Blu-ray Review: RE-ANIMATOR (1985)

RE-ANIMATOR
Directed by Stuart Gordon
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

  I love when I get a movie to review that just so happens to be one of my favorite horror films of all time!  It gives me a good excuse to go back and visit it again.   Tonight's review is one of those films.   I first saw RE-ANIMATOR when I was in the 6th grade and I fell in love with it.  I still love it to this day.  It is one of the few films I can watch over and over and never get bored with it.  
Here is the plot synopsis from the MVD press release:

  One of the most wildly popular horror movies of all-time, Stuart Gordon's enduring splatter-comedy classic Re-Animator returns to Blu-ray in a stunning restoration packed with special features!
  When medical student Dean Cain advertises for a roommate, he soon finds one in the form of Dr. Herbert West. Initially a little eccentric, it some becomes clear that West entertains some seriously outlandish theories - specifically, the possibility of re-animating the dead. It's not long before Dean finds himself under West's influence, and embroiled in a serious of ghoulish experiments which threaten to go wildly out of control...
  Based on H.P. Lovecraft's classic terror tale Herbert West - Reanimator and featuring a standout performance from Jeffrey Combs as the deliciously deranged West, Re-Animator remains the ground-zero of '80s splatter mayhem and one of the genre's finest hours.

  I had the chance to watch this film years ago at a Horror Convention in Little Rock, AR with Jeffrey Combs and Stuart Gordon in attendance.   It was fun to see this film on the big screen, especially with the director sitting 2 rows in front of me!   It was just as fun watching it at home though, especially with this great new release from Arrow Video.  This film is crazy with some great over the top gore effects, and like most films from this time period, all are practical effects.   The film is also full of dark humor throughout.  Jeffrey Combs was the perfect actor to play Dr. West, and the beautiful Barbara Crampton is great as always.

  I can't recommend RE-ANIMATOR enough.  If you have never seen it, please do so asap!  If you have seen it, revisit it and especially check out this new release.

  I was so happy when I heard Arrow Video was releasing this film.  As you know, Arrow is one of the top DVD/BD companies out there, always putting tons of effort into their releases.   RE-ANIMATOR is available now and contains the following special features:

2 DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:  

- 4K restorations of the Unrated and Integral versions 

- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing 

- Exclusive digipak packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Justin Erickson 

- Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by journalist Michael Gingold 

- Re-Animator comic book 

- 4 x postcard-sized lobby card reproductions

DISC 1 - UNRATED VERSION

- Unrated version [86 mins] 

- Mono, Stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD MA Surround Audio Options

- Isolated Score

- Brand new audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical

- Audio commentary with Stuart Gordon

- Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott and Robert Sampson

- Re-Animator: Resurrectus - feature-length documentary on the making of the film, featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew

- Interviews with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone

- Music discussion with composer Richard Band

- Barbara Crampton in Conversation - the Re-Animator star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning 2015 interview

- The Catastrophe of Success: Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater - director Stuart Gordon discusses his early theater roots and his continued commitment to the stage

- Theater of Blood - Re-Animator: The Musical lyricist Mark Nutter on adapting the cult classic for musical theater

- Extended Scenes

- Deleted Scene

- Trailer & TV Spots

- Still Gallery

- Screenplay (BD-ROM Content)
 

DISC 2 - INTEGRAL VERSION - LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE

- Integral Version, available in the US for the first time! [105 mins] 

- 5.1 DTS-HD MA Surround Audio

- A Guide to Lovecraftian Cinema - Chris Lackey, host of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, provides a comprehensive look at the many cinematic incarnations of Lovecraft's work

- Doug Bradley's Spinechillers: Herbert West-Reanimator - actor Jeffrey Combs reads H.P. Lovecraft's original classic short story
 

'RE-ANIMATOR® ' THE COMIC - LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE

- 92-page perfect-bound booklet containing Re-Animator, the original 1991 comic book adaptation of the movie, reprinted in its entirety

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Blu-ray Review: BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR (1989)

BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR
Directed by:  Brian Yuzna
Distributed by: Arrow Video / MVD Distribution

  Have I told you that Arrow Video is becoming my favorite DVD/BD company?  They are constantly putting out amazing releases of some classic horror.   One of their latest releases is of Director Brian Yuzna's classic, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR!   This is a sequel to the classic film, RE-ANIMATOR, which just so happens to be one of my Top 5 favorite horror films of all time! 
While nothing can compare to the original classic, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR comes about as close as you can get.  This is an amazing film that re-creates the tone and fun of the first film.  I'll go ahead and toss out the plot synopsis courtesy of the Arrow Films website, although I have a feeling most true horror fans are already well aware of this one:

  The success of Stuart Gordon’s hit horror-comedy Re-animator meant that a sequel was all but inevitable. The resulting follow-up, Bride of Re-animator – this time helmed by director Brian Yuzna (Society, Return of the Living Dead 3) – would prove that there was a good deal more life left in the story of Dr. Herbert West and his ghoulish exploits.
  It is 8 years since the Miskatonic massacre. Unperturbed by the disastrous outcome of his previous meddling with the dead, Dr. West (again played by Jeffrey Combs) continues his research into the phenomenon of re-animation; only this time, he plans to create life – starting with the heart of his young protégé Dan’s dearly deceased, Meg Halsey. Surely nothing could go wrong?
  With special effects master Screaming Mad George (the man behind the infamous “shunting” sequence in Society) on hand to contribute a host of characteristically weird and wonderful creations – including zombified bats and a one-eyed finger spider – Bride of re-animator is a more than worthy successor to Gordon’s original cult classic.

