What is RE-ANIMATOR like?

[dwatts]

Might sound like an odd question, but what is RE-ANIMATOR like? I might well have seen it a long time ago, but don’t really recall. Yeah, I know it’s a genre favorite, but let me ask this…..

There are two films, Bad Taste and Dead Alive that are also genre favorites. I’ve always – for some odd reason – put RE-ANIMATOR into the same category. Truth be told, I don’t much like Bad Taste and Dead Alive. I find the over-the-top humor to be strained, and the “gore”, since it is played entirely for laughs and silly gross outs (no actual horror), is just silly.

So – is RE-ANIMATOR in this category? Am I missing out? I’d consider buying this in a month or so if its good. I ask now because, dammit, I keep wanting the Night of the Living Dead Millennium edition. I already have Spit on your Grave, so that would complete the set as it were. If my guess is right, I'll stay well away :) Online price of Re Animator is $22 - but since I'm currently in the EU, shipping in $9!

[moogong]

Re-Animator isnt as over the top as Bad Taste or Dead Alive, IMHO. As much as I like those two movies, Re-Animator is in a class by itself and is way better. I would say go for it...you wont be dissapointed.

[Hellbilly]

There's some humor in Re-Animator, but like moogong said not over the top ala Bad Taste or Dead/Alive.
Re-Animator is a wicked & gory classic. One of the best of it's kind.

[zombi3]

Shame on you!:D Get it now!

[dwatts]

Hey baby, I'm scared for all the wrong reasons :)

So, is Re-animator played for scares? Bad Taste and Dead Alive are basically gross out comedies, something like Whatever Happened to Mary in the horror genre. They just don't work for me.

If Re-Animator is made as a horror flick, with some humor thrown in, then I shall certainly order the Mil. Edt.

[zombi3]

You can't really compare Re-Animator to P. Jackson's films. It's a completely different type of movie. Re-Animator does have some black humor, but it doesn't go overboard. It is a horror film, hands down. Now get off your ass and go get it!:banana:

[Atmims]

I'd say the most similar movie to Re-animator is "Return of the Living Dead". Re-Animator has the same sort of humor as ROTLD but Re-Animator has a lot more gore. Re-Animator is one of my favorite movies, you should definetly check it out!!

[Grim]

Re-Animator is bad ass, easily one of my favorite films.

[Deaddevilman]

Death is just the beginnnng....

One of the greatest horror movies ever made. Make sure you get The Millennium Edition. It's got great extras. To bad Stuart Gordon shot his wad on this one. His films after this have been mediocre at best. From Beyond is the only exception. Hell, he spends all his time in Spain making movies now. A siesta and bottle of wine every five minutes.

[mcchrist]

Hell, he spends all his time in Spain making movies now. A siesta and bottle of wine every five minutes.

More power to him! If he can pull off a movie like Dagon even today, let him be!

as for...

Atmims wrote:

I'd say the most similar movie to Re-animator is "Return of the Living Dead". Re-Animator has the same sort of humor as ROTLD but Re-Animator has a lot more gore.

Not sure if I agree with you on this one. I think they share a few of the same qualities, yes, but Re-Animator is much darker to me with the humor being a bit more tongue-in-cheek. Both great movies.

I agree with you dwatts about the whole Dead Alive/Bad Taste thing, I've had my fill of that stuff a long time ago.

[DrJOnes666]

In my opinion, Re-Animator is one of the best horror films ever made. But stop reading all our comments ang grab a copy of the Millenium Edition. Reading too many comments will act like HYPE and that's always bad before watching a film.

Just watch it and enjoy.


DrjOnes666

[dwatts]

Well, the thing is, I had already formed a view of what this movie is - and it was not a positive one. Others are helping me come around to thinking about getting it when otherwise I would not. It does look positive though. I am not sure why I thought this was mostly humorous like Dead Alive and Bad Taste. But people here seem to be saying it's horror with some "dark humor" thrown in. I'm just trying to avoid buying a relatively expensive disc and being totally disapointed.

[Paff]

http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/n-z/rea-me/

[dwatts]

Alright:

" I generally don't like excessive humor in my horror movies, because it comes off as too campy most of the time. I definitely prefer when the actors make an attempt to make the bizarre believable rather than poke fun at the obvious absurdities. But here we have a film where a major character is beheaded, and yet is still a prominent figure for more than 30 minutes, carrying his head around in a tray, and it works! Admittedly, there's a lot of laughs with this concept, but some decent scares as well, which is a tough balance to achieve. "

See - THIS is what worries me. maybe it was the review that turned me off the film. It's a feel for that balance I was looking for.

