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jackhammer · 12-17-2008, 05:11 PM

H.P Lovecraft's Re-Animator (1985). Dir. Stuart Gordon.

'Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders..and another one in a dish on his desk'

Rarely has a tagline summed up up a film so succinctly. Re-Animator takes it's central idea from writer H.P Lovecraft's : Herbert West: Re-Animator and transposes it to modern day America. What makes R-A so special is that it is a horror film virtually devoid of sub plot and analogy and is instead an absolute blast despite some lapses in logic.

The basic premise is that a medical student working at medical school perfects a way of bring the dead back to life with the use of a serum (this is never elaborated on in the film-it just works). Unfortunately it has horrendous side effects and the student-Herbest West (a deliciously hammy Jeffrey Combs) along with his fellow student Dan Cain wreak considerable havoc in what turns out to be a deeply black comic film.

Rumours are that the shoot was seriously intented but upon looking at the rushes (end of day edits) noticed a farcial element creep in and so decided to add more black comedy. This is a genius stroke with some of the most bizzare situations cropping up yet the film strikes that delicate balance between mirth and horror.

Fantastic highlights include reanimated cats and a head giving head (!). Don't let this element put you off though. From the brilliant and catchy score to some wildy imaginative F/X, Re-animator is both laugh out loud and genuinely disturbing. Some lacks in pacing and iffy acting aside, Re-Animator is a classic of 80's Horror cinema and every bit as good as Evil Dead. If you don't find the site of 'Someone off their head' a little disconcerting then stay away lol.

12-17-2008, 05:11 PM	#62 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	H.P Lovecraft's Re-Animator (1985). Dir. Stuart Gordon. 'Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders..and another one in a dish on his desk' Rarely has a tagline summed up up a film so succinctly. Re-Animator takes it's central idea from writer H.P Lovecraft's : Herbert West: Re-Animator and transposes it to modern day America. What makes R-A so special is that it is a horror film virtually devoid of sub plot and analogy and is instead an absolute blast despite some lapses in logic. The basic premise is that a medical student working at medical school perfects a way of bring the dead back to life with the use of a serum (this is never elaborated on in the film-it just works). Unfortunately it has horrendous side effects and the student-Herbest West (a deliciously hammy Jeffrey Combs) along with his fellow student Dan Cain wreak considerable havoc in what turns out to be a deeply black comic film. Rumours are that the shoot was seriously intented but upon looking at the rushes (end of day edits) noticed a farcial element creep in and so decided to add more black comedy. This is a genius stroke with some of the most bizzare situations cropping up yet the film strikes that delicate balance between mirth and horror. Fantastic highlights include reanimated cats and a head giving head (!). Don't let this element put you off though. From the brilliant and catchy score to some wildy imaginative F/X, Re-animator is both laugh out loud and genuinely disturbing. Some lacks in pacing and iffy acting aside, Re-Animator is a classic of 80's Horror cinema and every bit as good as Evil Dead. If you don't find the site of 'Someone off their head' a little disconcerting then stay away lol. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”