Let’s talk Brian Yuzna—he’s a cult name compared even to the likes of John Carpenter, but those that know him can rattle off most of his highlight features—Society, Dagon, From Beyond, and The Guyver, all instantly recognizable for their unapologetically in your face production value. But by far his best known film, the one that still gets referenced in actual popular media now and again, is Re-Animator, based on the HP Lovecraft story—and here, I find out why.
Well, the opening scene certainly sets the mood very well, with no hesitation at all in delivering the kind of effects that would impress a young Peter Jackson if you know what I mean! Beyond that, the star of the show is Jeffrey Combs, whose performance is simultaneously over the top, yet very reserved if that makes any sense—his character of Doctor West is an obsessed young scientist who wants to prove the effect of his dayglo resurrection serum, no matter the cost to things living or undead. Every single frame he’s on he’s utterly focused on his theory to the point of borderline mania, while rarely breaking an expression from ‘complete focus’—it’s something that’s harder to pull off than you might thing, but Combs absolutely relishes it.
Bruce Abbot and Barbara Crampton are the naive medical students caught up in West’s obsession, as he moves into a university to clash with a rather unscrupulous doctor there (David Gale). The story in general is broadly faithful to the spirit of the original Lovecraft story—sans the random racism, because Lovecraft.
Earlier on some of the effects are shakey, like a muppet cat that our characters wrestle with, but the film makes every effort to take full advantage of every insane effect a reanimation serum could conjure—up to an infamous point involving a still living head. For its budget at the time, it gets pretty darn creative, and when things go into absolute pandemonium near the end, there’s no looking away. It’s a shorter film, but this allows it to keep up that energy throughout.
Of course, there’s the homoerotic element discussed aplenty—with Combs seemingly getting rather tender to Abbot at times despite their seeming animosity. With how over the top it all is, well, it’s not hard to notice either!
Re-Animator was followed by sequels and even a stage musical—honestly, given how everything is already set to eleven with performances, the latter was more of a logical move than you might think. Either way, for what it is, silly though it may be, it’s another one where sheer energy and committed main leads will keep you watching, either with a big grin or dumbfounded look!
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