[puddytay]

Bad Taste sucks
Reanimator Excellant

[Revoltor]

Actually the head is a prominent character in the second one too.

Hahahah!

[Atmims]

Not sure if I agree with you on this one. I think they share a few of the same qualities, yes, but Re-Animator is much darker to me with the humor being a bit more tongue-in-cheek. Both great movies.

I agree with you dwatts about the whole Dead Alive/Bad Taste thing, I've had my fill of that stuff a long time ago. [/B]

I agree Re-Animator is a darker movie mainly because of the gore but in my opinion the comedy is on the same level. Both movies are balanced very well.

Dead Alive and Bad Taste got old FAST! I enjoyed the hell out of Dead Alive on the first viewing but it's a movie you get tired of quick.

[Pukenstein]

Re-Animator is great.

But you won't like Bride of Re-Animator, too much goofy crap like Bad Taste/Dead Alive.

[Mortis]

I don't see how anyone couldn't own/like Re-Animator. It's a classic.

[KillerCannabis]

I just noticed this topic and thought "What a funny question." It's not that its a dumb question, I just firgured that by now EVERY fan of horror cinema has seen it at least once.... no, twice. And even if by some random chance you haven't seen it, you at least know the basics of the story. Personally, its my favorite horror flick so I recommend the hell out of it anytime people come over. At least rent it, but I say you could never go wrong getting that spankin new ME.

[Latency]

Originally posted by Mortis
I don't see how anyone couldn't own/like Re-Animator. It's a classic.

Availability. I haven't seen it at any local stores EVER. Well, once @ Futureshop but it was $50+ CND. And when I went back to buy it, it was gone and considered discontinued stock. I won't do the shipping thing because it can be a real hassle some times (it's been over a month and I still haven't got my copy of AOD from Yesasia.com :( ). I would love to rent Re-Animator at the very least. But guess what ? Can't find it for rent either :(

[Mortis]

OK. Let me rephrase. :D

I don't see how anyone, that has the opportunity to buy or rent the movie, couldn't own/like Re-Animator. It's a classic.

[Andrew]

Latency - there are tons of online stores that ship easily to Canada. You haven't gotten AOD yet cus it's from Asia. That's a lot different than somewhere in the same continent.

And I really like RE-ANIMATOR, though it does have some humor it's no where near the cheesiness of BAD TASTE and DEAD ALIVE (which I love as well). It's a nicer looking film as well.

[dmeister]

I find Dead Alive considerably more entertaining than Re-Animator. Obviously, Dead Alive wasn't meant to be taken too seriously, and I think that Jackson did an excellent job creating a campy gore-fest. I also didn't find Re-Animator particularly gory. I do agree that it is similar to Return of the Living Dead in terms of its sense of humor, as well as its overall presentation.

I, personally, feel that Gordon has yet to create a decent Lovecraft adaptation. Re-Animator only vaguely follows the plotline of the original story, and has a completely different mood and tone. Dagon and From Beyond came closer to the "Lovecraft feel" in my opinion. Though, in all fairness, they're not as bad as most Stephen King adaptations.

dmeister

[Latency]

Originally posted by AndrewBBD
Latency - there are tons of online stores that ship easily to Canada. You haven't gotten AOD yet cus it's from Asia. That's a lot different than somewhere in the same continent.

And I really like RE-ANIMATOR, though it does have some humor it's no where near the cheesiness of BAD TASTE and DEAD ALIVE (which I love as well). It's a nicer looking film as well.

Thanks, just went to DVD Box Office and they have ME for $36.99. That's the best I have seen. I think i'll order this. it's gotta be good if all of you guys dig it so much :)

[legnadibrom]

its too hokey for my tastes, and combs' best role is in "love and a .45"

[dwatts]

Well, I tend to be wary. While we all share a general interest in horror, we do vary our opinions some. I certainly wouldn't buy it just because others think it's a classic. I need some back up data! Still, this sounds like I SHOULD give it a go. You bastards will be hearing from me if it's like a Laurel and Hardy cartoon :D

[Revoltor]

Just rent the VHS of it then. Or look for a DVD rip somewhere.

