Reanimator [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of Reanimator [VHS]
Movie Review: Four stars within the horror/gore genre only
Summary: 4 Stars
If you're looking for a schlocky horror movie with lots of excess gore, some gratuitous nudity, a mad scientist, and a reanimated body carrying its head around with it, then this is the movie for you.
Re-Animator is one of those films you hear about as a horror fan, and after watching it it's very clear why. Reanimator is the epitome of tongue-in-cheek horror. Without ever cracking a joke, the film exudes campiness and a bit of sadistic humor.
When Herbert West arrives at medical school and answers medical student Dan Cain's request for a roommate, the fast paced story takes a big leap. All the characters are a bit out there. Dr. Hill, the evil professor with a "thing" for the uptight Dean's daughter, who Cain happens to be engaged to, sets out to steal the research that West has worked on. The research that has resulted in the glowing green substance that brings dead tissue back to life.
Re-Animator stays exciting the entire time, and the story never lets up. And the final climactic showdown between the med students (West and Cain) and the re-animated and headless Dr. Hill is the stuff of horror legend. Don't miss it.
Movie Review: Packaging a bit lame
Summary: 4 Stars
Anchor bay makes some fantastic DVD editions of classic horrors, for a great price. Their Necronomicon editions of the Evil Dead films, as well as their special editions of Dawn of the Dead and Suspira are worth every penny.
I was a bit disappointed to see this new edition of Re-Animator only because it's the third special edition, and it doesn't contain much that the others don't (just one featurette). The addition of the limited edition syringe hilighter is a great idea, and it looks really funky.
However, inside the box the DVDs are in a standard plastic keep case, which I happen to hate. I'd rather have the cardboard folder packaging than a plastic keepcase, which looks so cheap. At least with the cardboard CD cases, you get an all over full colour print, without the plastic covering.
Also, there are no inserts inside the package save for a single slip of cardstock with a print on one side, and the chapters on the other. If you want to keep the higlighter with the DVD, you have to keep them both in the box. It's not a flip cover DVD box either - just a regular box that crushes easily.
The movie, if you are a fan, remains fantastic. The commentary (which has appeared on three versions to date) is very good - I liked comparing the director's point of view, with the experiences of the actors. The three principles clearly had a great time working together, and they have plenty to say about the making of the film.
There has only been one special edition of Bride of Re-Animator that I'm aware of, and I missed getting a copy when it was released a few years ago. Now that the first film has been released again in a special edition package, I'm very hopeful that we'll see a better edition of Bride than the bare bones one currently available. That's really the most exciting part of this new release.
Movie Review: definitely a "keeper"
Summary: 4 Stars
As a teen and a horror fan in the 80's, I loved all things horror. Watched and enjoyed practically any horror film to come along and never got enough of them. Then the inevitable happened....I grew up and my adult tastes changed drastically. I will occasionally re-visit those horror films from my youth, usually laughing at them, but regarding them with fondness. When re-watching The Re-Animator recently, I realized that this was a great film.....period. It holds up extremely well in present times, and is superior to 99% of all the well regarded new horrors being released today. (yes, I still watch the ones that receive great acclaim)
Made on a small budget, The Re-Animator will amaze the viewer with it's impressive F/X.
Considering it's a cast of 'B' actors, the viewer will deeply appreciate the great acting by the entire cast, for all horror fans know great acting usually doesn't surface in horror films. lol
The director of this film kept things going at a very pleasing and fast pace, and the editing was done with great care and skill.
Yes, this film has gore, lots of it, but it was utilized to perfection and complimented the story very well. The gory scenes all mattered, and weren't there just for the sake of having gore. They were handled brilliantly.
The score for this film was obviously an homage to the score from Psycho, and it works wonderfully.
The dark comedy of this film was also handled with perfection (a difficult accomplishment) never becoming silly or groan inducing. It's dark and it's FUNNY.
Again, I must praise the entire cast, from the leads to the bit players, for all performed with skills not usually found in "gory" horror films. The leads all had great chemistry together, and this is a huge asset to any horror film. A special nod to Jeffrey Combs (as Dr. Herbert West) for proving that a "hammy" performance, when done properly, can be a thing to cherish.
I would recommend The Re-Animator to all, even non-horror fans, because this little films holds up well and still packs quite a wallop to the viewer. It's proof positive that when a horror film is done right, it holds it own when compared to any genre. A ton of fun, indeed.
Movie Review: Essential horror/splatter film
Summary: 5 Stars
Every now and then, a film comes along that remains timeless and treasured for generation after generation, awaiting to be discovered by new viewers. This isn't one of them, for some people anyway. Re-Animator is one of the best of the horror/splatter films to come out of the 80's. Directed by Stuart Gordon and adapted from an H.P. Lovecraft tale (something of which Gordon would frequently do in his films), Re-Animator follows promising med-student Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) who has it all: a hot girlfriend (frequently naked Barbara Crampton) and a good overall life with a promising future. This all gets disrupted by the coming of Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs); a brilliant but deranged scientist who has created a serum that can re-animate dead corpses; with bloody violent results. Regarded as one of the best films of it's type, the original Re-Animator features enough inventive make-up and gore effects to help it stand the test of time, and the pitch black humor only makes the film even better. Followed by a few sequels, the original Re-Animator is a bona-fide classic. This new DVD release from Anchor Bay features a new documentary, but for those who already own the previously released Milennium Edition, whether or not this new edition is worth picking up is entirely up to you.Movie Review: Excellent movie, but this release may not be necessary
Summary: 5 Stars
I compared the special features in this release with the one released by Elite (millennium edition). Most of them are the same. The only real notable difference is that this one has a new 70 minute documentary. I'm sure that's worth the effort of rebuying another 2-disc set. If you have the Elite version, you may want to pass on this.