The film follows Herbert West, a brilliant yet unhinged medical student who creates a serum that reanimates the dead with horrifying consequences. Director Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator shocked audiences with his blend of grotesque horror and dark humor and became an instant cult classic upon its release in 1985. The film stars Jeffrey Combs as “Herbert West,” Bruce Abbott as “Dan Cain,” Barbara Crampton as “Megan Halsey,” David Gale as “Dr. Carl Hill,” and Robert Sampson as “Dean Halsey.”

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Video Quality

Ignite Films presents Re-Animator with a tremendous 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a new 4K restoration approved by producer Brian Yuzna. This is easily the best this film has ever looked and could most likely ever look. One of the most essential elements of this presentation is the utilization of Dolby Vision for refined color output. The new release features some bold colors in the production design that present with a sterling vibrancy. The serum that is being injected is a particular standout. Not every element is candy-colored, but every hue unleashes an accuracy not feasible on a lesser format. Lighting is a critical part of the experience of this film, and this disc handles every change in setting with an ideal consistency. Black levels are deep with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are tight with no evidence of blooming.

The level of detail and grotesque clarity will not soon be forgotten thanks to the retention of natural film grain. The textured grain resolves perfectly with essentially no fluctuations. The facets on display in the costumes and within the morgue are a revelation. The spotlight special effects present with squirm-inducing clarity that makes the work all the more unsettling. This transfer does not leave anything in the way of print damage. This presentation is honest to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. There are no jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation is the perfect representation thanks to the team at Ignite Films.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with an LPCM 1.0 lossless mono track, a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track, and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that have been restored to sound the best the film ever has. Having these three options allows the viewer to immerse themselves in a world of top-tier audio options. There do not seem to be any unforeseen instances of age-related wear and tear or other shortcomings. The environmental sounds paint a picture as the grimy world is brought to life with clear fidelity. The music is used effectively to establish the somewhat campy mood of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overshadow competing sounds, and it maintains an enviable balance so that dialogue comes through crisp and clear. Ignite Films has given this film the best audio presentation that can be expected from the source. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition of the Ignite Films 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Re-Animator includes a 140-page hardcover book featuring new interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band. In addition to this, there are essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, plus a preface by Brian Yuzna. These works provide great analysis and history of the film, the creatives, the behind-the-scenes details, and more in a thoughtfully written style. This release also comes with a small selection of art cards. The on-disc special features are as follows:

4K UHD Blu-Ray

Audio Commentaries
- Audio Commentary #1: Director Stuart Gordon
- Audio Commentary #2: Producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson
- Audio Commentary #3: Director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical

Re-Animator at 40 – A Conversation with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna: A new 45-minute conversation with the trio reflecting on the production and legacy of the film.

Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator – A New Interview with Editor Lee Percy: A new 15-minute interview with the editor in which he reflects on his experience editing the film, his background in filmmaking, working with Stuart Gordon, and more.

The Horror of It All – The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator: A new 18-minute featurette in which famous fans such as Joe Lynch, Mike Mendez, Nicholas McCarthy, Mick Garris, Rob Savage, and more reflect on their love of the film.

Suzie Sorority and the Good College Boy – An Interview with Carolyn Purdy-Gordon: A new 14-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses her memorable first meeting with Stuart Gordon, working on the film, and more.

I Give Life – A Look Back at Re-Animator: The Musical: A 28-minute look back at the musical adaptation of the film with the original cast and creative team.

Re-Animating a Horror Classic: The 4K Restoration of Re-Animator: A two-and-a-half-minute piece that gives you a look at the process of restoring a film.

The Organic Theater Company of Chicago – A 1977 Documentary featuring Stuart Gordon: A 28-minute documentary that looks at the historic theater company.

New 40th Anniversary 4K UHD Trailer (0:57)

Isolated Score

Bonus Disc

Integral Version (1:44:55) (HD)

Re-Animator – Resurrectus: A 69-minute documentary that details the creation of the film featuring interviews with the cast and creative team.

A Conversation with Director Stuart Gordon and Producer Brian Yuzna (48:47)

Interviews
- Writer Dennis Paoli (10:41)
- Composer Richard Band (14:43)
- Former Fangoria Editor Tony Timpone (4:34)

Music Discussion with Composer Richard Band (16:31)

The Catastrophe of Success – Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater (13:08)

Theater of Blood: A 12-minute interview with lyricist Mark Nutter discussing adapting the film into a stage musical.

Barbara Crampton In Conversation (36:12)

A Guide To Lovecraftian Cinema (54:02)

Doug Bradley’s Spinechillers (1:38:32)

Extended Scenes (23:05)

Deleted Scene (2:40)

Theatrical Trailer (1:57)

TV Spots (2:36)

Still Gallery

Final Thoughts

Re-Animator is grimy independent filmmaking that turns exploitation into an art form. The narrative has a familiar form in terms of playing god until consequences arise, yet there is a world of creativity within the execution. Some may find a few of the gags especially tasteless, yet it is all a part of the film’s manic DNA. The ensemble capably delivers what they need to in their archetypes. It is deranged but quite a bit of fun. Ignite Films has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a stunning A/V presentation and an overwhelming array of special features that enhance your appreciation for the film. This is a worthwhile upgrade even if you already own a previous Blu-Ray. Highly Recommended

Re-Animator is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray exclusively through Ignite Films.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Ignite Films has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.