I've yet to see a performance in anything he's done that wasn't wonderful to view. In addition to the sequels he was the star of DOCTOR MORDRID and had parts in THE FRIGHTENERS, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, roles in several STAR TREK series and the series THE 4400.So what make this particular edition of the film worth adding it to your collection even though you already own the film on blu-ray? Lots. Like lots and lots of extras, some available before but plenty to satisfy the most discerning fan.To begin with Arrow Video presents the film in a 4k restoration of both the unrated and integral versions of the film. It has newly commissioned artwork by Justin Erickson, a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer Michael Gingold, a reprinted copy of the original 1991 comic book based on the film, audio commentary track by director Gordon, audio commentary track by producer Brian Yuzna, Jeffery Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbot and Robert Sampson, RE-ANIMATOR RESURRECTS a documentary on the making of the film featuring interviews with the cast and crew, an interview with director Gordon and producer Yuzna, an interview with writer Dennis Paoli, an interview with composer Richard Band, Music Discussion with Band, an interview with former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone, an interview of Crampton with journalist Alan Jones, deleted and extended scenes, trailers and TV spots and A GUIDE TO LOVECRAFTIAN CINEMA a brand new featurette that examines the filmed works based on Lovecraft's work.I'm not a huge fan of extras on most movies since the majority are nothing more than press kit packages made for newer films. But when something like this comes along you can spend more time watching the extras and enjoying every minute of them. That's part of what makes all releases by Arrow Video so special. Not only do they attempt to offer the cleanest and clearest version of the film you can find they put together a package of extras worthy of being watched. It's what makes this version of the film the ultimate one to buy.If you've never seen the film then by all means find a way to do so in whatever way possible. I would still suggest that you seek this copy out and enjoy not just the film but the extras I've mentioned. If you're a fan already then by all means pick this edition up. If you don't you'll only be angry at yourself later for not doing so. What you can expect is a fun movie with enough scares tossed into satisfy your need for horror. I can't recommend this one enough.
peefyn
I feel I missed a lot of great movie experiences by not watching this when I was a kid. It has everything that I would have loved, and lots of it. Now, a bit older, I can still appreciate it for what it is, but the novelty of it all is gone.I'm not sure if I have read the specific Lovecraft story this is based on, but as far as I can understand, it moves away from Lovecraft's storyline. Because I don't know how the original story goes, I can't say this for sure, but: It feels like they stuck to the story a while, but then got too caught up in having fun with ideas for scenes. It's like the filmmakers were let loose on a set with SFX-people, trying to think how they could do as much sick/fun things as possible. Which leads to some interesting situation, but it all feels very engineered. The plot built up in the first act(s) of the movie is still there in the background, but they miss the chance they had at making a compelling story. All the characters get caught up in the gore and he violence (and the slapstick), leading to a blood filled finale.What would I have preferred? Well, the SFX is fun, so I'm not really complaining about it. But I wish they had followed more up on the conflicts between the young idealistic scientist and the older, cheating one. It's there throughout the movie, but at one point you realize that it's just there to justify hostility. It also appears that some parts of the plot were removed, because the ending kind of does not make sense. How is one character able to control some of the re-animated? (according to wikipedia, it's explained in some cut scenes) Anyway, if you're a younger kid, you're gonna love this.
welshnew50
While not needing every scene , both here and there understanding-the-scene -wise , and also , in terms of the parallel males-in-death pointless-necrophilia here and there , which'd be too much for most upon hearing it, to not give the movie a chance , there is a consistent limits-of-medicine , or failures of science , theme , to the main characters hopes / ambitions , and if I remember it correctly , there was actually only one , inverse , necro scene , along the lines of the if not comfortable, patronising, University senior turned body-less power-mad , from-the-past , denier-of-new-science , contrasted , with the two (both male) would-be explorers of the absurd 'science' , which is only in one of the two in a way , that it so over the top , that he's forgotten when to stop , whereas in the other , a more curious , for-defeating-death only , type reason is maintained successfully, including in the emotions of the actor, and the conflict between them is enough , if not perhaps there too frequently, when a similar plot device allows our more devoted explorer , to have corpses practically land on his desk , oh so conveniently , that the plot can quickly move on to more mayhem , so yeah , its unrealistically convenient for the opportunist , which is a good thing, the plot taking jumps inbetween their clean-ups, with even more unrealistic amounts of investigation ... heh heh ... at the same time as having an effect as a reminder of the importance of societies' need to keep an eye on morgue workers , consistent with a also conveniently bored/slack classic stereotyped guard in front of the door , etc ... moves it along quite fast , which is needed for flicks like this ... too many horror/action flicks are now having character-relationship development in the middle of the action! agh! No time for that , in this old one ... :D Classic minimal plot devices for more of what at least some of the audience is after ... creepy lightning effects and weird camera angles , the disturbing nature of the theme , should already let you know what you're in for ... and if the odd ridiculous plot scene , ruins a sci-fi movie for you , then don't watch it.But if that kind of absurdity and detachment are exactly what you're after , as I was , then its a great movie , although the sound needs re-mastering, if it hasn't been already, some of the dialogue ranges are quite narrow , or recorded on old mic.s, or something.Far beyond high-school students efforts production-wise most of the time , but with enough true-to-the-absurdity lack-of-thought to think things through before deciding to do something, kinds of decisions of especially the emotional-limitations weakness-rejection star of the flick , our much more mad fresh but determined doctor , its full of the same potential for science gone mad with the fluorescent green goop , masterfully 'gripped' *scoff* , by the goop wrangler (what wrangling? haha ! ) , but time and time again , new incarnations one might say , of failures lead to not always the same, failures that have to be bagged and destroyed , which is easier said than done.Less consistent and boring than just a zombie flick but also with quite a few good absurdity laughs, and if zombie flicks get under your skin, boring, consistent ultra-violence -wise , then give it a chance ...sure , it s produced in the 1980s but back in those days , people knew more about cinematography , and scene-production , rather than tedious CHEAP, TV, agency-meeting-room contestions of aggressive-professionals dialogue and 'perpetuities' *scoff*(like that's reliable) , often written for pretentious, overly-politically-sensitive, fresh, themselves, film-school grad.s , yet to experience OUR , wider world , and yet to be CONSUMED , BY THE INEVITABLE LIMITATIONS OF ... *ahem* ... excuse me , sorry ... you get the idea ... are there plenty of lamb to the slaughter ? YES , are they just boring zombies ? NNNO.
