4K UHD Review: RE-ANIMATOR (1985)

RE-ANIMATOR

Directed by:  Stuart Gordon

Distributed by:  Second Sight Films

 If you haven't seen Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR, stop what you are doing right now and go watch it.  It's in my list of top 5 horror films of all time.  It's a classic film that never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it.  Here is the basic plot synopsis from IMDb.com:

After an odd new medical student arrives on campus, a dedicated local and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue.

 Now that is a very basic plot synopsis about a film that is anything but basic.  This is a brilliant film that keeps you entertained from start to finish.  The gore effects are amazing and very plentiful!   This was before the age of CGI, so you get to enjoy nothing but gooey practical effects.   The acting is top notch with Jeffrey Combs giving a great performance as Dr. Herbert West and the amazing Barbara Crampton as the Dean of the college's daughter, Megan Halsey.  I assume most horror fans have seen this film, so I am not going to go into any more details about the film itself.  We all know it's amazing.  I am going to focus this review more on the newest physical release of the film from Second Sight Films.   As always, Second Sight has done an amazing job on this new 4K release.   They spare no expense when it comes to extras and presentation. 

 The picture quality of this new 4K release is amazing. Crystal clear picture and vibrant colors.   This is definitely worth the upgrade from your old DVD or Blu-ray copies that I know we all have sitting on our shelves!  

 As great as this movie obviously is, the Special Features are what really steal the show here.  The film itself is really only a small part of this release.  There are hours and hours of special features that go really in depth into the making of this film.   Here is a list of all the Special Features included on this new release:

• New 4K restoration approved by Producer Brian Yuzna

• Presented in HDR with Dolby Vision

• Includes the Integral Version in HD

• New Audio Commentary by Eddie Falvey

• Audio Commentary with Director Stuart Gordon

• Audio Commentary with Producer Brian Yuzna and Actors Bruce Abbott, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Robert Sampson

• The Cosmic Horror of HP Lovecraft: a video essay by Mike Muncer

• Re-Animator at 40: conversation with Actors Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, and Producer Brian Yuzna

• Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator: an interview with Editor Lee Percy

• Suzie Sorority and The Good College Boy: an interview with Actor Carolyn Purdy-Gordon

• The Horror of it All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator

• Barbara Crampton in Conversation

• A Guide to Lovecraftian Cinema

• Re-Animator Resurrectus

• Interview with Director Stuart Gordon and Producer Brian Yuzna

• Interview with Writer Dennis Paoli

• Interview with Composer Richard Band

• Interview with former Fangoria Editor Tony Timpone

• Extended Scenes

• Deleted Scene

• Theatrical Trailer

• TV Spots Still

• Gallery

 The commentary tracks and new conversations with the cast and crew are extremely interesting and is worth the price of this release alone.  Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Second Sight Films new RE-ANIMATOR release asap!  

 Second Sight released this film in two versions, a standard 1 disk 4K version, and a limited edition 3 disk box set with a rigid slipcase with new artwork by artist Krishna Shenoi, a 120 page book with  new essays by Sean Abley, Becky Darke, Lindsay Hallam, Josh Hurtado, Michelle Kisner, Justin LaLiberty, Phil Nobile Jr and Heather Wixson, and 6 collectors arts cards.   

  At the time of this post, it looks like the Limited Edition box set is sold out everywhere I look.  If I find a site that still has them, I'll update this post!   You can still get the standard edition by clicking below. 

CLICK HERE to purchase the RE-ANIMATOR 4K UHD Standard Edition

Blu-ray Review: POSSESSION (1981)

 

POSSESSION

Directed by:  Andrzej Julawski

Distributed by:  Second Sight Films

 Today's review is another film I have always heard about, and have always wanted to watch, but just never have for some reason.   I even own in on DVD, but have yet to watch it.   I was glad when the new Second Sight Films Blu-ray arrived for review, as I would have the chance to watch it finally.   Here is the basic plot of the film from the Second Sight Film's website:

A woman starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behaviour after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something far more sinister.

  Now that plot synopsis is pretty basic, but this movie is anything but that.  It is a very intriguing film with lots of layers, and to be honest, quite confusing at some times.   POSSESSION is hard to describe in terms of genre.  While it is considered a horror film, the subgenre is almost impossible to define.   It's as much of a drama film as it is horror, it's also a suspense film, but then there is also an element of body horror that was very surprising.  Overall the film just gives off a sense of dread, and uneasiness.  

