Producing fan material has to be the hardest thing a filmmaker can do; harder still in the horror genre, where expectations are already low. With this in mind, it’s a shame to say, but still necessary to, that the 1985 “Re-Animator,” based off of a short story by horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, is a disaster. Fans of Lovecraft will surely be intrigued by the 1985 macabre-fest; however, an over-reliance on gore, a non-existent story, and bizarre ending render the film little more than utter disappointment.
It’s hard to criticize the story for being too fantastical. How do you criticize a movie about an overly–ambitious medical student obsessed with bringing people back to life from the dead with being too fantastic? A suspension of disbelief is required to enter this film, a suspension that introduces us to Herbert West (Jeffery Combs), an arrogant and bizarre scientist who convinces fellow student Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) to help in his quest to ‘re-animate’ life with a serum he’s created. Ambivalent at first, it isn’t long until Cain is a full-fledged believer, aiding West in his tasks.
What is disappointing about the film is that the material is presented out in the open, and no one in the film seems to disbelieve any of the events. West is certainly responsible for killing Cain’s cat in one scene (with the purpose of re-animating it later), and while Cain’s thinly painted girlfriend Megan (Barbara Crampton) is horrified by this, Cain barely bats an eyebrow. And when their deeds render even more havoc later, it feels as though Director Stuart Gordon (responsible for “From Beyond,” another Lovecraft-inspired film, as well co-writing as Disney’s “Honey I Shrunk the Kids”) wants the audience to believe the madness openly, and without explanation. But that was what was captivating about Lovecraft’s works – the narrators of his stories disbelieved all the way, until they could horrifically do so no longer. The effect was a macabre atmosphere, while here the atmosphere feels inauthentic.
Gordon and company also seem driven to bathe the audience in gore, in scenes that involve splattered cats, squished humans, and decapitated heads. There’s also the issue of all the key players in the medical school being aware of West’s pursuits – even if they do try and stop him – which completely removes any furtiveness or horror from the film. Not to mention the film’s gratuitous nudity, especially during one scene where a woman is displayed fully naked for no other reason than what amounts to a schoolboy’s fantasy.
“Re-Animator” shows off it’s lack of coherent narrative in this fashion, displaying corpses in varying stages of decomposition while offering up little backstory that makes any sense at all. That the medical school’s dean (Robert Samson) is against West’s pursuits makes complete sense. However, that university brain researcher Dr. Hill (David Gale) becomes involved in the film’s bizarre progression makes no sense whatsoever. The film also slowly moves from being somewhat grounded in reality to mostly absurd – especially in a conclusion that asks for much more than a suspension of disbelief, but which asks us to become mad ourselves to enjoy it. There just seems to be no linear progression in this film. Things happen, and we watch them happen; though we seldom understand what’s going on at all.
Technically speaking, the film’s special effects are good; as are some eerie elements the film dredges up early on. A basement in Cain’s house where West starts his early experiments is certainly creepy. Additionally, the ‘80s medical school, especially its morgue, is certainly enough to keep you up at night. The film also should be given some credit for presenting its gore openly, and almost comically, which makes it more forgivable than films like the atrocious “Hostel II,” which parades it around as though causing your audience to lose their stomachs is what makes a good horror film these days. Also, “Re-Animator’s” acting really isn’t terrible. Combs is believable, and a perfect Herbert West, and Crampton and Abbott aren’t bad either. The rest of the cast leaves a lot to be desired, as both Dean Halsey and Dr. Carl Hill are reduced to caricatures. But the movie was nominated for a Saturn Award for ‘Best Make-up,’ and it does deserve some recognition there.
“Re-Animator” is a confusing film. I feel as though I missed something along the way, especially in light of critics’ reviews that labeled this movie a “classic horror-comedy” or “ground-breaking horror.” I don’t see it. As a fan of Lovecraft’s works, this is a complete departure, a story of Herbert West in name only. It’s been labeled a cult film; maybe it is. However, too much gore, too little story, and a fantastical, dream-like progression just lost me on this one.
– by Mark Ziobro
