Re-Animator: Steelbook out, details later.

On Monday, Re-Animator was lovingly re-animated in a high-definition Blu-ray, limited edition steelbook, courtesy of Second Sight Films. To mark this occasion, it feels only right to briefly remind ourselves of this classic 1980s horror, and why we love it so god damn much.

As we all know (and if you don’t, go watch this film immediately), Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator is loosely based on a tale from H.P. Lovecraft and follows medical student Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs), and his luminous green concoction that brings the dead back to life. Botched experiments, scientific rivalry and a few fatalities later, West and his co-eds Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott) and Megan Halsey (Barbara Crampton), find themselves caught up in experimental mayhem, with particularly gory consequences.

From the off, it is fair to say that Re-Animator is not a horror film that will terrify your very soul. Rather, it is one that will have you laughing out loud in sheer enjoyment, quoting dialogue for days on end and cheering at the screen for every head crushing and intestine twisting set-piece. You’d be hard pressed to find a moment in this film that isn't outrageously fun or enjoyably twisted, from Hall’s severed head lusting after the restrained Halsey whilst her zombified father watches, to the crescendo of entrails and ooze amidst re-animated mayhem. Not to mention, each performance (Combs in particular) cleverly balances on the brink of camp and is executed with clever, comical rigor. Overall the film possesses a vitality and over-the-top sensibility, a certain luminosity that isn't just confined to West’s trusty needle. Akin to other classics such as The Evil Dead or Braindead, Re-Animator is the epitome of horror-comedy and most certainly warrants a re-visit at any opportunity.

In short this steelbook is a must-have for your collection. With it, you can once again witness such glorious gore in high-definition, and indulge a little further with some extra features;

• The ‘Unrated’ Version – brand new 4k restoration
• The ‘Integral’ Version – exclusive to Blu-ray
•  Audio Commentary with director Stuart Gordon
• Audio Commentary with producer Brian Yuzna and actor Jeffrey Combs, Robert Sampson, Barbara Crampton and Bruce Abbott
• Re-Animator Reserrectus documentary
• Interviews with Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and Fangoria editor Tony Timpone
• Extended scenes, deleted scenes and trailers
• Gallery

Fear not - if you don’t have a Blu-ray player, Second Sight Films are also kindly releasing a two-disc DVD version, for your re-animating pleasure. 

That's all for now folks, feel free to post a comment - what do you love about Re-Animator?