The Bride of Re-Animator

Rating:
Summary: Failed re-animation
Review: "I will not be shackled by the failures of your God." Thus says mad genius Dr. Herbert West, who is back along with partner Dan Cain - only this time, they're creating life.

The story involves West (Jeffrey Combs) and Cain (Bruce Abbott) returning from war in Peru. After much research, West has finally discovered the secret to creating human life, and using Cain's lust for a mate as motivation, he proceeds to attempt to make Dan a bride from dead tissue. Naturally, there's also a few re-animated freaks who survived the first film, along with a suspicious detective (Claude Earl Jones) and West's nemesis, Dr. Carl Hill (David Gale), who's still a no-body. Get it? A-ha-ha-ha...

First of all, let me say I was a serious fan of the original "Re-Animator", thus I had no problem with buying a sequel that has a very bad reputation. Well, I can only say "Bride" lives up to its reputation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with any of H.P. Lovecraft's works, however it does borrow a few elements from his tale "Herbert West -- Re-Animator" which weren't used in the first film.

The acting is fine, the effects are fine, the music is fine. The direction is okay, although it can't match Stuart Gordon's. There are a few funny moments in the film, but overall it has a very, very unpleasant feeling about it - which the first film did not have.

Overall, this is only for serious "Re-Animator"/horror fans. Rent the first one instead. "Bride of Re-Animator" is nothing more than a failed re-animation.

DVD: This DVD is pitiful. No special features, Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, and picture quality that could've come off of an old VHS tape. It will do find if you're just a casual viewer, but if you're a fan of the film, then make sure you buy the excellent Pioneer edition.

Rating:
Summary: Failed re-animation
Review: "I will not be shackled by the failures of your God." Thus says mad genius Dr. Herbert West, who is back along with partner Dan Cain - only this time, they're creating life.

The story involves West (Jeffrey Combs) and Cain (Bruce Abbott) returning from war in Peru. After much research, West has finally discovered the secret to creating human life, and using Cain's lust for a mate as motivation, he proceeds to attempt to make Dan a bride from dead tissue. Naturally, there's also a few re-animated freaks who survived the first film, along with a suspicious detective (Claude Earl Jones) and West's nemesis, Dr. Carl Hill (David Gale), who's still a no-body. Get it? A-ha-ha-ha...

First of all, let me say I was a serious fan of the original "Re-Animator", thus I had no problem with buying a sequel that has a very bad reputation. Well, I can only say "Bride" lives up to its reputation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with any of H.P. Lovecraft's works, however it does borrow a few elements from his tale "Herbert West -- Re-Animator" which weren't used in the first film.

The acting is fine, the effects are fine, the music is fine. The direction is okay, although it can't match Stuart Gordon's. There are a few funny moments in the film, but overall it has a very, very unpleasant feeling about it - which the first film did not have.

Overall, this is only for serious "Re-Animator"/horror fans. Rent the first one instead. "Bride of Re-Animator" is nothing more than a failed re-animation.

DVD: This DVD is pitiful. No special features, Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, and picture quality that could've come off of an old VHS tape. It will do find if you're just a casual viewer, but if you're a fan of the film, then make sure you buy the excellent Pioneer edition.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, but Artisan fails on another DVD re-release
Review: Bride Of Re-animator was previously released on DVD by Pioneer/Artisan as a Special Edition which was far superior to this bare bones DVD reissue from Artisan. The special edition offered two versions of the film (Rated R and Unrated). It had a full-length commentary by the director, cast, the special effects guys, etc. It also offered a deleted scene and a blooper/outtake/behind-the-scenes reel which are both absent on this reissue. Another thing it had were many still galleries, promotional materials, production notes...and more.

I have indeed seen the movie transfer on this reissued DVD, and it looks like the same transfer on the previous DVD release. If you don't care for special features, or can't get the older DVD...then, and only then, is it a good buy for the movie itself!

