Lovecraft is racist. Thank god I don't have to say that again. This is Dagon. The final of Stuart Gordon's Lovecraft movies and undoubtedly the most fucked up of them all.
First of all, despite the name, save for the title and name, it's not based on the Lovecraft Story "Dagon". It is actually based off the story "The Shadow over Innsmouth" which became the precursor to the Cthulhu Mythos. I always wondered if Gordon managed to tackle the Mythos. I read that at one point he and Yuzna were gonna have Combs play Herbert West in a story that connected Re-Animator to it. Still I make do with what I have and what I have is just as fucked up. You notice I said that twice. You'll know why.
The story begins in the shores of Spain. The protagonist of this story is Paul Marsh, a young stock market tycoon who is vacationing with his girlfriend Barbara. Along with their friends Vicki and Howard. One of many times a character in an adaptation was named after H.P. The previous I've mentioned being Ward in Color Out of Space. Paul is there by demand, because he is plagued by nightmares of meeting a mermaid. Which Barbara feels may just be work stress induced. A sudden storm slams them into nearby rocks, trapping Vicki and Howard below the decks while Barbara and Paul go search for help. While they leave, the couple is attacked by an unseen creature. Using a lifeboat they find themselves in Imboca (Innsmouth in the book.) and a priest offers to have two fishermen help Paul rescue Vicki and Howard. Despite Paul's protests, Vickie stays behind so she could call for help. Checking into a hotel, Vickie gets suddenly snatched away by the priest and the manager, whom both have fish like appendages. Paul discovers that Vicki and Howard are missing, prompting him to return to Imoboca and going to the Hotel that Barbara was in. Upon trying to rest in it's filthy conditions, he not only dreams of the mermaid again, but is awaken by a gathering of fish-like people who seem to be after him. He flees, in both a surprisingly clever yet stupid way, by unscrewing one latch and putting it on another door to keep them at bay. Finding himself in a Tannery full of mutilated human skin, with what's left of Howard among it. He takes refuge with an old drunkard named Ezequiel who is the only human left in the town.
He explains to Paul that years ago, during hard times, a fishing ship captain by the name of Operheus Cambarro, convinced to the villagers to worship Dagon instead of God. A relative of his, Xavier, gives the first offerings to Dagon which brings them, wealth and fish in return. Making him a high priest. However, this in turn caused them along with the newly dubbed Church of Dagon, to lay waste to the local catholic church, killing the priest and ruling over Imboca. However this came at a price as Dagon demanded blood sacrifices and women to breed with. Ezequiel's mother and father dying for resisting. Over time the town eventually got taken over with at least 99% of it being fish/human hybrid spawns of Dagon. Who in turn kidnap any humans that wander across for further sacrifices.
With some prodding, Ezequiel helps Paul flee to the Mayor's Manor so they could steal the only car. Ezequiel would distract them while Paul hotwires it. It would have gone well if Paul didn't honk the horn, alerting the people to his presence. Prompting him to flee into the manor for shelter. He comes across the literal girl of her dreams. Uxia, who seemed to be waiting for him. She hides him from the others, but upon discovering she has tentacles where legs should be, he flees, much to her sadness and pleas. As she clearly wanted to bone him. It's disgusting, but not for the reason you think. I'll tell you later.
Paul gets the car and tries to flee only for it to crash and him thrown into the barn, where he's reuinted with Ezequiel, Barbara and Vicki. Vicki reveals that she has been raped and impregnated by Dagon and they try to escape. Only to be caught again, with Vicki killing herself rather than be Dagon's baby mama. Let this be a lesson kids, Hentai may seem fun, but the burden and commitment will kill you in the end. Paul and Ezequiel get seperated from Barbara and offered by the cult a chance to join them. They refuse. That's when I hear them recite the words.
"Ia Ia Cthulhu fhtagn."
With the exception of South Park and a few other parodies, this was the only time I have ever heard it in an actual Lovecraft adaptation. However where they are funny, this variation sent chills down my spine. For rather than be a seperate entity like the original short story or even the being it was based off of, this variation of Dagon is none other than Cthulhu.
Ezequiel gets his face cut off, as fitting of the other male victims before him. Paul would have been next if Uxia didn't intervene. She personally offers him a deal, his life for him joining them. Specifically him marrying her so that he can be part of their cult and rule alongside her. He agrees in exchange for Barbara being let go. Uxia refuses, she claims it's because she needs to be bred, but come on. The reason why she is doing this is so she can have Paul all to herself. Once Uxia and the group leave to make arrangements, Paul escapes, determined to save Barbara. Finding some near by Kerosene along the way. Upon arriving at the church where it all began, Paul discovers a ritual chamber underground where Barbara is being prepared to be sacrificed. Barbara is lowered down the pit and Paul tries to save her. But he is too late, for Dagon not only raped her, but upon rescuing her, Paul watches in horror as Dagon takes her violently back underground as it's new consort. The cult tries to kill him, but are once again stopped by Uxia who reveals one of their oldest cultists, an old deformed fishman, is their biological father, making them brother and sister. That her intentions are to marry him blueblood style to keep the family line going in service of Dagon. Paul doesn't believe it at first, but then discovers gills on him. Knowing it to be true and depressed at having lost everything, Paul tries to burn himself to death, only for Uxia to stop him and drag him down the depths of the sea. Once he discovers what he is fully, he leaves with Uxia accepting his fate. So ya, disgusting.
