ReAnimator – Second Sight Films 4K UHD Review

Few films embody the anarchic spirit of 1980s horror quite like Re-Animator. Stuart Gordon’s loose adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s Herbert West Re-animator feels less like a traditional genre film and more like a punk rock act of cinematic vandalism.

First released in 1985, Re-Animator arrived at a time when horror was becoming increasingly polished and commercial. Gordon’s film went in the opposite direction, embracing excess, dark comedy and outright provocation. Decades later, Second Sight Films’ new 4K UHD release gives this cult classic a presentation that’s as lovingly crafted as the film itself is gleefully  Lovecraftian.

Set primarily within the confines of hospital grounds, ReAnimator follows Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), a brilliant but dangerously obsessive student who has discovered a serum capable of bringing the dead back to life, with side effects. After teaming up with the more reserved Dan Cain, West’s experiments spiral rapidly out of control.

What sets Re-Animator apart is its complete refusal to take itself seriously, even while fully committing to its premise. Gordon stages the film as a collision between old school mad scientist tropes and splatter era shock tactics, with a wicked sense of humour running through every scene. The violence is outrageous, the effects are proudly practical, and the pacing rarely lets up.

Jeffrey Combs’ performance as Herbert West is the film’s secret weapon. Cold, arrogant and utterly convinced of his own genius, West is both protagonist and antagonist, and Combs plays him with laser focused intensity. It’s a star making turn that anchors the chaos and gives the film its enduring cult appeal. Also, Barbara Crampton! 

Second Sight’s 4K UHD presentation is a substantial upgrade, showcasing the film with a clarity and stability it has never enjoyed on home video. Grain is present and organic, retaining the film’s low budget texture while revealing impressive levels of detail in makeup effects, set dressing and lighting.

Colours are bold and vibrant, particularly the film’s signature neon greens and deep reds, which benefit noticeably from HDR grading. Black levels are solid without crushing shadow detail.

Audio is punchy and well balanced. Dialogue is clear, sound effects have appropriate weight, and Richard Band’s iconic score, a tongue in cheek riff on Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho, comes through with excellent clarity. The mix respects the film’s original intent while providing a more dynamic listening experience than previous releases.

Special Features & Packaging

Second Sight’s limited edition treatment is extensive and appropriately indulgent. The release includes multiple cuts of the film, new and archival interviews with cast and crew, commentaries that explore both the film’s production history and its Lovecraftian roots, and a range of featurettes that chart Re-Animator’s journey from low budget shocker to genre landmark.

ReAnimator remains a riotous, confrontational blast of horror cinema. Outrageous, funny and relentlessly inventive. Its shock value hasn’t dulled with age, and its practical effects and fearless performances still put many modern genre films to shame.

Second Sight Films’ 4K UHD release treats the film with the same enthusiasm and respect it has earned over four decades, delivering a definitive home video edition that balances technical excellence with genuine affection for the material. It’s got everything we’ve come to love about Second Sight’s releases, go get it! 

Special Features

• UHD Presented in HDR with Dolby Vision approved by producer Brian Yuzna

• Dual format three-disc edition including one UHD and two Blu-rays with main feature and bonus features on both discs

• Includes ‘The Integral Version’ in HD

• New Audio Commentary by Eddie Falvey

• Audio Commentary with director Stuart Gordon

• Audio Commentary with producer Brian Yuzna and Actors Bruce Abbott, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Robert Sampson

• The Cosmic Horror of HP Lovecraft: a video essay by Mike Muncer

• Re-Animator at 40: conversation with actors Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, and Producer Brian Yuzna

• Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator: an interview with editor Lee Percy

• Suzie Sorority and The Good College Boy: an interview with actor Carolyn Purdy-Gordon

• The Horror of it All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator

• Barbara Crampton in Conversation

• A Guide to Lovecraftian Cinema

• Re-Animator Resurrectus

• Interview with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna

• Interview with writer Dennis Paoli

• Interview with composer Richard Band

• Interview with former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone

• Extended Scenes

• Deleted Scene

• Theatrical Trailer

• TV Spots Still

• Gallery

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Krishna Shenoi

• 120-page book with new essays by Sean Abley, Becky Darke, Lindsay Hallam, Josh Hurtado, Michelle Kisner, Justin LaLiberty, Phil Nobile Jr and Heather Wixson

• Six collectors’ art cards