Rating: 
Summary: An Unexpected Wild Black Comedy.
Review: A Disturb but Brillant young Medical Student named Herbert West (Jeffery Combs) returning from the U.S.A. after a Unexplained Event Frightening in Switzerland. Herbert enrolls to be learned in the Miskatonic Medical School in Arkham, Massachusettes. When he meets a young Hard-Working Medical Student named Dan (Bruce Abbott), who seems to have the Perfect Girlfriend (Barbara Crampton), who loves him so Much. But when Herbert Convince Dan about Planning to Break Thought Medical Science with a Serum to Bring the Dead Alive (After Dan seeing his Dead Cat back to Life). Dan becomes nearly Fascinsted with the Ideal with Herbert`s Deranged Mind Effects Him to Bring the Dead Alive, back Again, through Re-Animation. But when a Doctor named Dr.Carl Hill (David Gale) knows that Herbert is Up to Something Horrific though Medical Science but Hill`s Obession is also something else with his Friend (Robert Sampson) attraction to his Friend`s Daughter (Crampton).Directed by Stuart Gordon (Fortress, From Beyond, Dagon) made a Stylishly Grotesque but Impressive Schlock-Filled Fun, Tongue in Cheek, Black Humor Film. The High-Light is Jeffery Combs (The Film that Made him a Cult Star) gives a Stand-Out Frantic Performance makes this Movie Works, thanks from the Screenplay by Stuart Gordon, Brian Yunza and Dennis Paoli (From the Original Short Story by Horror-Cult Novelist:H.P. Lovecraft) makes this a Piece of Gory Entertainment into a Masterpiece for the Horror Genre. This Low-Budget Flick impress Everyone, Including Critics, from It`s Release in 1985. This is a Unforgettable Movie that Become an Instant Cult Classic. This Lastest DVD from Elite Entertainment will have the Same Extras for this New Edition also in the First Time in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, also in DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and Original Mono Soundtrack is Digitally Remastered for Picture Quality and Sound from THX Lucasfilm Skywalker Sound. DVD's has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an strong Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This Time with Much More Extras:An Isolated 5.1 Music Score, 16 Extended Scenes, Deleted Scene, Interviews, Audio Commentary by the Director, Second Commentary Track by the Producer & the Cast and More. Fans of Re-Animator don`t want to Miss this New Edition. Don`t Miss this Unique Film. There's an alternative version of Re-Animator runs 95 Mins and it has all the Extended Scenes back in, removing all the gore out and the infamous off-color scene, which is Rated R is available on Videocassette and Laserdisc. Followed by Two Sequels. Grade:A-.
Rating: 
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: All I can say is wow this movie is fantastic maybe one of the best black comedey/horror ever created.One thing comes to mind when seeing this movie good acting (shocking) very good acting helps round out this awsome written script. I will not bore you with the story since there enough reviews here to tell you. However I will explain how you must buy this dvd. First off the picture quality is awsome (not perfect) look like it was filmed 5 years ago.The audio tracks are amazing there is DTS (which is awsome) the dolby digital 5.1 which is great an isolated score 5.1(I dont know anbody who listens to those) the commantary which is funny and not boring. The extas are plentiful but when compared to the LOTR no contest LOTR beats it, but this was before LOTR and is still pretty impressive. The extended scenes are good but were probly cut for length reasons (by the way there is no commantary on the extended or deleated scenes) the deleated scene is not that good and is good that is what cut out. the only thing bad about this movie is the rip off theme to psycho in the beginning (why they did it I dont Know) BUY THIS NOW you wont regreat it and if you do come over and reanimate me.
Rating:
Summary: Easily Among the Best Horror Films
Review: Finally the only version you will ever need of this horror classic has been released. It has never looked or sounded better. Up until now, the unrated version has been tough to find anywhere. The bonus materials are also top notch. I would have to say that this is one of the top 10 DVD's out there right now. No complaints here. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Funny Gore Flick
Review: How they took HP Lovecraft's short story (which is one of the SCARIEST short stories ever written, in my opinion)and came up with this, I'll never know, but there's no denying the entertainment value.
This has some outrageous scenes, like the decapitated head performing cunnilingus on a woman strapped to a table, and the exploding eyes, and the re-animated cat. It is easy to see why this has such a huge, loyal cult following.
Now to be fair, what I'm about to say has not been mentioned by the other 106 reviewers, leading me to believe that this only occured with my copy, but I was not able to move the arrow on the main menu, so I missed out on the extra features. Like I said, I proably recieved a defective copy, but it may be wise to investigate before purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders...