This is by far one of the most fucked up movies I ever seen in Gordon's library of Lovecraft films. There's some genuine horror, some dark comedy. Even the dated CGI in some scene doesn't hinder the scary shit. And after watching it, I have satisfaction knowing that Gordon completed his life long dream of covering many Lovecraft basis.
I may review some of Stuart Gordon's other works and related material soon, but until then take care.
Lovecraft is Racist Blah Blah Blah. This is Castle Freak.
While Charles Band still produced this movie this was the first one of Stuart Gordan's Lovecraft movies not produced by Empire, but by Full Moon Studios and it was the first of Gordon's Lovecraft movies to not be in theatres, but rather direct to video. Which is a shame, because this movie looks like it deserves to be in theaters.
Based off the H.P. Lovecraft story "The Outsider". The movie once again stars Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton only this time they play a married couple...wait what? Hmm. I once heard of people using fictional mediums and characters as a meme known as relationship goals. In which certain movies or characters or other forms of media paint a picture of what one wants in a relationship. Maybe it's just me but the past three Gordon directed Lovecraft movies seem to put Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton in that setting. In Re-Animator, they were strangers that disliked each other. In From Beyond, they were more closer and intimate with each other....with the aid of an electrical device. Here they are married. However this isn't a happy marriage.
The movie takes place in Italy where Combs and Crampton play John and Susan Reily. An estranged married couple who along with their blind daughter, Rebecca visit a 12th Century Castle they inherited from a recently deceased duchess. When we see the couple alone together on the first night, John tries to be intimate with Susan, but is violently rejected. Susan blaming him for the death of their young son J.J. It wasn't until we get a glimpse of John's nightmare later on that we see why. It turns out that John is a recovering alcoholic whom decided to drive his kids home drunk. During a momentary distraction, they are run off the road by a truck and crash violently. The result of the accident costing Rebecca her sight and J.J. his life. Unlike most Gordon films, which have no qualms having over the top gore for comedic deaths, this was not only played dead serious; but thankfully we don't get to see what happened to the poor kid. However the look on John's face, in an amazing display of dramatic acting by Combs is enough to paint the picture of just how badly it was. As a result Susan is overprotective of Rebecca, much to her annoyance and always at the read to snap at John at the most tiniest of slights.
This has me at a catch 22 and I'll tell you why. On one hand, losing a child is the most tragic thing to ever happen to parent. It changes them for the worse, so it's hard not to blame Susan, for the way she's acting. However, the way she's acting regardless, really pisses me off. She treats it less like an accident and more like he deliberately murdered him and treats him as though he doesn't care, when the nightmare and scenes later show he does.
While John and Rebecca explore the castle, they discover the Duchess' room and John finds an old photo album while Rebecca wanders off and finds herself in the basement, she finds the Duchess' cat but loses it near a dungeon cell. She leaves, but unbeknownst to her a beast lurks within said dungeon. Who kills and eats the cat before escaping.
Once it escapes, it prowls around in Rebecca's room. Although she can't see it, she can hear it and tries to tell her parents. Susan doesn't believe her. John also doesn't believe her at first, but starts seeing not only signs that there is someone in the house, but he also believes that the creature may be the angry spirit of his dead son, after seeing a photo of a child that looks exactly like J.J.
After one fight too many John gets drunk and hires a prostitute for a one night stand. However the creature murders her and the castle maid, with the police and Susan thinking John did it.
John discovers however that the thing is actually a man named Giogrio. The son of the Duchess, who was angry at his father for leaving them for her sister. Said sister being John's mother, making Giogrio his half brother. The duchess spent the rest of her literal life torturing her son, until her heart gives out. Even going so far as castrating him. Upon realizing the truth, John escapes police custody to save Susan and Rebecca.
Meanwhile Gigogrio captures Rebecca and in a stunning moment of benevolence tries to tell her who he is, by showing her a picture of him. When he realizes she's blind, he decides to just rape and kill her instead. Susan comes in and distracts him, making it 3 for 3 of Crampton nude scenes in a Lovecraft movie with a monster. Luring him in so she can stab him and get Rebecca out of there. They hide in the Duchess room and he seems to lose them, but before he can leave he discovers a Cat O' Nine Tails whip in the room. The same one his mother tortured him with. He goes berserk and smashes everything in sight before finding them. When they get cornered on the roof, John comes in for the rescue and a fight between brothers ensues. Ending with John throwing himself off a roof, taking Giogrio with him. Before he dies, Susan finally forgives him.
I come to think of all three works as sort of an evolution. Where Re-Animator is a Horror Comedy. From Beyond is a Campy, but serious Horror film. This one however has no camp or comedy. It's a serious story about a father coming to terms with the loss of his son and there just happens to be a monster on the prowl. Combs anguish at J.J.'s death shows that he was more than just a hammy actor. That he can give a good dramatic performance when the situation calls it to come full force. Also after watching his fight with the monsterous Giogrio, I no longer question why he plays the Question. I now just regret he hasn't done a live action version. He would have done very well even if he was just mentoring Renee Montoya/Question II. Crampton also shows a great performance once again. Going from the nice, but traumatized Meg Halsey, to the well meaning but crazy Katherine McMichaels, to the distraught, angry mother that is Susan Riley. I believe that if given the chance, she'd be given as much range as Combs had. Not only that, but I was surprised to find this kind of performance on a Full Moon Produced movie. Granted Full Moon's stuff is entertaining regarding camp, but it's still shit when it comes to the more serious moments. However, with great directing, great casting and a hell of a story to tell, this movie may make me re-think that viewpoint and give other Full Moon productions.
