RE-ANIMATOR

I don't feel as strongly about Re-Animator as much of the horror community does. I absolutely enjoy it, recommend it, even. Just in more of a Watch-Enjoy-Done sort of way.

Very different from your typical Lovecraft fare.

Final rating:★★★ - I personally recommend you give it a go.

In 1985 I was 15, and already a big horror movie fan. With Evil Dead, Halloween, Friday 13th, Italian horror ... the genre was dynamic. Then, reading Mad Movies, I see this very gore movie inspired by a short Lovecraft tale, coming soon.

I go there at 2pm, watch the movie and end up seeing it 7 times in 3 days. The cast gives an insane (!!!) performance, especially Jeffrey Combs of course, but having Bruce Abbott try to keep his sanity and stay alive in the horrific events. Barbara Crampton will be mainly remembered by being licked by a severed head, but she does a nice "normal" character. The couple try to save what they can (sanity and life) and are quite a counterpoint to West and his madness of overcoming death, whatever consequences there may be.

Most scenes are in the Arkham faculty, some at Dan's apartment. This also enhances the madness of it all, with a regular setting where usually nothing wrong could happen.

The "gore" SFX still are vivid in my mind. So OK more modern SFX are done now, but those rubber body parts with liters of blood were really efficient, and I'll add "physical". Those computer generated very often lack the practical physicality of holding a severed hand or head they do now (must be a challenge for the actors to interact with nothing beside a green sceen.

Overall these elements create a powerfully entertaining movie.

This is a staple of its genre, and for good reason. It is hokey, it is overacted, the effects are messy, sure, but that does not makes it any less brilliant. While teasing some Lovecraft-story ideas, this is its own beast, and stands on its own legs. The casting is ok, apart from Jeffrey, of course, who is tearing up each and every scene. He is grand in this.

Spoiler

If you've chosen to watch Re-Animator I salute you. You certainly won't regret it. It's one of the best horror slash gore comedy films ever made. Straight from the golden years of horror - the wonderful 80's - this is a true classic which should be seen by every self-respecting horror fan. I could talk for hours and hours about this movie but it would all come down to the same thing...It's great ! Directed in the way it should be, based on a story by the almighty H. P Lovecraft. (this guy is much more the king of horror to me than Stephen King) Great actors as well. Jeffrey Combs is the most terrific horror actor alive. When he's working together with Stuart Gordon, a kick-ass movie is a fact. Also, the late David Gale is fantastic in this movie, his character Carl Hill is a very memorable horror-icon. The make-up effects and the gore are very well presented but you certainly don't have to be a gorehound to enjoy this film. If you're a fan of dark humor, original twists or just plain fun you'll have the time of your life as well. Jeffrey Combs is Dr. Herbert West. A brilliant, but very fanatic surgeon slash scientist. He discovered a liquid (flashy green -- cool!) that could bring the dead back to live. How? By activating the brain again. Dr. West is prepared to go beyond boundaries to continue his research. This involves experimenting on dead bodies but creating a few new corpses as well ! The freshness of the corpses seems to be very important. Of course, his discovery is very wanted by his competitors. Dr. Hill a professor at university wants to get his hands to it very much Re-animator is the modern Frankenstein. This is suggested even more in the, also very decent, sequel "The bride of Re-Animator". This sequel has the same terrific cast and is directed by the producer of the original. Brian Yuzna, also a very respected name in the field of horror.

In conclusion : Re-Animator is horror like it should be. Along with "The Evil Dead" and "Nightmare on the Elm Street", this film belongs to the highlights of the 80's and it also easily finds its place in the best horror lists of all time. A must see for all horror-lovers, cult film-lovers and maybe even film-lovers in general.