Re-Animator is now considered a horror cult classic, and I can see why. This was a first watch for me, but it ticked a lot of horror boxes for sure, the cult film stars Jeffrey Combs as scientist Herbert West and Bruce Abbot, Barbara Crampton and David Gale as the unhinged and creepy Dr Carl Hill.
Re-Animator is a perfect example of why practical effects deserve a full comeback in cinema. This is one of the goriest, most unapologetically B-movie-vibe films I’ve ever seen. It feels like the kind of movie you’d have loved to watch with your film-obsessed mates, either the ones studying cinema or that one friend who somehow had a dodgy VHS copy in the ’80s. The kind of sleepover movie you put on and instantly regret because of the trauma you’re about to witness.
This was my first time watching it, and honestly, it’s now up there as one of the most disgustingly impressive films I’ve ever seen, disgusting in the best possible way. The practical effects are absolutely impeccable. I was sitting there, scratching my head, wondering: How did they manage to do this in 1985? How did they pull off something this realistic, this visceral, this gory? It’s next to none in terms of craftsmanship.
What surprised me most is that there’s a surprisingly philosophical angle buried under all the blood and guts. The film’s take on death and the boundaries of life itself is fascinating, especially coming from a movie typically labelled as a B-horror. We see those themes all the time in modern cinema, but seeing them explored through the chaotic, neon-lit lens of the ’80s gives them a different edge.
A warning: this is absolutely not one for the squeamish. The medical gore is vile, in an incredibly well-executed way. It easily sits beside something like The Evil Dead franchise for me. You can see how Re-Animator influenced horror into the ’90s and early 2000s, and even more so today with the resurgence of over-the-top practical gore in films like the Terrifier franchise.
While the cast may not be instantly recognisable to newer audiences, they were major names in that drive-in, grindhouse, B-horror scene of the time. Every actor fits the tone perfectly, creating a mix that is creepy, unsettling, and often weirdly hilarious. There are definitely moments that feel more comical now than horrifying, but I imagine back in the ’80s those scenes would have landed very differently.
The new 4K re-release is fantastic too. It’s packed with extras, audio commentary from most of the cast, plus Re-Animator at 40, a long retrospective with one of the producers, the actress who plays Megan, and the film’s writer. If you’re a long-time fan of Re-Animator, you’re going to love these features.
The 4K re-release drops on December 15th, and if you’re a horror collector or practical effects fan, make sure you pick it up.
★★★★
On 4k UHD and Blu Ray December 15th/ Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbot, Barbara Crampton, David Gale/ Dir. Stuart Gordon/ Second Sight Films/ 18
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