The movie was remade in 2020 and while I haven't seen it fully yet, I do know that the story is drastically different. Not only that, but while Gordon's version has loose connections to his other movies, that lead me to believe they all take place in the same universe, the Remake seems to directly connect the stories together. As for how? Maybe I'll watch it and find out.
Until then, one more Gordon/Lovecraft movie to go. If you hear something prowling in your castle basement, it's most likely an abused relative of yours with a taste for cats and a hatred for whips. Or it could just be rats. Either way, stay safe.
Lovecraft is racist. Now with that out of the way From Beyond.
Based on the short story of the same name and directed By Stuart Gordon, fresh off Re-Animator and starring his posse once again. Jeffery Combs and Barbara Crampton among most people. While also bringing in Ken Foree whom you may recognize as Peter from Dawn of the Dead. He plays a cop here too.
This movie had a unique case of Role Reversal compared to Re-Animator. Where then Combs played the mad scientist, with Crampton as the innocent victim. Here it's the other way around, Crampton is the mad scientist now and Combs is her bitch this time around. You'll see what I mean.
The movie much like Re-Animator starts with a traditional Stuart Gordon Cold Opening. In this one, Combs plays Crawford Tillinghast. A scientist and student of Miskatonic University in Arkham. Yep. The same school the rampage in Re-Animator took place in. I wonder if he met West in class one day. He's working as an assistant at 666 Benevolant drive. His boss, Edward Pretorius. A scientist who is obsessed with going past the 5 senses while spending his leisure torturing women beyond the levels of BDSM. As a result he developed a machine called The Resonator. Which uses large tuning forks that vibrate at a precise frequency to stimulate the Pineal Gland. In hopes to see, feel, hear and taste beyond what humans could. Crawford was working on a new program and within testing it, not only was he able to feel it's effects on his gland, but he was also able to see something that was invisible to the naked eye. An eel like creature floating around one of the forks. As soon as it senses Crawford, it attacks him. Forcing him to shut off the resonator. Problem solved right? Wrong. Because this was it's first successful test, he relays the results to Edward. Edward later turns the machine all the way up, stimulating his gland and creating a sensation that could only be described as an orgasm to the brain. Crawford pleads with him to shut the machine off. Worried that more creatures will attack, but Edward refuses. The machine then through some unknown force runs itself, bringing in something much worse. We don't see what it is, but it makes enough noise to disturb one of the neighbors who calls the cops. When she goes in to retrieve her dog, who wandered in the Pretorius house, he sees a crazed and scared Crawford drive an axe through the lab door before running like hell. The cops, whom responded to the disturbance arrest Crawford while the dog discovers Edward's corpse. His head twisted right off. With nothing but a slimy stump in it's place.
Now unlike Re-Animator's opening credits, the theme is not a rip off of Psycho. It has it's own unique score. Nor is it animated. If one looked closely enough in their copy of the movie, you'd see what looks like maggots or worms clustered together. Representing how frayed one's mind can get using this device.
The movie opens proper with the arrival of Dr. Katherine McMichaels. Nicknamed "The Girl Wonder" for her unique brand of psychology in which she uses her patients as test subjects for newer discoveries in mental health. She is also an advocate for trying to cure Schizophrenia. Dr. McMichaels came to see if Crawford is sane enough to stand trial. He was committed in the mental institution, accused of murdering Pretorius despite no physical evidence of him doing so save for being at the scene of the body. Upon interviewing Crawford, he tells her what happened and unlike the others, she's interested. He mentions that the creatures he saw exist in our world and neither side can see each other without the resonator. At first things didn't go wrong, until he described what he only referred to as "It." committing the horrible deed on Pretorius. In his words It "Bit off his head like a gingerbread man." Now a line like that would be silly on paper, but Combs demonstrated yet again why he earned the status of legend. For he describes the line in such seriousness and fear that you can imagine how disturbing that must have looked. The head Doctor, Bloch has him restrained and they leave him. McMichaels demands a cat scan, because she seems to believe his story. Much to Bloch's protests and Crawford's fear, he is put under the machine. Which shows that the experiment did work as his pineal gland has expanded. With permission from law enforcement, Crawford is released in McMichael's custody. Believing that recreating the experiment. They are accompanied by Buford "Bubba" Browntree, a street cop who is a liason between McMichaels and the district attorney. He also serves as their Winston Zeddemore of the group. The everyman who has no degree in science, but is often the sanest one of the group.
They approach the house keeping a close eye on Crawford so he wouldn't try to run, but upon exploring the house Crawford disappears. They get the house running and find the broken resonator, Crawford stalking behind them presumably gonna attack. However it turns out he was reliving the night of the murder. The Axe was used to knock one of the tuning forks off, disabling the machine. Crawford and McMichaels rebuild the resonator and all three test it out. Crawford informs them that if they see the smaller creatures, not to move as they hunt on motion. They turn the machine on and feel the effects. A side effect causes Crawford and McMichaels to make out while Bubba watches, only to see the creatures. Bubba gets attacked by one, but he gets rid of it. Just as things couldn't get weirder, Pretorius arrives alive and well. However he turns out to not quite be himself. For the creature that ate his head, assimilated his mind and memories. Whether it's the creature just being a stranger version of Pretorius or if Pretorius dominated the creature with his will is unknown, but he's hungry for more heads. With his intentions for McMichaels made perfectly clear. Bubba tries to shoot him, but to no avail and Crawford shuts off the resonator. Problem solved right? Wrong.
