Film Review: Re-Animator (1985)

Good literature is more often than not adapted into bad films, while many good films are based on bad literature. This rule can be applied even within the opus of H. P. Lovecraft, American writer known as one of the most influential authors of horror genre. Herbert West – Reanimator, 1922 novelette Lovecraft himself disliked and which is widely considered to be his worst work, has been adapted in Re-Animator, 1985 horror comedy directed by Stuart Gordon, nowadays considered to be one of the genre classics.

Plot is set in Miskatonic University, fictional academic institution in Massachusetts which often served as setting of Lovecraft’s work. Nominal protagonist is Dan Cain (played by Bruce Abbott), medicine student who dates Megan Halsey (played by Barbara Crampton), beautiful daughter of Alan Halsey (played by Robert Sampson). Short of money, he agrees to take as his room mate fellow medicine student Herbert West (played by Jeffrey Coombs), although both him and Megan see him as little too creepy. Such caution is quite justified because West was expelled from University of Zurich following experiment that had ended with death of his mentor. West takes cellar and turns into laboratory where he conducts all kinds of bizarre experiments. After some time Cain discovers that West has developed serum that can revive dead animals, but it has nasty side effects of turning them dangerously violent. Cain nevertheless agrees to help West perfect the serum by conducting experiments on human corpses from university morgue. During one of those Dean Halsey gets killed by violent zombie only to be revived by serum. The incident brings attention of Dr. Carl Hill (played by David Gale), arrogant and ruthless scientist who takes great interest both in West’s serum and Megan.

This was feature film debut for director and co-writer Stuart Gordon who had years before, while working in theatre, gained reputation for controversy. Re-Animator in many ways looks like a work of someone willing to push limits and break taboos. This is most obvious in large amounts of gore and violence, as well nudity and sex, including scene near the end featuring Barbara Crampton that would later cause a lot of problem with censors. On the other hand, this film, originally envisioned as stage play and shot with shoestring budget, shows great skill and ingenuity in using tons of fake blood, prosthetics and make up effects (including some scenes which were inspired by producers’ visit to Chicago morgue). Re-Animator with its gross out scenes is an acquired taste, but gore and violence is well-tempered with great deal of black humour which helps audience not taking this film too seriously. Many scenes that would be too scary or too revolting in conventional horrors are actually quite funny here. Film benefits a lot from effective soundtrack by prolific B-film composer Richard Band, although it is a little bit too inspired by Herrmann’s work on Psycho.

Film also features very good cast. The best known actor is Jeffrey Combs, who leaves great impression as arrogant but determined mad scientist who is, despite his obvious lunacy, persuasive enough to make his fellow student go with dangerous scheme. Combs, an actor best known for diverse but memorable roles of supporting characters in Star Trek television shows, oozes confidence and charisma in one of his early roles. He easily outshines Bruce Abbott who is, like Crampton, much more bland, although he does decent job, especially near the end. Another great performance is delivered by David Gale, British character actor who has replaced Christopher Lee in the role of film’s true villain. The role was demanding not only physically, but also later, according to some sources, got Gale in trouble with his wife due to scene when his character has his way with helpless naked woman in grotesque and ingeniously evil way. Gordon keeps very tight pace, but this hurt a film near the end, when certain plot element isn’t particularly well explained. Despite that, Re-Animator maintains good quality and ends with a scene which is both poignant and darkly humouros. Gordon and Combs later collaborated on From Beyond, another adaptation of Lovecroft’s work, while Combs starred in two Re-Animator sequels: Bride of Re-Animator and Beyond Re-Animator.

RATING: 7/10 (++)

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