By Uncle Creepy
Re-Animator. What is it about this film that just keeps on going, much like its undead stars? To date there's been a myriad of versions of this gut-wrenching gore-fest. Let's tally them up for a moment, shall we?
For starters there were the original VHS releases — rated and unrated. Then there was the Laser Disc version. God, remember them? You could friggin' kill somebody with one of those things! Fast forward to 1997, and Elite Home Entertainment finally released the film on DVD. Elite then went on to re-release the film in a 2002 Millennium Edition. Now this baby was packing! It had everything a fan wanted and more. So is there a need to go to the well yet again? If you're Anchor Bay Entertainment and you're launching your new Anchor Bay Collection line, then the answer is a resounding "yes"! But before we get to what's included, let's take a quick look back at the film itself.
In 1984 Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna had a vision. A grisly vision. Having no money and no one willing to back their project, they started raising funds for their endeavor themselves. After many promises and deals production finally began on their little film. Re-Animator was unleashed around a year later, and it kicked the living shit out of audiences everywhere. To this day it remains one of the most beloved films of our genre and for good reason — it has it all. Blood, sexuality, more blood, zombies, great acting, more blood, spot on writing and directing, and oh yeah — more blood. Horror fans fell immediately in love, and the little film that nobody wanted has continued to rake in the dough.
I'm not going to bother to give you a plot synopsis. If you don't know what this movie is about, then you shouldn't be reading this review. Although, on the off chance that there is a budding horror fan out there that has not seen it yet, I order you to see this movie immediately. Click on the Amazon link. Buy this NOW! It'll change your life, man.
Maybe the reason for all the different editions of Re-Animator is because the film has changed so many lives. Honestly, I don't think this is just your standard studio cashing in type bullshit. Companies like Anchor Bay make these discs not only to turn a profit, but to give fans the absolute best package they could hope for. So, do they succeed? Almost entirely.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
How about the A/V quality? I have the Millenium edition, and improved A/V would probably be the only thing to get me to buy this new edition. Sure, the doc would be nice, but I can live without it.
2 - Dread Central
According to Uncle Creepy, who wrote the review, the A/V is comparable between versions and that he didn't notice much of a difference.
3 - Chris Beaumont
Thanks, I'll probably skip this then....
4 - suziequzie
Just bought this today. I had to after watching it on VHS rental from my corner video store... with all the best scenes cut! Damn if that wasn't annoying... Oh, one of the scenes they cut is shown in that pic of Crampton and Gale above. I couldn't believe it. Badly re-edited too. This DVD more than satisfies. (Highlighter kicks a** too.)