Later they talk about the events at breakfast. McMichaels theorizes that the creature that used to be Edward Pretorius, could control his body on a molecular level and that the side effect they experienced, was the result of the pineal gland regulating the sex drive. In layman's terms the more you use that machine on you, the hornier you get.
Despite being attacked by a creature beyond their understanding, McMichaels is excited. Not only did she prove Crawford sane. Not only did Bubba officially become his friend for saving him. McMichaels believes that the resonator can help cure Schizophrenia. Crawford along with Bubba protests it. Not wanting to get themselves killed or worse go irreparably insane. After McMichaels reveals why she wants Schizophrenia cured, to avenge her father and to save future Schizos from dying in an institution like he did; Crawford compromises and demands that the experiment be done under safer conditions.
Now a lot of horror fans agree that what McMichaels plans were, were stupid. However there is a point to it. She specifically mentioned that the resonator would be the first step to curing Schizophrenia. The main argument being that she'd cause a panic if she proved what the Schizos are seeing is true. However, she never explained the full extent. So I'll have my buddy S.T. Explain it to you. This is a minor CIEIR moment.
S.T.: Well for starters, the resonator uses tuning forks. Strange as it sounds, it's possible to make a machine like that in real life. The real life name is an oscillator. Which uses an electric current to keep the fork's vibration going. The Resonator being a big version of that. As for how it stimulates the Pineal Gland. There are frequencies out there that can do that. The specific one being 741hz. So naturally the forks are programmed to vibrate at that frequency. As for how this could cure. I theorize, that McMichaels believes, once she proves this world is real, she can use a frequency that could shrink the pineal rather than expand it. She believes that those who have been diagnosed, really just had an overstimulated gland. Without a resonator, the creatures are harmless and wouldn't be able to attack them, which in turn makes them look more crazier since they are fighting invisible enemies.
They all try to sleep on the event, but as they do their pineal glands are acting up. Crawford discovers McMichaels turned the machine back on and tries to stop her, but like Pretorius, she grows addicted to it. She distracts him with another make out session only for Pretorious to come in a more melted form. He takes Katherine hostage with the intention of raping and eating her head. Believing that the greatest sexual pleasure is to know the desires of another through assimilation. Crawford races down the stairs with Bubba following him so he could shut the power off through the Circuit Breaker. Only to be blocked by a giant worm monster. Which tries to eat Crawford. Bubba cuts the power which stops both monsters and Crawford gets out with no hair and burns from being partially digested. Problem solved right? Fuck you.
When McMichaels demands that she do the experiment alone, believing that the others are what's causing it to go wrong, Bubba has enough. He flat out calls her a junkie and demands that she gets dressed so he could take them both back to the asylum before things get worse. While she's waiting she tries on bondage gear and molests Crawford while he's sleeping. Now a lot of people dismissed that scene just because they thought it was an excuse for more Barbara Crampton T and A. However I offer an alternative interpretation. When she first started eyeing the gear, she seemed to be imagining what it was like to be Pretorius. Since Gordon claims she's basically a Rule 63 version of Herbert West, it seems apt. The resonator was not only corrupting her, but maybe Pretorius was also doing so too. When Bubba sees what she's doing he grabs her and forces her to look at herself. Seemingly snapping her out of it, but before they could leave, Pretorius turns the machine on from his world. They try to stop it, but are surrounded by a swarm of flesh eating bugs. Which prey on Bubba when he gets them off. Stripping him down to the bone. Well one thing the "Lovecraft is Racist" advocates were right on the money for, Pretorius is definitely a bigot. He could have simply ate his head and gained his knowledge of police procedure to better manipulate the town of Arkham and take over the world, but instead he has his bugs kill him in a way that only his head was intact. I'm guessing he has more of a thing for white meat, because he goes after McMichaels once again. Crawford tries to stop him and through his own, Pretorius awakened Crwford's Pineal gland. Now in real life the Pineal Gland is located at the centre of the brain and should it grow, it would expand to the back rather than the front. However, in this case, the pineal goes from gland to stalk protruding out of Crawford's forehead. Allowing him to see what Pretorius sees. While he's distracted, Pretorius sets his sights on McMichaels once again, only for her to use a fire extinguisher to disrupt the machine. Problem solved right? You've gotta be fucking kidding me at this point.
Both McMichaels and Crawford are taken back to the hospital, with Bloch pinning Bubba's death on Katherine so she can have her committed and subjected to shock therapy. She tries to warn her that the Resonator must be destroyed, but they don't believe her. I found this to be very stupid, because Bloch seen what was in Crawford's head and yet dismisses it as delusion. However that's the least of her worries. While they prepare to shock Katherine, Crawford escapes and finds himself hungry. Yet no hospital food would sustain him. I don't blame him, hospital food in any movie was disgusting. He finds through his Pineal vision an ultraviolet glow. Bloch finds him later on, the glow turns out to be frozen brains which he is seen eating. In a surprising display of compassion, she tries to tell him that eating those would make him sick. Crawford has a moment of clarity wondering what is happening to him and Bloch offers to help him. However his hunger resumes and he instead goes after her. Sucking her brain out of her eye socket. The frenzy causing the staff to leave McMichaels who escapes, determined to destroy the resonator once and for all. Crawford spots her, intending on eating her brain next, after taking out two paramedics and stealing an ambulance to follow her.