  Again, I wont go into much of the film, as it's over 25 years old, I'm sure most of you have seen it before.  You probably already own this on DVD.  What I want to bring you attention to here is this limited edition release that Arrow has put out.  They have awesome special features with most all of their releases, but this limited edition 3 disc set is truly an amazing release.   Buying this new set, even if you own an older released DVD is a no brainer.  Check out all these special features:

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 3-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
*  Brand new 2K restorations of the Unrated and R-rated versions of the film, approved by director Brian Yuzna
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
*  Original Stereo 2.0 audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
*  Limited Edition Collector’s Booklet
*  Limited Edition Packaging

DISCS 1 & 2 – BLU-RAY/DVD – UNRATED VERSION
*  Brand new 2K restoration of the Unrated version
*  Brand new audio commentary with Brian Yuzna
*  Audio Commentary with Brian Yuzna, star Jeffrey Combs, visual effects supervisor Tom
*  Rainone and the effects team including John Buechler, Mike Deak, Bob Kurtzman, Howard Berger and Screaming Mad George
*  Audio Commentary with stars Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Abbott
*  Brian Yuzna Remembers Bride of Re-animator – brand new featurette in which the director looks back at the making of the first Re-animator sequel
*  Splatter Masters: The Special Effects Artists of Bride of Re-animator – Brand new FX featurette with a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Robert Kurtzman of KNB, Screaming Mad George, Tony Doublin and John Buechler
*  Getting Ahead in Horror – archive making-of featurette
*  Deleted Scenes

DISC 3 – BLU-RAY – R-RATED VERSION
*  Brand new 2K restoration of the R-rated version


So there you have it....this set has hours of special features for you to enjoy!  This set was released just a few weeks ago, and is already out of print and is selling out fast!  Amazon.com still has a few copies, so get your hands on a copy asap before they are gone!


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack

 

 

Blu-ray Review: FRIGHTMARE (1983)

FRIGHTMARE 
a.k.a. THE HORROR STAR
Written & Directed by Norman Thaddeus Vane

  Vinegar Syndrome is quickly becoming one of my favorite DVD/BD distributors.   If you are not familiar with this company, you should be for sure.  They release some great long lost, hard to find exploitation and sexsploitation films along with the grindhouse/drive-in horror features from years ago.   One of their latest releases is FRIGHTMARE, also known as THE HORROR STAR.  This film is from 1983, so don't confuse it with the 1974 Pete Walker film also known as FRIGHTMARE.  Here is the basic synopsis of this film from the Vinegar Syndrome website:

  Conrad Radzoff (Ferdy Mayne) was the biggest name in horror movies for decades until, one day, he died of a heart attack. Determined to celebrate his life, and death, the members of a local horror film society steal his freshly buried corpse and decide to host a party, in his honor, at their old and lavish mansion. Unaware that Radzoff’s interest in horror extended beyond the silver screen and into the black arts, his corpse is soon re-animated and he begins exacting a bloody revenge against those who disturbed his final resting place.
  Slyly combining 80s slasher tropes with an insightful and self reflective look at the meaning of horror movies and death itself, Norman Thaddeus Vane’s FRIGHTMARE (originally known as THE HORROR STAR) is a quick witted and suspenseful tribute to classic horror cinema. With captivating cinematography by Joel King (JUST BEFORE DAWN) and supporting performances from Jeffrey Combs (RE-ANIMATOR), Luca Bercovici and Leon Askin, FRIGHTMARE has been newly restored from its original camera negative and is coming to Blu-ray for the very first time!

  FRIGHTMARE is a must see if you have never had the chance to view it.   It has such a nostalgic feel to it, almost like watching an old Hammer Horror film.  In fact, it's pretty obvious that the character of Conrad Radzoff was inspired by the great Hammer Films actor, Christopher Lee.  The film is part gothic horror and part slasher film, as your typical group of kids is picked off one by one by the killer.   There are some pretty interesting kills in this film, including a woman bursting into flames, and one of the greatest decapitation scenes you will ever see!

  The acting is pretty good overall, with a wonderful performance by Ferdy Mayne  as Conrad Radzoff. Also worth noting is one of "kids" is played by fan favorite Jeffrey Combs .   As you know, Combs would go on to star in RE-ANIMATOR two years later, which to this day is still one of my top five horror movies of all time.  It was fun seeing him in this different kind of role. 

  I highly recommend checking out FRIGHTMARE and all the other great horror titles Vinegar Syndrome has been putting out lately! 

  FRIGHTMARE is available now on DVD/Blu-ray combo from Vinegar Syndrome and contains the following special features:

+  Restored in 2k from 35mm camera negative
+  All extras on both Blu-ray and DVD
+  New video interview with Cinematographer Joel King
+  Archival audio interview with Director Norman Thaddeus Vane
+  Historical commentary track with David Del Valle and David DeCoteau
+  Commentary track by The Hysteria Continues
+  Original theatrical trailer
+  Reversible THE HORROR STAR cover art
+  English SDH subtitles


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD/BD combo

Check out the trailer for the new film, FAVOR

  Check out the trailer for the upcoming film, FAVOR from writer/director Paul Osborne.   The film is set to premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival in April. Here is the plot of the film from the film's official website:

Kip Desmond has gotten everything he's ever wanted: a thriving career, beautiful wife and an affluent lifestyle, all of which is put in jeopardy when Abby, the waitress with whom he's having a casual fling, is accidentally killed. ​
​
Desperate, he ends up on the doorstep of childhood friend Marvin Croat and asks him for a huge favor: help get rid of the body.
​
This gruesome circumstance begins a series of events which unravels Kip and Marvin’s lifelong friendship, leading both men to murderous acts neither had ever suspected themselves capable of.

  This might be more of dark drama/thriller than a true horror film, but I think it still looks pretty cool, and even stars horror vet Jeffrey Combs!  Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!


CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website and watch the trailer