Artisan must be really lazy these days. They'd had no special features on any of their recent DVD releases of older Horror and Sci-Fi flicks. Not even a theatrical trailer! It's almost as if they could care less because they know the product will sell anyways.

So, you may ask...why am I giving this a 5 star rating? For the movie itself...surely not for this featureless DVD! The only thing good about this reissue is that it has the original movie artwork on the cover, even though the old DVD "neon" artwork looked much cooler.

Rating:
Summary: Parts; The Glue That Keeps the Love Flowing
Review: Bringing the dead back to life. It is the dream of many scientists, the want of suddenly loveless lovers, and the hope of every heart that has ever hurt when someone has passed. And it is also something that, as Dr. Herbert West has proven with his "testing," can be done with a limited degree of success. Eight months ago, Miskatonic university was the proving ground to this theory, giving results that proved that life could be brought back. Unfortunately, however, this knowledge was not with its costs. Before everything was said and done, the university had lost its figurehead, Dan Cain has lost his girlfriend, others lost their lives, and a severed head was running around bent on domination.
Well, Herbert West is back again, bringing along with him the infamous Dan Cain, bent on trying to turn reanimation into an exact science. And this leads to some interesting discoveries, such as the fact that limbs can be given life individually and then placed together as one entity, and that there could be a chance that something once lost - Cain's girlfriend - could be brought back from the grave.

While this carrying his name would probably sicken Lovecraft, the movie was actually something that I found enjoyable for a number of reasons.
First, there was simply the bizarre nature of it all. The character of West, played by Jeffrey Combs, is done with a precision that few could match. In it, he is a man that is bent on breaking the codex of known scientific law by doing something remarkable; taking life to a place that it has never been before. While doing this, the things that he decides to give life are simply hilarious, such as the fingers and the eyes combinations and the piecemeal creation that is to be his masterpiece.
Secondly, it isn't as B-movie as I thought it would have been, keeping me laughing enough with its production quality and the smoothly refreshing taste it left in my mouth to make me feel like I had seen something worthwhile. Perhaps that is because I am a little bias when it comes to Jeffrey Combs, but I don't think so. Then again, I'm not sure the bias ever truly think they are.
Third, the movie is simply funny. The premise, while out there and a little gory, finds itself mixing it up with an old favorite that had been left in pieces but that can still function if given that lovely fluid, and Dr. Hill is always fun at any party. So, put it all together and you have a continuation of the oddities that the first movie stopped short of.

If you are someone looking for a movie Lovecraftian style, then this may or may not be something for you - depending on how your sense of humor is. If you could simply imagine Herbert West continuing on, doing some of the things that he would no doubt end up doing, then you'll be fine. If, however, you need a by the books Lovecraftian tale, then this wouldn't be something that you would find enjoyable. If you are someone that caught the Reanimator and missed this, then it is a good way to laugh a little and follow Combs as he furthers the plight of the oddity everyone would grow to love if given the chance; one Herbert West.

Rating:
Summary: Like Re-Animator, Only Less So
Review: Campy, silly horror, stressed story, poor acting, hit-and-miss effects. The not quite camp classic sequel to a camp classic that also is barely worth watching, and certainly not worth owning. Only for die hard fans of the original.

Rating:
Summary: Worth a go, but keep expectations low.
Review: Compared to Re-Animator, Bride of Re-Animator is much grosser, funnier, but also thinner -- maxing out on the visual gags and setups (which are brilliant), but forgetting that edge of menace that made the first one so compelling. That said, it's still a solid film with good performances (especially Jeffrey Combs, whose expressive physical acting and offhanded weirdness makes him great fun to watch), above-average special effects, and definite high points.

Bruce Abbott's character Dan Cain is weaker this time, seemingly going after every woman he meets, but Herbert West's increasing ambition (at several points proclaiming his own godhood) works marvellously, a logical extension of his arc in the first film. Unfortunately, Brian Yuzna isn't quite as sure as Stuart Gordon in the pacing and directing departments, and though his visuals are sophisticated, his take on the characters isn't as good as Gordon's in Re-Animator.

