ince the early 1960s, the stories of horror author H.P. Lovecraft have
served as the basis for more than a dozen movies, including such essentially
forgotten fare as Die, Monster, Die!, Curse of the Crimson
Altar and The Dunwich Horror. Along with these little-known gems
is the popular Re-Animator, a 1985 film which has achieved cult
status due in large part to its engaging mixture of gore, ghouls and gallows
humor. In 1995, Elite Entertainment created a special "10th Anniversary"
laserdisc edition of the picture. The package was subsequently released on
DVD and, after a brief absence from the market, has recently been reissued
"due to popular demand."
This letterboxed, digitally remastered production includes two separate
full-length audio commentaries plus the standard soundtrack. In the option devoted to his remarks, director Stuart
Gordon provides a fairly straightforward accounting of the project's history, indicating both the filmmakers that
influenced his style (Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, etc.) and his firm
belief that, despite the copious quantities of blood used in the adventure,
"acting [remains] the best special effect there is." The second track
consists of a boisterous and often quite funny dialogue between producer
Brian Yuzna and four of the film's key cast members: Bruce Abbott, Barbara
Crampton, Robert Sampson and Jeffrey Combs.
The picture is presented in its original unrated version, but the DVD
also showcases 16 additional segments that were incorporated into the story
(replacing some of the movie's more graphic scenes) when the film was later
re-edited into an R-rated feature. Additionally, a brief "never-before-seen"
dream sequence is highlighted, as well as two television commercials and a
pair of theatrical trailers.
Gore, ghouls and gallows humor
Among his recollections concerning Re-Animator, Gordon mentions
that, just prior to working on this film, much of the technical crew had
labored on The Terminator. Their skills undoubtedly contributed to
the success of this picture, but, as the commentaries on the DVD reveal, a
more likely reason for the movie's enduring popularity is the obvious
enthusiasm and energy exhibited by the producer, director and cast.
The insights offered by Gordon tend to be rather matter-of-fact, and
outline the research he did before filming commenced (such as tracking down
crumbling copies of Weird Tales magazine to read Lovecraft's original
story) and the reasons behind many of the creative decisions that led to the
picture's superbly frightening feel. The actors provide a more comical
perspective, pointing out silly discrepancies in the plot and commenting on
everything from their outdated wardrobes to the director's seemingly
limitless—and invariably messy—use of blood. A few serious observations
emerge, such as when Sampson recalls another performer who felt "spiritually
bereft" after shooting one of the movie's most famous scenes, yet for the
most part their remarks function more as humorous, Mystery Science
Theater 3000-type wisecracks than genuinely informative annotations.
Meanwhile, the extra footage helps clarify a discarded subplot concerning
one character's hypnotic abilities, but otherwise merely demonstrates why
the initial version of the film is far better than the R-rated rendition.
Although the disc would benefit from slightly better packaging—for example,
it lacks an insert card featuring a scene index—the Re-Animator Special
Widescreen Edition DVD remains enlightening, with the various
commentaries and extras nicely enhancing the overall understanding and
enjoyment of this fondly remembered and rightfully revered motion
picture.
