The
Bride Of Re-Animator
(1989/Unrated/Arrow Films 2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Set)
Picture:
B+/B- Sound: B+/B- Extras: B Film: B+
PLEASE
NOTE:
There is also a 3-disc version of the film available from Arrow on
Blu-ray that includes the rated version of the film, a collector's
booklet and different packaging. This review pertains to the 2-disc
version only.
The
worthy followup to the Stuart Gordon's Sci-Fi/Horror Cult Classic
Re-Animator
(1985) lands on Blu-ray disc in grand fashion from Arrow Films will
no doubt help usher in a new era of fans. A parody of Universal's
classic film The
Bride of Frankenstein,
Director Brian Yuzna (Society,
Return
of the Living Dead 3)
gives us a film that is a bit more campy than the first with the same
tone and excellent practical special effects by KNB that add to the
fun and zaniness of it all.
Dr.
Herbert West (Combs) and his reluctant sidekick, Dr. Dan Cain (Bruce
Abbott) return from the original film and decide to bring Cain's dead
girlfriend Glory (Kathleen Kinmott) to life using stolen body parts
and a batch of Herbert's signature green serum. As if the last
experiment didn't go horribly awry enough, Herbert finds himself in
over his head with zombified bats and other ghastly possessions
surface and take his lab by storm. The fine line between West's
brilliance and madness is put to the ultimate test! The film also
stars Fabiana Udenio, Claude Earl Jones, and David Gale (returning
from the first film) in one of his final roles.
Presented
on Blu-ray in 1080p 1.78 X 1 high definition with a new 2K master of
the original transfer, the film simply has never looked as fantastic
as it does here. The colors are richer throughout with some film
artifacts but nothing that detracts from the presentation of the
film. If I didn't know better, I would think that this film was shot
more recently that it was.
The
sound mix is also superior and restored nicely with a PCM 2.0 Stereo
audio (uncompressed) mix on the Blu-ray. The DVD features a nice
looking transfer for the 2K scan as well that triumphs over previous
DVD releases of the film on disc by other companies with an
anamorphically-enhanced 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a lossy
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track - both of which aren't quite as nice
as the Blu-ray. Still, it is nice to have both editions.
Special
Features include...
Brand
new audio commentary with Brian Yuzna
Vintage
Audio Commentary with Brian Yuzna, star Jeffrey Combs, visual effects
supervisor Tom
Rainone
and the effects team including John Buechler, Mike Deak, Bob
Kurtzman, Howard Berger and Screaming Mad George
Feature
Length Audio Commentary with stars Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Abbott
Brian
Yuzna Remembers Bride of Re-animator
- brand new featurette in which the director looks back at the making
of the first Re-animator sequel
Splatter
Masters: The Special Effects Artists of Bride of Re-animator
- brand-new FX featurette with a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage
and interviews with Robert Kurtzman of KNB
Screaming
Mad George, Tony Doublin and John Buechler
Getting
Ahead in Horror
- archival making-of featurette
Deleted
Scenes
Newly
commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
Limited
Edition Collector's Booklet
It's
too bad Arrow Films can't get their hands on the rights to the first
and third films, as it would make for an incredible box set (similar
to their recent trilogy of Hellraiser
that was just released). For now though, we have this great release
that fans of Lovecraft and/or Re-Animator won't want to miss!
For
more on the original film on Blu-ray, start with this link...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11778/Apartment+143+(2011/aka+Emergo/Magnolia/Mag
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