Review: I came upon this film in the horror section of my local video score. Of course, I knew I was in for a unique experience when I read the tag-line for the film. "Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders... and another one on a dish on his desk!" The back cover offered critical praise (one source quoted it as one of the top ten films of the year) and a thrilling shot of a decapitated corpse carrying around it's head in a dish (!?!). Re-Animator is a classic horror comedy about a young medical student (Herbert West, played by the extraordinary Jeffrey Combs) who discovers a serum that, when injected into the recently deceased, causes them to spring violently to life. That's the basic premise, but director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna inject so much energy into the film that it seems like a grisly rollercoaster ride of thrills and laughs. The film plays like a weird homage to Frankenstein, and it sure holds up as being one of the mad-scientist greats! Up until a certain point, we witness Herbert West's fanatical commentary on his theory of brain death and the re-animation of dead tissue. We also witness the re-animation of a dead cat (not a pretty sight), but up until about the midway point of the film, we have been presented with a leasurly pace, some great character development, and funny one-liners. Of course, all that changes when West enlists the assistance of a fellow student, Dan Cain (Bruce Abbot), to sneak into the morgue at night and try some hands-on research on some fresh specimins. Not soon after that, Herbert West's experiments begin to lose control, and very soon, the entire film zips along with a breakneck pace. Body parts, gallons of blood, and physical humor are intercut at a furious pace, and the whole thing is intellectually undercut with some talk of science and medicine.
There is one scene where Stuart Gordon slows down the action long enough to strive for some exploitation (the infamous "head" scene), and after that... he lets all hell break loose. A thrilling climax at the morgue is both exciting, funny, gruesome, and awe inspiring. It's a magnificent set-piece the perfectly compliments this great film. Re-Animator is based on the creepy H.P. Lovecraft story (Herbert West--Re-Animator) and spawned a great sequel (Bride of Re-Animator). With great acting, a complex plot, hilarious humor, and the sight of a man walking around with his head in a dishpan, Re-Animator is the greatest film ever made! And if that isn't enough to pursuade you to see this film... maybe this quote will: "You'll never take credit for my discovery. Who's going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow!"
Rating:
Summary: Cleverly done!
Review: Now here's one of those films I shouldn't have watched in 85 when I was 15, but I am glad I did. I recently bought the dvd after so many years of not having seen the film and was pleasantly suprised. First of all it is a horror with sick humor and nice gore thrown in for added taste. A slightly insane medical student creates a life giving re-animation juice that, when injected into the base of the brain, brings the dead back to life. Not fun for the previously dead nor is it fun for the student doctor. (The dead come back to life angry and seemingly in pain most of the time due to incorrect dosages of the green re-animation juice. Sort of like the dead come back in Pet Sematary by Stephen King). The crazy med student (Jeffrey Combs)shacks up with another medical student and begins to perform his studies in his rented room and basement. The medical professor at the college finds out about Herbert's (Jeffrey Combs) work and tries to steal the invention, but things get bad and then worse for this cast of characters thanks to this thieving attitude (it would have been bad anyway). The visuals are unsettling, but well done. Not a stupid, boring, or overdone film. It stands alone and is very original. Believe me, there are a lot of really crappy medical horror films out there, but this one does everything the way it should be done. I appreciate this film on the same level that I appreciate Phantasm. They are two totally different movies in reality, but for some reason, in my mind, I find them very similar as far as watchability. That is not to say that if you don't like Phantasm you will not like Re-Animator. I just find similarity between the two for some reason. Can't pinpoint the reason. I have to mention that the acting in this film is great for the intentions of the film. Make sure you aren't eating while watching and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Train-Wreck Movie!
Review: Oh My God! RE-ANIMATOR is the kind of movie that totally strips you of your ability to turn away or stop the movie! I popped in the DVD only to watch a few minutes and found myself watching the film all the way through, only stopping to rewind scenes that I missed! RE-ANIMATOR is the funniest and goriest horror-comedy ever made! Awesome gore effects and hilarious one-liners; my favorite is "You'll never get credit for my discovery; whose gonna believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow." I also liked the performances in this movie, especially Jeffery Combs' as Dr. West, although Dr. West comes off as a jerk. Plus, RE-ANIMATOR is scary too!
You must get the Millennium Edition while you can. This 2-disc treatment is the best that this movie has gotten in years since the 10th Anniversary Laserdisc! Awesome picture and sound quality! Also, you get the original trailer and several TV-spots; alternate and extended scenes (for the R-rated video release); documentaries; and the isolated score! If you're a fan of '80s horror, RE-ANIMATOR is required viewing if you haven't seen it already. Tell 'em Dr. Herbert West sent 'ya!