Katherine returns to the mansion and sets a bomb on the resonator. Before she could escape Crawford, restrains her and tries to eat her brain. Insanely claiming that it's because he loves her and wants to be together with her in every way. However before he could do it, she bites off the pineal stalk, restoring him to normal. Before he could untie her, Pretorius turns on the Resonator once more. He sets his sighs on Katherine once again, but Crawford taunts him about his past life's impotency. How he only gets off on pain and can't ever have proper compassionate sex with a woman. Even going so far as calling him a eunuch. (For those who don't know. Don't look it up.)
This enrages Pretorius enough to want to get Crawford first. Prompting a chase. Using the smaller creatures, Katherine frees herself and tries to get Crawford out before the bomb goes off. Only to be too late, when Pretorius already ate his head. Now Crawford described the process as it being bit off like a Gingerbread man. Upon watching it happen to Crawford....well if you decide to twist the head while doing it and leaving a huge drool spot behind, I would agree. I seen many horror movies and a lot of deaths involving decapitation. Yet this one scared the living fuck out of me.
Pretorius then blocks the main exits, prompting Katherine to try to escape through the addict. However Pretorius has her cornered and just when she thinks this is it, something happens. Something so disgusting, horrifying and yet awesome at the same time. The assimilated Crawford tears his way out of Pretorius and yells for Katherine to run. The two fighting for control over the creature they are part of. Katherine jumps out the window in time, but due to the long fall she breaks her leg while the house blows. When the nosy Neighbor along with others come to check on her, her mind is cracked completely. Only describing what happened to Crawford, before laughing maniacally ending the movie.
Now this movie has less humour than Re-Animator, as Gordon wanted to see if he could make a serious horror flick as opposed to the horror comedy Re-Animator was gonna be. However it doesn't skimp out on the campiness. Through uses of elaborate sets and ultraviolet for most otherworldly colours.The effects rival that of John Carpenter's The Thing which is also a Lovecraft inspired work. Not to mention the overall downer ending would probably make H.P. himself be proud.
When it first came out a lot of people didn't like it because it was toned down in comparison to the gore fest that is Re-Animator, but like the other movies in Stuart Gordon's collection, it gained a cult following over the years. Credit of course goes to Combs and Crampton for basically putting themselves in each other's shoes for it. With him playing the innocent victim while she plays the West-like mad scientist. Hell if you listen to her ranting about wanting to continue the experiment, she sounds exactly like West. While Combs whom was able to repulse everyone save for the fangirls and fanboys who crush on him as Herbert West, was able to play a sympathetic character who's been through so much Hell that he deserves at least a hug. I'm not kidding. Half the time he was ranting and raving about no one believing him, it felt less like acting and more like real raw emotion. If I was in Arkham and they let him have visitors, I'd literally do anything to help this guy out, because I'm that nice of a person.
It's worth the watch, but be careful, some things are just not meant to be seen.
I thought maybe I'd put more Lovecraft stuff on here. Of course let's get the obligatory disclaimer out of the way first.
Lovecraft was racist. He was racist during a time when racism was considered normal, yet he was racist to a degree that horrified even the most dedicated of bigots. Comes at no surprise as his whole motif is taking things beyond the normal spectrum. Whether making shit 10x scarier than it'd usually be or going so far as to name his cat after the N word. But here's the thing you're all not getting. HE'S FUCKING DEAD!!! At this point if he wasn't cremated, his body had probably rotted away beyond bone and is probably dust at this point. It's 15 years away from this point, that he will have been dead for over 100 years. A fucking century. There is literally nothing you can do, that death, nature or his nightmares prior haven't done to him already. Stop wasting your energy on a dead guy and go after the still living assholes that constantly commit hate crimes while you're focused on a dead author. Move on. Personally, in my opinion I think the whole time he was trolling, very few people know Lovecraft to have a sense of humour as twisted as his horror. I wouldn't be surprised if he did or said what he did, to fuck with the local racists since even they got disgusted with him. I mean come on, even in a town where racism is common, how many people do you know personally to go so far as name a pet after a notorious racial slur. It's literally him and whoever Dam Busters was based off, you know that dog. With that out of the way, on with the review.
Stuart Gordon. A name some seldom hear of yet, at least someone in every generation has at least watched one of his works. One of the most prominent A-Listers being the Honey I Shrunk The Kids franchise, however most hardcore movie fans knew exactly where he got started. With a little film, called Re-Animator.
This movie was his directorial debut and a producer debut of his collaborator, Brian Yuzna. Both of which fans of Lovecraft's works. While there have been movies prior, it is also what put legendary actor Jeffery Combs on the map as the infamous Anti-Hero Herbert West. While also assembling an alumni that later worked with Gordon and Yuzna in other movies. Cast members such as Barbara Crampton and David Gale. It also became the starter of a cinematic universe that Gordon and Yuzna were trying to create based on Lovecraft's works. Movies such as From Beyond, Castle Freak and Dagon. The movie was funded by Charles Band. You may recognize him as the man of 1000 B-Movie Companies. The first simply being Charles Band productions. The second being Empire which this movie was produced by. The most well known being Full Moon Productions, which you may recognize as the creator of such infamous classics as Puppetmaster and Demonic Toys. His brother Richard Band also composed the score for this movie.