Always try before you buy.

[dwatts]

I'm in Germany right now. And renting is OUT. Sadly.

[rhett]

I've seen both the RE-ANIMATOR films, and honestly I found them quite dull. :sleepy: Not complete wastes of time, to be certain, but definitely not in the upper tier of horror films. Give 'em a look for the effects, but don't really expect much else...

[Mortis]

If you won't buy it because someone says it's good, why ask what we think? We could persuade you either way, so you may end up buying a movie that you don't like, or missing out on a movie that you might of liked. And you said you can't rent, so that's out. Try finding a trailer or reading the script.

Originally posted by dwatts
Well, I tend to be wary. While we all share a general interest in horror, we do vary our opinions some. I certainly wouldn't buy it just because others think it's a classic. I need some back up data! Still, this sounds like I SHOULD give it a go. You bastards will be hearing from me if it's like a Laurel and Hardy cartoon :D

[dwatts]

Gee dude, arn't you being a tad defensive? What i actually said was, " I certainly wouldn't buy it just because others think it's a classic." Which is a fair statement. we have different opinions around here - and someone declaring a movie a "classic" won't necessarily cut it with anyone else. I was lokking for view on the film is all - so I can get multiple opinions to better judge. Rhett seems to have a good head on his shoulders - and he was negative about it. As I said, better to get lots of opinions.

[Mortis]

I wasn't trying to be a dick about it. I'm just wondering how our opinions are going to help. You said you wouldn't buy it because someone said it was good, so I'm assuming you wouldn't not buy it because someone said it was bad. Although I do know what happens when you assume. :D Some people liked it, some people didn't. I'd say the only way you'll know is if you see if for yourself somehow.

And I'm not defending the movie, or whatever you thought I was defending. I could care less who buys it or who does and doesn't like it. I own it, I like it, that's all that matters.

[dwatts]

As I have said in this very thread - I have added it to my "wish list" to give it a go. I'll see it soon enough. Kind of interesting to pick out a film and get different views on it though.

[Trucci]

I didn't like Re-animator. I think it was because the beginning of the movie seemed more serious and later on it all of a sudden turned kind of goofy. In Dead Alive, you knew right away it wasn't supposed to be taken seriously. Also in Re-animator, I just didn't feel any empathy for the actors. Ash was a cool dude in the Evil Dead series, the main guy in Re-animator was just the opposite.

I think this movie was just overhyped for me. Never a good thing.

[Mortis]

Herbert West? I didn't know you were supposed to like him. He was a jerk all through the movie.

[Hellbilly]

Originally posted by dwatts
Rhett seems to have a good head on his shoulders - and he was negative about it.
Yeah but he's also positive about Ghoulies Go To College and Perfect ... ;)

[dmeister]

Herbert West? I didn't know you were supposed to like him. He was a jerk all through the movie.

In the original Lovecraft story, he was also psychotic.

dmeister

[mcchrist]

God, the original Lovecraft stories he was absolutely insane!

[Mortis]

Was there a Lovecraft movie done where some cops go into a building and one of them turns into a monster or something? I can't remember. I thought they went into an alley and they went into hell or something. It's been years and years.

[mcchrist]

Necronomicon

[RyanPC]

Dwatts-- you should definitely get the Re-Animator DVD. I don't own it, but have heard many good things about it.

Re-Animator is a classic. It is funny, but doesn't go over the top like Dead Alive or Bad Taste (although I have yet to see bad taste). Re-Animator has it all-- it has humor, but it also has plenty of scares, in my opinion.

I agree with Atmims that the closest film to Re-Animator is probably Return of the Living Dead, although they are still two completely different movies. Re-Animator, in my opinion, is a much darker film. Try to find the trailer online or something so that you can see what it's like. Try going to www.imdb.com and watch the trailer.

But I wouldn't recommend the sequel, Bride of Re-Animator... I remember thinking it was stupid and didn't make sense. The reason for this is probably that I haven't seen it for years and that I saw it before I saw the original. But the original will always be a classic in my book. :)

[RyanPC]

Wait!!! www.dvdempire.com has the ME of Re-Animator for $23.96! They also have the older DVD release for the same price, but why buy that one when for the same price you can get more???

[Mortis]

Have you see the trailers for the new one? I think it looks sweet.