The DVD edition offers plenty of interesting bonus material, including a deleted scene that supposedly occurs after the last injection (no spoilers). Watching this, one realizes what hard work it is playing a re-animated corpse and the taxing conditions of low-budget horror shoots. There are many photos, publicity stills (under "Dr. West's casebook), and a trailer. The selection menus has the common problem of getting "stuck" at certain levels (I couldn't figure out how to get out of "Special Features" without turning off the player) and isn't very clearly laid out, but small problems. A major annoyance: Bruce Abbott and Jeffrey Combs, though wonderful when onscreen together, are a menace on the commentary tracks, rarely offering much insight to the shooting process, mostly horsing around. While that was amusing for 10 minutes, I certainly didn't enjoy a full hour and a half of listening to them camp it up. They also seem to bear some points of contempt towards the movie -- not surprising, considering it fails to meet the incredibly high standards set by the first one. All in all, not a useful commentary track at all.

I'm still wondering why the first Re-Animator, an undisputed, groundbreaking classic, hasn't received a reissue on VHS, let alone DVD. Legal shenanigans involving Charles Band's Empire Pictures, perhaps? In any case, the legacy of the series should really rest on The Re-Animator, Bride of Re-Animator being more or less an interesting and daring, yet ultimately less competent footnote.

Rating:
Summary: "The only blasphemy is to wallow in insignificance."
Review: Director/producer Brian Yunza revives his characters from 1985's Re-Animator with this tongue in cheek splatter fest homage to The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). But where The Bride of Frankenstein actually succeeded its' predecessor (in the opinion of many), The Bride of Re-Animator falls a little short.

Returning are now doctors Herbert West (Jeffery Combs), Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott), and even Doctor Carl Hill (David Gale) makes an appearance, despite the fact he has no body (see the first movie). The film tries to build on the original showing doctors West and Cain, nine months after the hospital massacre in the first movie, working in Peru on the bloody frontlines of a civil war, still experimenting with the luminous, green life-giving juice. The notion is that in this backwater part of the world, they can work unfettered, not bothered by legal constraints. Things get a little hairy, and the boys decide to return stateside, working at the hospital with the first unpleasantness took place (I guess the hospital administrators have short memories). Taking up residence in a house that was once a mortuary, located next to a cemetery, the doctors continue their work with creating life, using various body parts from the hospital morgue. Dan is reluctant, but Herbert proposes they create a woman, using various body parts, centered around the heart of Dan's deceased girlfriend, Meg, who bit the big one in the first movie. Weird experiments and bloody body parts fill the screen, as a police lieutenant with a personal stake continues the investigation of what originally happened even though the case has been officially closed. Even the head of Dr. Hill makes a kept alive with the living giving juice. Do Herbert and Dan succeed in bring Meg back to life from spare parts? From the title of the movie, you'd think so, but their creation is less than perfect...the movie may not be up to par with the original, but there is a really great scene where Herbert Combs goes into a nice rant about picking up where God left off, taking the refuse that is humanity and creating new life. Seeing that scene alone was worth watching this movie.

I did like this film, but felt little of what made the first so enjoyable. If they were going to make a sequel, it was only natural to take the course that the filmmakers did, but I wish they would have infused more of a story into the film, and not gone whole hearted campy on us. The first movie did have its' humor, but it was well balanced with the rest of the story. I know sequels are rarely as good as the movie that spawned them, but I did have high hopes here. There's plenty of gore and blood, if you enjoy that kind of thing, but the movie is light on story. I felt much of it was patched together, tying elements together with the weakest of threads. The story may not hold up well, but it was fun to watch, especially the effects of Screaming Mad George and K.N.B. EFX Group.