It also served as a template for the style many of Stuart Gordon's filming style as his career began to rise. Specifically the themes of balancing horror with some camp and comedy. As well as the Lovecraft specific cold openings he uses prior to any title sequence. Fun fact, that one was by accident because the producers were worried that if the audience didn't see something to establish the movie, that they'd lose interest. One of the few times Executive Meddling worked well.
The movie comes in three versions. The unrated cut that didn't skimp out on the gore and other things that went beyond the X rating. The R-Rated Cut which cut out some of the more explicit moments and replaced them with deleted scenes. And finally the Integral Cut which keeps the unrated violence while also adding the deleted scenes making the movie longer, yet more organic since it combines both story and gore. The latter of which was how I first watched it. So as a warning for those who hasn't watched that cut yet, spoilers.
The movie opens in Switzerland, at the University of Zurich. Two cops and members of the faculty attempt to break into the lab of one Hans Gruber (No not that one.) and find young student, known only as Mr. West, standing over the poor doctor's body. Watching him spasm in pain and caught with only a syringe in his hands. The cops restrain him, as all witness poor Dr. Gruber, suffering the effects of whatever that student injected into him. Causing him to suffer immense pain before his eyes explode killing him. Mr. West remarks that the dosage was too large for Dr. Gruber. When one of the faculty members accuses him of murder, he retorts by saying "No I did not. I gave him life."
The movie then opens properly with a title sequence that made me realize that this was the same guy that made the Honey Series. An animated sequence of various diagrams on the human anatomy. Specifically heads with details of the Human Nervous System. The one thing that really threw me off guard was as you can hear for yourself:
Sound familiar? In case you don't know here's another example:
That's right. Richard Band by his own admission, ripped off the opening tune of Bernard Herman's famous soundtrack, for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Now before you complain two things. One. He's not the first musician to do something like this. Wild Thing ripped off Louie Louie for example. Two. He has since tried to make up for it in the later sequels by fine tuning the theme so it'd sound different every time.
The movie opens proper at Miskatonic Univeristy in the town of Arkham Massachusetts. Both recurring locations for many of Lovecraft's work. We see a young medical student/hospital orderly named Daniel Cain played by Bruce Abbot, desperately trying and failing to save the life of an Obese woman who died of heart failure. Upon moving her corpse to the morgue, Dan witnesses another man testing a surgical laser on a cadaver. Dean Alan Halsey, played by Robert Sampson accidentally Startles Dan, while introducing him to the student we seen in the opening. The student? Herbert West. Whom somehow managed to evade the Swiss Authorities and decided to continue his schoolwork in Arkham. West is also introduced to the laser man, Dr. Carl Hill played by David Gale. While West was courteous to Halsey and indifferent to Dan (at first.), he is downright nasty to Gale. As he finds out, that Gale's patented theory on the location of the will of the brain, is derivative of Gruber's earlier work in the 1970s. So derivative that in Europe, it is legally considered plagiarism. He also mentions that Hill's theory on the 6 - 12 minute, window the brain lasts after death is outdated. To make sure this professional argument didn't devolve into a fist fight, Halsey plays peacekeeper. Inviting Hill to dinner while distracting West by giving him a tour of their Pathology department.
Meanwhile Dan Cain has his own problems. He seeks a roomate to keep up with the rent of his recent home, while trying to pop the question (Which isn't the only thing he popped.) to Meg Halsey, played by Barbara Crampton. Who is not only Dan's girlfriend, but Dean Halsey's daughter. Making said relationship complicated. After a night of fooling around, they stumble upon Herbert West at their door. Who has come to ask about the room for rent. While Meg is initially suspicious of him, Dan accepts after some pressure from West. Much of the scene isn't really different on all the cuts except for one thing. In this one, the sex scene was filmed more differently. By that I mean the post-coital conversation was a lot longer and in my opinion made it more believable that Dan and Meg were a couple that loved each other rather than two College Students fooling around. Making it all the more tragic for what comes next.
Herbert and Dan attend a class hosted by Hill, who teaches the students how to extract the human brain. Using a cadaver as the lesson subject. Things seem to go well at first until Hill talks about the very outdated and plagiarized concepts that earned West's ire. Prompting West to disrupt the class, by breaking pencils loudly in front of him to piss him off. An action that causes Hill to dismiss the class early in frustration. They come to blows again, before Hill controls himself, boasting that he'll enjoy failing West.
Later that night, Hill and Halsey attend the dinner, while Megan gets ready to visit Dan. In the theatrical cut, he merely warns Halsey about West living with Cain while giving a not so subtle toast to Meg. Implying that he wants her to himself. In the integral cut, which I have watched, he waits until both are out of the room and outright hypnotizes Halsey into believing that Dan is dating Meg for the letter of recommendation and that West is helping him. When I first heard that this was an H.P. Lovecraft movie, I thought it was bullshit, because bringing the dead back to life through mad science, seemed beneath him. It wasn't until I read an article, that H.P. himself admitted to ripping off Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and just making the story for money, that I was proven wrong. However, I do believe the out of nowhere ability Hill has to hypnotize people, fits right in making this horror movie very Lovecraft like. Something that was missing in the theatrical cut.
