DVD Review: Re-Animator: Special Edition

At 2pm I finished my shift at work and now won't be back in till Monday 21st May. I am a happy bunny. 10 days of holiday, fucking yes. Expect far more content up here and the podcast should be up early next week too. So to start my holiday, Herbert West had a very good head on his shoulders, and one on a dish on his desk too!

DVD Review: Re-Animator: Special Edition (Stuart Gordon, 1985, USA).

The 1980's horror films often seemed like a backlash against the serious pieces of the 70's. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Black Christmas (reviewed tomorrow probably) et al were all examples in sustained tension and horrific imagery (real or imagined). The 1980's gave us such treats as Street Trash, the first two Evil Dead films and possibly the most ridiculous of them all, Stuart Gordon's frankly fucked Re-Animator.
Herbert West (Jeffrey Coombs) is a promising yong medical student who is completely dedicated to his profession and has just discovered something incredible, he can bring back the dead. Well kind of bring back. After getting kicked out of his previous residency upon discovery of what he was doing, he finds a new place of study where he boards with fellow student Dan (Bruce Abbot). Dan is dating the Dean's daughter Megan (Barbara Crampton), who conflicts with Herbert straight away. Herebert enlists Dan on his quest to perfect reanimation, but comes across trouble when Dr Hill (David Gale) decides he wants to steal Herbert's discovery. The things get screwed big time.
Re-Animator is pure cheese through and thorugh. Made on a shoestring budget, actors, sets and effects cobbled together for as little as possible, Re-Animator has a low budget feel that reminds of all these kinds of films from the 1980's. However, where this stands out is simply the craziness which begins right at the start and doesn't let up. From an old man with melting eyes at the start, joined with the pure Psycho rip-off score, you know this film is going to be ridiculous. Indeed the overacting which follows in the plot exposition scenes which follow certainly keep up with this. All of these actors were apparently theatre trained. Indeed the director also was. This lends a heigtened theatricality which means that while all the actors overact terribly, it just adds to the mood of the piece. When you have a film in whcih a cat is reanimated and immeadiately leaps on the nearest person to attack needs people to act ridiculously. This cat by the way is possibly the worst effect I have ever seen, it looks like random black fur shaking violently. And god bless the effects crew for thinking it could work.
While the plot is fairly unoriginal, there is one aspect I do love. When the Dean becomes reanimated he is mistaken for a mad man and is committed. This was an original idea and I do not believe I have seen it since. The switch in villains is also an admirable plot choice also. West is a disgusting excuse for a human being, filled with egotistical, arrogant rage which makes him use all those around him for his own gain. But then we are introduced to a character who is even worse, and then he becomes the villain of the film while also being a bodyless head! What he does in the film is truly shocking and indeed made it be cut until very recently. My girlfriend flat out hates this film because of this scene, and I have to say, my taste barrier is fucked but even this is just too far gone for me.
I knwo this has been a short review but I believe most reading here have seen this. My thoughts are merely a guide stating if you like the sound of this, give it at least a rent. Its an inventive little thing it has to be said. And hey it won at Cannes so it could be arthouse!!

Video: Anchor Bay specailise in restoring old prints and this is no different. A cracking little transfer, not amazing as the source material does originate in the 1980's. A great job though.

Audio: DD and DTS 5.1 soundtracks. Funny directional effects, nice bass, clear dialogue. Nice stuff, like the video not ground breaking but it helps the proceedings.

Extras:

Only saw a couple, I don't have all the time in the world unfortunately.

Documentary: Back slapping, self-congratulatory stuff which is only periodically interesting. Disappointing in the extreme.

Trailer: Funny, pun-tastic trailer which matches the tone of the film completely.

Commentaries, interviews etc are also included but not watched.

If you love the film, a fine disc to have. If you have never seen this, give it a shot! Thanks to Al for lending it to me, really appreciated.

Back tomorrow with 28 Days Later/Black Christmas/Something else entirely!!

Ian out.