My real disappointment is with Artisan, the company that released this disc. There are absolutely no special features, and all we are provided with is a full screen format. This movie was released on DVD before by Pioneer Video, loaded with special features, including two separate versions (one being a minute longer than the other), deleted scenes, bloopers, photo galleries, production information, commentary, and more. Also, the original release had both full screen and wide screen letterbox format, while we only get full screen here. You may be able to find that release, but you will most likely have to pay a premium, at least for a nice copy. This film was followed by a third movie, Beyond Re-Animator (2003).

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: "The only blasphemy is to wallow in insignificance."
Review: Director/producer Brian Yunza revives his characters from 1985's Re-Animator with this tongue in cheek splatter fest homage to The Bride of Frankenstein (1935). But where The Bride of Frankenstein actually succeeded its' predecessor (in the opinion of many), The Bride of Re-Animator falls a little short.

Returning are now doctors Herbert West (Jeffery Combs), Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott), and even Doctor Carl Hill (David Gale) makes an appearance, despite the fact he has no body (see the first movie). The film tries to build on the original showing doctors West and Cain, nine months after the hospital massacre in the first movie, working in Peru on the bloody frontlines of a civil war, still experimenting with the luminous, green life-giving juice. The notion is that in this backwater part of the world, they can work unfettered, not bothered by legal constraints. Things get a little hairy, and the boys decide to return stateside, working at the hospital with the first unpleasantness took place (I guess the hospital administrators have short memories).

Taking up residence in a house that was once a mortuary, located next to a cemetery, the doctors continue their work with creating life, using various body parts from the hospital morgue. Dan is reluctant, but Herbert proposes they create a woman, using various body parts, centered around the heart of Dan's deceased girlfriend, Meg, who bit the big one in the first movie.

Weird experiments and bloody body parts fill the screen, as a police lieutenant with a personal stake continues the investigation of what originally happened even though the case has been officially closed. Even the head of Dr. Hill makes a kept alive with the living giving juice.

Do Herbert and Dan succeed in bring Meg back to life from spare parts? From the title of the movie, you'd think so, but their creation is less than perfect...the movie may not be up to par with the original, but there is a really great scene where Herbert Combs goes into a nice rant about picking up where God left off, taking the refuse that is humanity and creating new life. Seeing that scene alone was worth watching this movie.

I did enjoy this film, but felt little of what made the first so enjoyable. If they were going to make a sequel, it was only natural to take the course that the filmmakers did, but I wish they would have infused more of a story into the film, and not gone whole hearted campy on us. The first movie did have its' humor, but it was well balanced with the rest of the story. I know sequels are rarely as good as the movie that spawned them, but I did have high hopes here. There's plenty of gore and blood, if you enjoy that kind of thing, but the movie is light on story. I felt much of it was patched together, tying elements together with the weakest of threads. The story may not hold up well, but it was fun to watch, especially the effects of Screaming Mad George and K.N.B. EFX Group.

My real disappointment is with Artisan, the company that released this disc. There are absolutely no special features, and all we are provided with is a full screen format. This movie was released on DVD before by Pioneer Video, loaded with special features, including two separate versions (one being a minute longer than the other), deleted scenes, bloopers, photo galleries, production information, commentary, and more. Also, the original release had both full screen and wide screen letterbox format, while we only get full screen here. You may be able to find that release, but you will most likely have to pay a premium, at least for a nice copy. This film was followed by a third movie, Beyond Re-Animator (2003).

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: Maybe even better than the first!
Review: Excellent,fun,slick movie! It has the gore and ideas of "Dead Alive" but the scares from "Phantasm". I highly reccommend this film to any movie lover. VHS is better though.

Rating:
Summary: Phenominal sequel, Combs' humor hits its peak.
Review: He's back at work with his syringes of green fluid, and this time he's perfected his method...but then again, perhaps he hasn't. His companion still grieves over the loss of his girl-friend and faithfully keeps her heart preserved. However, West's new serum can now not only re-animate, but can create life, and he offers to help his friend. However, trouble ensues when old opponents don't stay dead, local law-enforcement becomes involved, and a new amour is found by Abbot. Hilarious, innovative, and at times disturbing.