Meg and Dan struggle to maintain their relationship more than ever as they can't get intimate with each other. Meg's reasoning being that West makes her uncomfortable and suspicious of him. Mainly because, he spends most of his time alone in his room. Another reason because Dan's cat Rufus is terrified of West. That is when they realize, Rufus has been missing for quite a while and go around looking for him. Based on a hunch, Meg goes into West's room and discovers Rufus' corpse in his Mini-Fridge. Along with a flask full of glowing green liquid. West comes in scaring Meg, enraged that she violated his privacy, but when Dan finds the dead cat, he too questions him. While Meg insists that Herbert killed him, Herbert claims that the cat was already dead when he found it and he was gonna let Dan know after he got home from work. It's up to the viewer to decide whether or not he's lying as we see nothing that proves it one way or another. When Dan questions him about the flask, West dismisses it as none of Dan's business. Threatening to blackmail Dan about his affair with Meg. Now in the theatrical cut the scene stopped then and there, but in the cut I watched, Dan almost physically harmed West, before Meg persuades him off. Later stating that she'll do a background check on West so that they could have leverage against him. Later that night, Dan is awoken by a noise, coming from the basement. He stumbles upon West, fighting some kind of black furry monster. Dan kills it and finds out that said monster was actually Rufus his cat. West explains to him that his formula, which he calls Re-Agent, brought Rufus back to life. Dan disbelieves him at first, but West proves it to him, by bringing Rufus back to life a second time. Meg walks in on them, watching in horror. Dan tries to tell Meg what happened, but despite what she saw, she didn't believe him. However she does inform Dan that after the events of the opening, West was in psychiatric care for months. West defends himself by saying that he was trying to save Gruber. As he looked up to him. Dan vows to tell Halsey, but Halsey doesn't believe him. Now in the original cut, the scene simply moved from bringing Rufus back to life, Halsey disbelieving Dan, then Dan and West going to the morgue to prove it to Halsey. Making it seem like that he simply thought Dan was nuts. Here however, as a follow up to the other deleted scene, Halsey is still under hypnosis and at first was confronting Dan over what Hill told him. When Dan explained it, he suspended Dan and West from the university. Meg tries to reassure Dan, even agreeing to marry him, but West ruins the moment, by trying to persuade Dan to help him. Against Meg's protests, Dan informs West of his suspension and West immediately deduces that Hill influenced him. After a verbal tug of war between Meg and West, Dan agrees to help West. Causing Meg to warn Halsey.
Initially Dan suggests they just get a lab animal, but West fears that Halsey would dismiss it as an artificial stimulus response. So they head for the morgue with West posing as a corpse. Once they get past security, they search for the freshest body. West intending on the Re-Animate to have conscious reaction. They find one with no damage save for heart failure. Fun fact, this particular corpse is played by Peter Kent, Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunt double, both of whom were fresh off the success of The Terminator. They fail at first, while Halsey is pursuing them. However the body springs to life and goes on a rampage. At first it seemed like it worked, as he responded to West's demand to stop. However it wasn't enough to stop him from killing Dean Halsey, before West destroys him. Taking an opportunity to save their skins, West decides to bring Halsey back to life. Naturally it goes about as well as the last one, as Halsey immediately starts strangling the two, but as soon as Meg walks in, he cowers into the nearest corner, in fear of looking like a monster to his daughter. Halsey, you're not a monster, you simply look like an undead Archie Bunker. Not even kidding. West was able to cover for Dan and him by claiming that Halsey went nuts. Prompting Halsey to get committed, while West helps Dan cope with shock.
Now here's the part that has often been the most debated. With some claiming it helps flesh the movie out more and others hating that it ruined some ambiguity. This particular scene takes place not long after they leave the hospital. Herbert offers Dan a sandwich to cope with the shock, while he tries to make future plans. He considered Halsey's reaction to Meg as a success, as his reaction was conscious thought as opposed to Peter Kent's animal like response. However while they are in the clear for now, something seems to be wrong with West. Prompting him to go to his room. Dan, much to his further horrified reaction, sees that Herbert is shooting up. But it's not Heroin or Morphine or even the more dangerous Fentanyl. No. Even as bad as they are, they are normal compared to what he does inject himself with. His Re-Agent. Specifically a weaker version of it, which negates hunger and sleep, while keeping his brain sharp. At first Dan is reluctant to help him, but in a tearful display of emotion, West begs for it. Once it kicks in, he's back to his arrogant insane self. Now, Combs and Gordon hated this scene, because they felt that it'd be more terrifying that no one knows how Herbert became mad. However, that said I respectfully disagree. I offer a different take. When you get right down to it, Narcotics, despite being physically dangerous are not inherently responsible for one's behaviour. When in fact all they do is enhance the things that are inside you good and bad. In this case, West has already been nuts and the Re-Agent simply made it worse. However that's not the only reason, but I'll explain later.
Meanwhile, Meg has her father committed to Dr. Hill's care, who explains that he plans to do exploratory surgery on him to find out what made him crazy. All the while trying to put the moves and hypnosis on Meg. Only for a random act of violence from Alan that distracts her long enough to leave. When Hill investigates Alan up close he realizes that the injuries Alan sustained should have kept him dead. He then uses his surgical drill on Alan so that he could control him directly, through lobotomy.
