Bride Of Re-Animator

What can I say? Re-Animator, one of the most enjoyable horror films of the 1980s, full of gore, comedy, slapstick, and fun! It is not surprising that a sequel was made (five years after the original in 1990) to continue the story and to ride on the success of the original. Unfortunately Master of Horror Stuart Gordon was not involved, however his partner in gore, Brian Yuzna, was. On with the review…

Eighteen months have passed since the massacre in the first film, this time obsessed Dr. Herbert West (underrated Jeffrey Combs) and "dragged along" Dr. Dan Cain (Bruce Abbot) are in Peru. They are doctors looking after the injured of a civil war. Not even four minutes in, and hell yeah, there's the famous syringe with that glow-in-the-dark goo; bring on the fun!

The mischievous duo are continuing their work and we learn lizards are somehow the key to the magical re-animator serum.

The opening titles kick-in and are similar to the original film - sketched anatomy drawings accompanied with that theme tune! When I heard the music, I chuckled to myself and thought "oh yes!!"

The doctors return to their original hospital in the States. Dan is trying to save a seriously ill patient called Gloria (Halloween 4's Kathleen Kinmont) and in the meantime Herbert is continuing his shenanigans. Herbert also has access to the remains of the bodies from the first film - including the head of none other than evil Dr. Carl Hill (the late David Gale).

The film takes a leap forward from the original; lizards are the key to the "secret of life" and Herbert has found it. Individual body parts can be mixed together and re-animated. Herbert convinces Dan to aid him in creating a corpse made from body parts including the heart of his dead lover Meg (Barbara Crampton's character from the original film). Are you seeing hints of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein here? This will all occur in the basement of their new house which is conveniently next to a cemetery - important for the grand finale.

Bride of Re-Animator continues with Herbert and Dan trying desperately to create the perfect patched up corpse. Police lieutenant Chapham (Claude Earl Jones) is on their tail, Dr. Hill is back for revenge (with bat wings attached - don't ask!), and as usual everything goes amuck. The green glow-in-the-dark goo runs wild, oh, and so do the blood and the comedy!

The chaos in this film, as always with Re-Animator movies, is tremendous: Chapman becomes a crazed zombie, Herbert experiments on animals (a dog with a human arm), Gloria's head is used for re-animation, zombies from the original film are back, and Herbert's monster, when eventually brought to life, is angry! Oh oh…

The final scenes are bloody, fun, bloody fun, and very satisfying.

Bride of Re-Animator has everything a horror fan wants. The acting is as hammy as ever especially with Jeffrey Combs' character. He makes bad puns all the way through the film ("my god, they're using tools!!"), acts serious in funny scenes, and disapproves of Dan inviting girls for dinner! The gore is realistic and aplenty thanks to Screaming Mad George and make-up specialists such as Greg Nicotero. The comedy is really subtle but is actually funny, especially by combining the gore and special effects for laughs. An example of the comedy is early on in the film: Herbert animates a creature made-up of fingers and an eyeball (similar to a creature from an excellent episode of Red Dwarf! I wonder what was an influence?).

A must have for any horror fan. Seriously recommended by this reader - violent, funny, and entertaining. The DVD provides a crisp Widescreen Anamorphic transfer and all the red stuff is clearly seen. The score is suspenseful and really adds to the film, it pounds through the speakers during the blood-splattering scenes. The sound is Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 which is really adequate.

The DVD is actually another title for Tartan's Grindhouse label although I am positive this film never played any 70s playhouses!! But I must say, well done Tartan, keep them churning! Compared to the original Tartan release I'd say it was ahead. However, it comes with very little in the way of extras: a trailer, and a set of trailers for "Phantom Carriage".

Brian Yuzna is enjoying the Spanish sun at the moment churning out B-Movie clunkers. But this film really is something for him to proud of on his CV. Go check out his other H.P. Lovecraft work, including Dagon (producer on this one) and Beyond Re-Animator.

Throw out that old Re-Animator 2 VHS and buy Bride Of Re-Animator now. With Christmas quickly approaching, this DVD will make an excellent stocking filler.

Review by: Broonage.