Re-Animator: Stuart Gordon

Re-animator is the kind of film that I hold near and dear to my heart.  It was made for pocket change by a talented group of passionate film-makers with something to prove.  It is full of truly remarkable gore and special effects, yet is entirely character driven.  It doesn't rely on the gore...oh no...it has a story to tell.  It's about two scientists who discover a serum which can revive dead brain tissue, thereby restoring life to dead bodies.  However, once revived, they come back as murderous zombies.  The film features a surprisingly well-crafted screenplay which makes us truly care for the characters involved.  Yes, the film turns into a gore-happy hack n' slasher at the end, but it doesn't matter...the film has earned it.  There's a lot of love in Re-animator.  Originally based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, Re-animator is both a tribute to and an expansion of the zombie film.  It is further proof that the horror genre is the best place for wannabe directors with small budgets and big dreams to cut their teeth.  I highly recommend this film...both as a marvelous piece of entertainment and as an example of what is possible when true film-makers do what they do best: create.

9/10