Re-Animator (1985) Horror Sci-Fi Comedy

Re-Animator (1985) Movie Release Dates / Movie Details

Updated: January 09, 2025

Re-Animator Plot Synopsis:

Obsessed with the idea of overcoming the obstacle of death and determined to vindicate himself by backing up his theory, the ambitious medical student, Herbert West, arrives in New England, after the horrific incident at the Institute of Medicine in Switzerland. Before long, Herbert will pick up where he left off--at first, experimenting with dead feline tissue, and then, with fresh human cadavers--talking his sceptic roommate, Dan Cain, into joining his audacious project. Inevitably, as the two young scientists burrow deeper and deeper into uncharted territories, the campus will start brimming with West's reanimated corpses, catching the eye of his arch-nemesis, Dr Hill, who yearns to take credit for this astounding discovery. The dead will rise again, even with a bit of help; however, can the young re-animator harness the power of his phosphorescent green reagent?

Synopsis / Plot Summary: A dedicated student at a medical college and his girlfriend become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue when an odd new student arrives on campus.

Tagline: H.P. Lovecraft"s classic tale of horror

RE-ANIMATAOR 40th Anniversary 4K UHD: "In celebration of its 40th Anniversary, Re-Animator returns, and for the first time ever, in a stunning 4K UHD restoration, approved by producer Brian Yuzna. The restoration brings new life to this horror classic, based on H.P. Lovecraft"s twisted tale. The new 40th Anniversary 4K UHD Re-Animator poster and trailer dropped today! Pre-orders were also launched today on the Ignite Films website, where it will be exclusively available for the entire 40th Anniversary Year, until 2026, announced Jan Willem Bosman Jansen of Ignite Films and Jim Quan of Eagle Rock Pictures, this morning.

“I"m excited about the 40th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Re-Animator -- it looks great! Especially if you have a big screen! An excellent restoration, it is like seeing it for the first time again. Stuart Gordon would have been super proud, and so happy that Re-Animator is still connecting with horror audiences and that this restoration is re-animating the movie in all its glorious madness - just as Herbert West intended!” exclaimed Brian Yuzna, Producer.

The film follows Herbert West, a brilliant yet unhinged medical student who creates a serum that reanimates the dead with horrifying consequences. Director Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator shocked audiences with his blend of grotesque horror and dark humor and became an instant cult classic upon its release in 1985. The film stars Jeffrey Combs as “Herbert West,” Bruce Abbott as “Dan Cain,” Barbara Crampton as “Megan Halsey,” David Gale as “Dr. Carl Hill,” and Robert Sampson as “Dean Halsey.”

"Working with Brian Yuzna on this 40th Anniversary 4K UHD release of Re-Animator has been an incredible experience. His passion and dedication to the film made the entire process a real pleasure. Seeing this horror classic look better than ever is so exciting, and we can’t wait for fans to celebrate this milestone with us. It’s a true celebration of a film that continues to captivate audiences 40 years later." – Jim Quan, Eagle Rock Pictures. 

This 40th Anniversary release of Re-Animator from Ignite Films and Eagle Rock Pictures captures every gory detail of West’s obsession in vivid 4K and invites fans, old and new, to experience the film’s boundary-pushing terror like never before.

“People love this film! Over time, Re-Animator has only gained more fans who understand its evergreen appeal of an outrageous story, told with humor and horror in a grand and almost operatic way. To see the beautiful new 4K restoration in all its cult glory is a sight to behold. I know cinephiles will enjoy it for years to come,” said Barbara Crampton.

Fans can choose from four editions, exclusively at Ignite-Films.com, all of which include Newly Produced Bonus Features and Legacy Bonus Features. 

The Ultimate Limited Edition Box Set includes a 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo, Newly Produced Bonus Features and Legacy Bonus Features, a 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna, and collector"s art cards. PLUS A LIMITED-EDITION Dr. Hill Collector"s Bobblehead - A must have for fans! With limited quantities available, this exclusive hand-painted collectible will not be restocked once it is gone. 

For those who choose the Ultimate Limited Edition Box Set, some lucky fans will discover green "re-agent" in their order! That means they will receive an exclusive signed poster by Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna, plus a special Re-Animator gift pack from our friends at Middle of Beyond. 

The Deluxe Edition Box Set includes a 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo, Newly Produced Bonus Features and Legacy Bonus Features, a 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna, and collector"s art cards. 

The 4K Standard Edition includes the 4K UHD Blu-ray, slipcover, and Newly Produced Bonus Features and Legacy Bonus Features.

The Blu-ray Standard Edition includes the Blu-ray, slipcover, and Newly Produced Bonus Features and Legacy Bonus Features.

Their 4K UHD restoration of Re-Animator is the second foray into sci-fi horror classic films for Ignite Films and Eagle Rock Pictures. Their 70th Anniversary 4K UHD restoration and release of Invaders From Mars was met with universal acclaim from fans and critics worldwide, and was honored with many awards, including the 2024 SATURN Award® for Best Classic Film Home Media Release. The release also won the Best Rediscovery of a Forgotten Film from the Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards ®2023 and the Hollywood Professional Association’s Inaugural Jury Award® for Outstanding Achievement in Restoration.