  The acting in this film is top notch, with a young Sam Neill giving one of the best acting performances of his career.   Isabella Adjani won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role as Anna in this film, and that was very much deserved.  Adjani gave one of the most emotional performances I have ever seen put on film.  In fact, I am surprised this performance is not talked about more often. 

  The effects in this film are very good, and of course, all practical.  I was surprised by the amount of blood and gore in this film, as on the surface it doesn't seem like that type of film.  As I mentioned before, though, this film doesn't fit in one category.  It's a good mixture of multiple subgenres and makes for a very entertaining and thought provoking film. 

 If you haven't seen this one, I highly recommend it.  If you have seen it or even own it on DVD, I highly recommend you check out this new Blu-ray release.  It's presented with a new 4K restoration and looks amazing.  

POSSESSION is available now on Blu-ray and contains the following Special Features:

• A new Producer approved 4K restoration

• 2- Disc Edition
  

• Includes the North American Re-edit: newly restored from an archive print

• New Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Alison Taylor 

• Audio Commentary by Director Andrzej Żuławski moderated by Daniel Bird

• Audio Commentary by Frederic Tuten moderated by Daniel Bird

• New Audio Commentary by Daniel Bird and Manuela Lazic (The North American Re-edit)

• The Horror of Normality: Guillermo del Toro on Possession

• The Shadow We Carry: Kat Ellinger on Possession

• Repossessed: The Film’s UK and US reception

• Andrzej Żuławski: Director: archive documentary

• A Divided City:  The Berlin locations

• The Sounds of Possession: an interview with Composer Andrzej Korzynski

• Our Friend in the West: an interview with Producer Christian Ferry

• Basha: a featurette on poster artist Barbara ‘Basha’ Baranowska

• The Other Side of The Wall: The Making of Possession

• Archive interview with Andrzej Żuławski

• Deleted Scenes

• Theatrical Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM SPACE! (2024)

VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM SPACE!

Directed by:  Michael Stasko

Distributed by:  Cleopatra Entertainment / MVD Entertainment

 I had no idea what to expect from VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM SPACE! when it showed up for review.  The title was funny, but I have seen enough of these low budget horror comedies to know to be cautious.  Most of them are not funny at all, and are just hard to watch.  I am happy to say that VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM SPACE! blew away my expectations.  This is honestly the most fun I've had watching a horror film this year.  Before I go any further, here is the basic plot synopsis from the Cleopatra Films website:

In VAMPIRE ZOMBIES FROM SPACE, Dracula has devised his most dastardly plan yet, turning the residents of the small town of Marlow into his personal army of vampire zombies! A motley crew consisting of a grizzled detective, a skeptical rookie cop, a chain-smoking greaser and a determined young woman band together to save the world.

 I did not know what to expect going into this film. What I got was an amazing homage to old sci-fi and horror films from the 1950's, mixed with a vampire film, mixed with a zombie film, with an abundant amount of practical effects and gore!   I'll be honest, I was not expecting the amount of blood and gore in this one, although it was usually very comical in nature.  

 The film is shot in black and white and is an amazing homage to the old sci-fi/horror creature films, including the intentional scenes where you can see the strings holding up bats and spaceships.  This is done on purpose, of course, because this is a comedy for sure.   Horror comedies can really be hit or miss, as normally those two polar opposite genres don't really mix well for the most part.  If you can find one that does it perfectly, you have a gem of a film on your hands.  I am glad to say that this film blended these elements perfectly and made for one heck of an enjoyable film.   Very seldom to I laugh out loud when watching a comedy film by myself, but I caught myself doing just that on numerous occasions while watching this one. 

 As an exact opposite to the comedic value, this film has tons of blood and gore as I mentioned before.  They are mostly all practical effects and are done very well.   You'll see people exploding, having holes blown threw them, and even being cut completely in half.  Of course, in the spirit of a comedy film, the guy that gets cut in half continues to fight one of the good guys, or at least his lower half continues to fight!  Seeing just the legs of a man in a fight was not something I was expecting to see in my lifetime, but  here we are! 

 I honestly cannot recommend this movie enough. I can't remember the last time I had this much fun with a film and this will be one I revisit and show friends for years to come. 

 This film is set for physical DVD/BD release on January 20th and will come with the following special features:

* Audio Commentary

* Deleted Scenes

* Promotional Clips

* Slide Show

* Trailers

  Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this one for sure!

CLICK HERE to pre-order the DVD

CLICK HERE to pre-order the Blu-ray