Rating:
Summary: Worth seeing for the commentary alone
Review: Okay, I see lots of reviews that talk about the film itself and don't dwell much on special features. Here, I'll try to get into the reason for buying a special edition and you can read other reviews if you want to know about the story. Re-Animator (The Millennium Edition) brings an old favourite back to life (no pun intended). The picture and sound quality are so good, it's almost as if the movie was re-made using today's technology. I always liked this quirky little movie ever since I saw it on video in 1985-86, but I had assumed it had gone the way of so many '80s low budget gems. So I was pleasantly surprised to see it recently on DVD and in a remastered edition. The film is still a classic cult film, having lost none of its wit and charm (if one can say that a gory horror fest can be 'charming'), but the thing I'm happiest about is the cast commentary, which, although not overly informative (there's a director commentary and numerous video interviews that go deeper into movie facts), is nevertheless very entertaining. The actors obviously had a lot of fun making the movie, and they clearly have a lot of fun watching it together. Some moments during the cast commentary are truly a Mystery Science Theater 3000 kibbitz-fest, and so really we get two movies in one - the original version and a goofy MST3K-style review, but with the insights and rememberances of those who helped make the film. There are lots of extended scenes and one deleted scene that was too hot for the censor (Barbara Crampton - yeah, baby! Yeah!) Added to this, lots of audio choices make this a great buy for those with hi-fi bells and whistles. Also, a set of still photos and video interviews that put other special edition efforts to shame. All in all, I think this is a fantastic effort, far better than many remastered editions on DVD. The team that remastered this one obviously did their job with care and reverence for this cult classic. Certainly this 're-animated' Re-Animator (okay, sorry, I meant that pun) is well worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: "Re-Animate Her"
Review: One of my all time favorite horror movies next to day of the dead, Zombie, dead alive, etc. A good horror for fans of the undead or just a quick scare. There are some very gruesome scenes such as decapitation by shovel, eyeballs exploding, attacking intestines, and it seems when ever you see the Deans daughter, about five or ten minutes later she's naked. I also highly recommend Bride of the Re-Animator.
Rating:
Summary: Death Is Just the Beginning....
Review: One of the most outrageous horror comedies from the 1980s, Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR is certainly great fun if not great cinema. Very loosely based on a story by the highly revered horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, the film follows the exploits of Herbert West, an impudent medical student who, after being thrown out of a Swiss institution due to his unorthodox and unethical medical experiments, has enrolled at the Miskatonic University Medical School in Massachusetts, USA. After hours, West secretly continues his experimentation, which basically involves the tweaking and fine-tuning of a serum he has developed that can re-animate the dead. West engages the assistance of his roommate and fellow med student Dan Cain, much to the chagrin of Cain's pretty girlfriend Megan, and soon the two are reviving numerous cadavers in the medical school's morgue. Unfortunately, West and Cain haven't quite perfected the formula, and the re-animated dead don't seem too happy to be back in the land of the living. But when Megan, her father (a dean at the university), and the school's prestigious surgeon Dr. Carl Hill get caught up in West's shenanigans, that's when the fun really begins. RE-ANIMATOR is horror comedy at its best. Writer/director Gordon and his cowriter Dennis Paoli are savvy enough to realize that taking an earnest approach to the preposterous premise of their story is not likely to fly with the discriminating horror audience, so they wisely milk the material for laughs instead. Playing the lead role of Herbert West is the wonderfully offbeat actor Jeffrey Combs. Combs is able to generate interesting facial expressions that are somehow simultaneously deadpan and whimsical, and when combined with his impeccable comedic timing, it is nearly impossible not to laugh at every scene he's in. (Genre fans may recognize Combs from his appearance in numerous horror films, as well as from his countless appearances in episodes of the various TV incarnations of STAR TREK.) As Dan Cain, Bruce Abbott is the perfect straight man to Combs, and together the two keep the energy level and humor factor high throughout the film. The beautiful Barbara Crampton--who would go on to greater fame performing in various TV Soaps--does a great job playing Cain's perky girlfriend, Megan, and she is especially affecting when she disrobes. And rounding out the principals is actor David Gale as Dr. Hill. When his character gets juiced with West's re-animation serum, Gale's subsequent performance is delightfully over the top. Many critics liken the storyline of RE-ANIMATOR to that of the FRANKENSTEIN mythos, with mad scientists attempting to bring forth life from the dead. But it actually seems that the basic plot is more akin to Stephen King's 1983 novel PET SEMATARY. (The movie version of PET SEMATARY, while very faithful to the book, did not appear until 1989, four years after RE-ANIMATOR.) In both stories, an individual learns the secret to bringing folks back from the dead, but at a cost--the revived are not quite the same as they were before kicking the bucket. And despite their failures, the individuals with the power to re-animate relentlessly keep on trying to get it right. The only real difference between the two stories is that King's novel, though well written, is earnest and depressing, whereas RE-ANIMATOR uses the premise as a springboard for dark, wry humor. The "Millennium Edition" RE-ANIMATOR DVD from the folks at Elite is well worth the money. It offers the unrated (uncut?) version of the film in anamorphic widescreen format, along with two great commentaries--one with director Gordon, one with most of the principal cast--as well as lots of other cool goodies. So many cool goodies, in fact, that it takes two discs to hold 'em all! Yes, RE-ANIMATOR is gory and chock-full of sick gallows humor, with lots of nudity and cheesy (but cool!) special effects thrown in. And some of the scenes are so outrageously over the top that they have to be seen to be believed. But, hey, what more could a lover of horror comedy want?
|
