Bride of Re-Animator: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1988
Director: Brian Yuzna
Writers: Rick Fry, Woody Keith, Brian Yuzna
Cast: Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Claude Earl Jones, Fabiana Udenio, David Gale, Kathleen Kinmont, Mel Stewart

Release Date: April 11th, 2016 (UK), April 12th, 2016 (USA)
Approximate running times: 97 Minutes 44 Seconds (Unrated Version), 97 Minutes 45 Seconds (R Rated Version)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: 18 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Stereo English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"It has been eight months since the bloody massacre at the Miskatonic medical school. Unperturbed by the disastrous outcome of his previous meddling with the dead, Dr West (again played by Jeffrey Combs) continues his research into the phenomenon of re-animation; only this time, he plans to create life – starting with the heart of his young protégé Dan's dearly deceased, Meg Halsey. Surely nothing could go wrong?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Unrated Version), 4.25/5 (R Rated Version)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Bride of Re-Animator was restored in 2013/2014 using the best elements available to achieve complete presentations of both the R- Rated and Unrated versions of the film.

For the R-Rated version, a second generation intermediate interpositive was used. For the Unrated version, locating a 35mm element that was suitable for the restoration involved a near year-long search until a DeLuxe Composite Master Positive Print with the cut sequences intact was eventually found.

Both the 35mm Intermediate Positive and the 35mm Composite Master Postive Print elements were scanned at 2K resolution at 16-bit colour depth on a pin-registered IMAGICA Imager XE Advanced Plus. . .The colour grading was performed on a Baselight."

Bride of Re-Animator Unrated version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.3 GB

Feature: 26.7 GB

Bride of Re-Animator R-Rated version comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 24.7 GB

Feature: 22.2 GB

The sources for both versions are in great shape; both have been cleaned up. The transfer of the unrated version is superior to the other two versions. The colors are nicely saturated, the image looks crisp, the black levels and compression are strong, and the grain remains intact. That said, the main difference between these two transfers is that there are times when the unrated version looks softer than its counterpart.

Audio: 4.25/5

Both versions come with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in English, and both versions come with removable English SDH subtitles. Range-wise, both audio tracks more than hold their own, as the score always sounds robust and the more ambient aspects of the soundtrack are well represented. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and there are no issues with distortion or background noise.

Extras:

Extras on the unrated Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 53 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), two deleted scenes: Meg is Re-Animated (8 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and Carnival Sequence (2 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archive making-of featurette titled Getting Ahead in Horror (23 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Splatter Masters: The Special Effects Artists of Bride of Re-animator (14 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Brian Yuzna titled Brian Yuzna Remembers Bride of Re-animator (9 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Brian Yunza, an archival audio commentary with Brian Yuzna, actor Jeffrey Combs, Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, Tom Rainone, Mike Deak, Screaming Mad George, John Buechler, and an archival audio commentary with Jeffrey Combs and actor Bruce Abbott.

Extras on the R-rated disc include a Behind the Scenes reel (14 minutes, 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles). This disc is exclusive to this limited-edition release.

Other extras include reversible cover art, and a twenty-four-page booklet (only available as part of this limited-edition release) with cast & crew information, an essay about the film titled Here Comes the Bride… written by Michael Blyth and information about the transfer.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray, including an unrated version of the film.

Summary:

Bride of Re-Animator was co-written and directed by Brian Yuzna, whose other notable films as a director include Society and The Dentist. Other notable films that he worked on as a producer include Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Bride of Re-Animator, like its predecessor, was adapted from H.P. Lovecraft’s short story Herbert West—Reanimator. Another influence on The Bride of Re-Animator includes James Whale's Frankenstein.

Adapting the literary works of H.P. Lovecraft for the silver screen has been a daunting task, and the majority of those who have tried have failed to retain the essence of the source. with the first feature film adaptation, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, being released as The Haunted Palace in 1963. By the end of the 1960s, there would be more key Lovecraft adaptations: Die, Monster, Die! (The Color Out of Space), The Shuttered Room, and The Dunwich Horror.

Then, over the next fifteen years, there would be a drought until the release of Re-Animator, a film that would single-handedly revive interest in adapting H.P. Lovecraft for the silver screen. And after making two highly successful Lovecraft adaptations, Re-Animator and From Beyond, The majority of the cast and crew from these two films would return for a third time to the imagination of H.P. Lovecraft, though the original idea was to shoot The Shadow over Innsmouth. The idea was put on hold in favor of making a sequel to Re-Animator.

Unlike the majority of sequels, which just try to rehash the elements that made their predecessors successful, The Bride of Re-Animator goes the other route by creating a film that not only stands on its own but also brings several new elements into the mix that enhance the story at hand. Another advantage of this sequel is that it continues the story of the previous film. With the time between the two films summarized by the sequel's opening scene, humor plays a significant role in this sequel, as it did in its predecessor. 

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Bride of Re-Animator is how well it holds up in regards to the look of the film. From a creative standpoint, there would be two major charges with regards to the crew. With Brian Yuzna replacing Stuart Gordon (Castle Freak) as director and Rick Fichter (Society) taking over for Mac Ahlberg (The Seduction) in the role of cinematographer, In other areas of this production, such as special effects, Bride of Re-Animator exceeds expectations. The effects are often shocking to look at, and there is never a shortage of gore. With the most memorable moment being the scene where West resurrects Cain’s dead girlfriend.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is excellent in their respective roles. with Jeffry Combs (Lurking Fear) in the role of Herbert West and Bruce Abbott (Bad Dreams) in the role of Dan Cain. Both actors are reprising the roles they played in Re-Animator. They have a tremendous amount of chemistry, and the moments they share are by far and away this film’s most durable asset. Other notable performances include Fabiana Udenio (Summer School), who provides plenty of eye candy, and David Gale, who returns as Doctor Carl Hill, or more precisely as Doctor Hill's severed head. Ultimately, Bride of Re-Animator is a rare example of a sequel that is on par with its predecessor.

Arrow Video continues to raise the bar when it comes to deluxe special edition releases with Bride of Re-Animator, which is highly recommended.

Note: The limited-edition release is OOP. Arrow Video has since released a standard version that drops the Blu-ray disc with the R-rated version and the booklet.

Written by Michael Den Boer