There will be exciting 40th Anniversary celebrations, screenings, appearances, signings, new merch, and more, throughout 2025, which will be shared at Ignite-Films.com and on their social media. Look for an officially licensed collection of Re-Animator products to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Re-Animator coming in 2025 from Fright-Rags, which created the neon green serum 40th Anniversary Re-Animator logo.

The street date is April 3, 2025, and this 40th Anniversary 4K restoration of Re-Animator makes the perfect Christmas, Birthday, or any Holiday gift, so there are downloadable cards at Ignite-Films.com to let your someone special know that you have ordered it for them! It makes a great stocking-stuffer or foldable note to put inside a card for any special occasion prior to April 3. Most people have that one Re-Animator-obsessed friend or family member who will absolutely love it! 

The new 40th Anniversary trailer was directed and produced by Ben Clarkson, cartoonist, artist, and animator. He is a prolific independent artist and has worked in animation, illustration, fine art, theatre, and comics for fifteen years. His music videos have premiered on NPR, Much Music, Revolt TV, Time.com, Adult Swim and Vice Noisey. 

Re-Animator was directed by Stuart Gordon, based on the short story “Herbert West, Re-Animator" by H.P. Lovecraft, with a screenplay by Dennis Paoli, William J. Norris, and Stuart Gordon. Produced by Brian Yuzna, with executive producers Michael Avery and Bruce Curtis, associate producers Bob Greenberg and Charles Donald Storey, with music composed and conducted by Richard Band, composer and lyricist Mark Nutter, cinematography by Mac Ahlberg, and edited by Lee Percy."

DETAILS

1985-2025 40TH ANNIVERSARY

FROM IGNITE FILMS AND EAGLE ROCK PICTURES

RESTORED IN GORY 4K – APPROVED BY BRIAN YUZNA

Street Date: 4/3/25

Ultimate Limited Edition Box Set

* 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

* 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna 

* A LIMITED-EDITION Dr. Hill Collector"s Bobblehead - A must have for fans! With limited quantities available, this exclusive hand-painted collectible will not be restocked once it is gone

* Collector"s art cards

ULTIMATE LIMITED EDITION BOX SET PRIZE BONUS 

Some lucky fans will discover green "re-agent" in their order! If you are one of them, you will receive an exclusive signed poster by Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna, plus a special Re-Animator gift pack from our friends at Middle of Beyond.

Deluxe Edition Box Set

* 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

* 150-page hardcover book featuring interviews with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, writer Dennis Paoli, and composer Richard Band, with essays by Scout Tafoya, Kate Rife, Will Sloan, Alex Kittle, and Ben Sachs, and preface by Brian Yuzna

* Collector"s art cards

4K Standard Edition

* 4K UHD

* Slipcover

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

Blu-ray Standard Edition

* Blu-ray

* Slipcover

* Newly Produced Bonus Features

* Legacy Bonus Features

New Bonus Features

• Re-Animator at 40: A Conversation with Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, and Brian Yuzna 
• Piece By Piece: Cutting Re-Animator – A New Interview with Editor Lee Percy
• The Horror of It All: The Legacy and Impact of Re-Animator
• I Give Her Life: A Look Back at Re-Animator: The Musical
• Re-Animating a Horror Classic: The 4K Restoration of Re-Animator
• The Organic Theater Company of Chicago: A 1977 documentary featuring Stuart Gordon
• New 40th anniversary 4K UHD trailer

Legacy Bonus Features

• Integral Version (105 mins)
• Isolated Score
• Audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and actors Graham Skipper and Jesse Merlin of Re-Animator: The Musical 
• Audio commentary with Stuart Gordon
• Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson 
• Re-Animator: Resurrectus - Feature-length documentary on the making of the film featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.
• Interviews with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna, writer Dennis Paoli, composer Richard Band and former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone
• Music discussion with composer Richard Band
• The Catastrophe of Success: Stuart Gordon and The Organic Theater - Director Stuart Gordon discusses his early theater roots and his continued commitment to the stage. 
• Theater of Blood - Re-Animator: The Musical lyricist Mark Nutter on adapting the cult classic for musical theater 
• Extended scenes 
• Deleted scene 
• Trailer & TV spots
• Stills gallery
• Barbara Crampton In Conversation: The Re-Animator star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning 2015 interview. 
• A Guide to Lovecraft Cinema: Chris Lackey, host of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast, provides a comprehensive look at the many cinematic incarnations of Lovecraft"s work. 
• Doug Bradley"s Spinechillers: Herbert West, Re-Animator actor Jeffrey Combs reads H.P. Lovecraft’s original classic story.

Learn more and pre-order your copy at: https://www.ignite-films.com/

Re-Animator Movie Information:

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Re-Animator (1985) Cast (Click to Expand)

Fun Facts: 15 Real AGES of Cast

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