Dan reveals the truth to Meg, but won't turn himself in until he can prove to the authorities that Alan is undead. First he and Meg infiltrate Hill's office. Dan discovers an obsessive collection of everything on Meg. Revealing his lecherous intentions for her. While both discover that Alan has been lobotomized. Hill invades Dan's house and confronts West. Using his hypnosis he was able to subdue West and force him to hand over his notes. Giving West the praise he wanted, while insulting his mentor Gruber. He also tries to suggest to West that Dan disappears. So that he can have Meg all to himself along with stealing credit from West. West distracts him with a test of the formula, prompting him to break out of Hill's hypnosis and brutally slaughter Hill by taking his head off with a shovel. Due to a peak in his curiosity, West decides to test the serum to see if it worked on parts of the human body rather than just a whole. Injecting Hill's headless corpse and later his head with the Re-Agent. West got what he wished for the hard way. A conscious reaction from Hill upon reawakening. His first words? "YOU BASTARD!!!" before the headless corpse knocks West out and steals his serum. When Dan comes home to inform him of what he discovered, he sees West in the middle of a breakdown. West reveals that he killed Hill and brought him back. Prompting Dan to shake him, telling him he has to stop. West justifies himself and said that he did it to protect them both. Revealing Hill's intentions with Dan. Dan realized what Hill was up to and they wait in hopes he's pissed off enough to want to come back to them.
Hill goes back to his office to retrieve fresh blood to sustain his head and to recover Alan so he can use him as muscle. He then infiltrates the morgue and starts lobotomizing every corpse in there before injecting Re-Agent in them. Dan realizes that Hill will come after Meg before coming after them and tries to go to warn her. Just when they are gonna reconcile, Alan busts in and drags Meg away, knocking out Dan. West finds him and they both head to the morgue to confront Hill.
Hill on the otherhand had much sinister intentions. Having Alan strap Meg to a table and strip her before doing what is now the most controversially iconic scene of the movie. Let's just say it's a whole new definition of giving head. However, before he could even reach, West interrupts. Distracting Hill so Dan could get Meg out. Hill however, has a plan of his own as he wakes up every one of his Re-Animates to attack all three. Restraining west so that he could lobotomize him and attacking Dan and Meg. Reasoning that if he kills Meg in the crossfire, he could always bring her back. However Meg was able to get through to Alan, who breaks his brainwashing, attacks the other Re-Animates going after Meg and saving West from Hill, by fighting his headless corpse and breaking the connection he has with his controlled Re-Animates, by crushing his head. Herbert, decides to finish the job with the corpse, by giving it an overdose. Hoping it'd die, like it killed Gruber. Instead, the corpse mutates, causing each individual organ to gain sentience. Including Hill's intestines which double as tentacles that ensnare West. Dan tries to save West, but his efforts are in vain. So West tosses Dan his bag full of Re-Agent and notes, hoping he'd continue where West left off. In their attempt to escape, one of the Re-animates strangles Meg. Dan disarms it, but it was too late. He rushes Meg to the emergency room and tries to lead the doctors in reviving her, but their efforts much like the first patient he tried to save, were for nothing. Meg Halsey is dead. They leave Dan alone with her to say his final goodbyes and after a few minutes of grieving, Dan takes out the Re-Agent. Hoping to bring her back. The movie fades to black as we hear her screams.
This movie had everything, horror, gore, humour. It even garnered praise from Siskel and Ebert, who rarely praises horror movies. The acting was superb. Not just Jeffery Combs being the subdued yet hammy Herbert West. David Gale had a sinister performance as Hill and a damn good evil laugh to boot. Bruce Abbot, was good at playing the doormat with a heart. He cares about Meg, cares about saving lives, but is easily convinced to help Herbert with his work. Then you have Barbara Crampton as Meg Halsey. Many people going in see her as nothing but T & A, but there was more to her than that. She was a kind, sensitive and an all around loving person. That said, there were a few character traits I began to notice. For starters, despite being college aged, she acts like a teenager. Throwing fits when she can't convince Dan or her father her side of things. Breaking down in almost baby like sadness when she hears about her father's demise. Not to mention damn near ready to rip West's head off when she believes he killed Rufus the cat. However that could just be part of the campiness of the movie. The other however, seems to be played more seriously. Whenever Hill complimented her, despite her trusting him as a friend of her father, she always had this look of unease on her face. As if she's been hearing that from him all his life. It's implied that Hill and Halsey were friends and Co-Workers since Meg was a child. Which means he at the very least was around when she grew up. While his lustful feelings for Meg were quite clear, I get the feeling he's been courting and possibly grooming her since childhood. All culminating in the infamous Head scene. If that was intentional then bravo Crampton.
The movie itself went off to make sequels as well as comic book tie-ins and crossovers featuring Combs' variation on West. Combs himself even narrated the audiobook version of Lovecraft's original story. With him as the unnamed Narrator that became Dan Cain in the movie. Giving a slight role reversal he experienced in From Beyond. Which I will get to soon. It launched the Careers of Gordon and Yuzna. The latter of which who directed the sequels "Bride of Re-Animator" and "Beyond Re-Animators" there used to be talks of a fourth movie, however they were put on the shelf after the unfortunate passing of Stuart Gordon. Whom sadly died 2 years ago this coming march. Not only did it allow him to create more movies of a Lovecraftian persuasion, from From Beyond to Dagon. It also gave him enough capital and reputation to fund and greenlight his other works. From "Dolls", a horror movie that became the pioneer for killer doll movies. To "Honey I Shrunk The Kids" a movie he made solely to tide his own kids over until they were old enough to watch his other works. To even lesser known movies like RobotJox. Which showed with the right practical effects, you could have your very own Gundam knock off and still be cool.
Re-Animator has become a cult classic for a good reason and I'm glad I was able to watch it. Until next time, be wary of those carrying glowstick fluid in their syringes. Cat dead, details later.
