Re-Animator

Bluesky

The new 4K restoration of Stuart Gordon's legendary Re-Animator is a must for fans, with the film itself in great condition and hours' worth of high quality extras. All the main players are represented here and although certain subjects naturally come up again and again, there's very little repetition.

The audio commentary by Eddie Falvey is an odd choice to kick off with, as it's among the weakest of the extras. Falvey wrote a book about the film yet still seems to believe that HP Lovecraft's original Herbert West: Re-Animator was a short story when it was published as a serial, and that's not the only notable error he makes, besides which his monotone isn't exactly engaging over an hour and a half. The cast commentary track contains some gems but consists mostly of people laughing at themselves onscreen and sharing not particularly illuminating memories. Stuart Gordon's commentary, however, is a treat, packed full of interesting observations. It reveals the considerable lengths he had to go to to access the original work, which leaves one wondering how significant a role he might have played in its survival. Elsewhere he reflects on how raw he was as a film director and how much he learned from watching other people's work. The revelation that many of his framing choices were inspired by Rosemary's Baby is intriguing; one can instantly see it, and thereafter the film will never look the same again.

Other highlights among the special features include the interview with Barbara Crampton, where she talks about her childhood in a travelling carnival, explains how she found her way into horror accidentally and goes into depth about various aspects of her career; the interview with Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, as much personal as it is professional and full of lively anecdotes; and the segment on legacy and impact, which features a number of contemporary directors (including Joe Lynch, whose Suitable Flesh is the closest we have come to a 21st Century sequel) sharing their thoughts on how it has shaped the genre. The guide to Lovecraftian cinema is also a treasure, and you will want to take notes throughout as it references some hard to find titles with performances by genre legends, guaranteeing that you will have more films to go hunting for once you've worked your way through this package.

There's a lot of technical insight in some of the crew-focused material, and some great personal stories too, with editor Lee Percy revealing that he got his start on the notorious Roar, the Tippi Hedren film on the set of which several people were mauled by big cats - a grounding which would make it difficult for anyone to shock him. The shock that Re-Animator delivered to others is attested to on multiple occasions, however, and this helps to situate it in its proper context. Today it seems light-hearted and playful, its abundant gore too copious to be taken seriously, but back in the day censors were unwilling to give it an R certificate without first excising some 45 minutes of footage.

Some of the material which was ultimately excised, or at least trimmed, is also included here. Taken together, it makes the film much darker in tone. It's also largely unnecessary, basically repeating things said elsewhere or firmly establishing notions which are easy enough to surmise from what remains. This doesn't mean that it's not entertaining. The extras are well balanced, providing information, insight and, like the film itself, a good deal of fun.