It's very hard to make a sequel to an absolute masterpiece that can live up to the original. Let us not forget how bad the Exorcist II and the Howling II were. Like the previous titles mentioned, Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator is a true classic in the field of horror, so I was very careful with my expectations towards this film. Yet, several elements showed that it could be a very good film. Jeffrey Combs returned as his memorable Dr. West character and also Dan Cain and Carl Hill are present again. ( well, at least his head is... ) Brian Yuzna took the seat of the director. Good sign, I thought. He knows what he does when it comes to horror. And this film proved itself to be good. It can never reach the level of the original but the complete cast and crew seems to realize that. They just tried to make a sequel worth watching and in that viewing... they succeeded.

TINY SPOILERS FROM HERE ... Dr. West is even more fantastic ( and that means more crazy :-] ) to achieve his discovery of re-animating dead bodies. He keeps convincing Dr. Dan Cain to assist him by claiming he can bring back Megan to live ( Dr. Cains love interest from the first film ) West found Megan's hart in the hospital and they shall create a new woman with it. Great !!! Also, the head of the infamous Dr. Carl Hill gets re-animated and he's only after one thing. Nail Dr. West and avenge his dissection ! By this he gets assisted by another doctor. Thing are even getting more difficult for Dr. West when a fanatic detective follows him around... The bride of Re-Animator (a clean tribute to Frankenstein) is 90 minutes of pure fun. Horrorfans won't be disappointed at all. It's a logical sequel to the original, but also a film that could stand to itself. As far as sequels go, this is a good effort. Now, after 13 years a second sequel is about to come. Beyond Re-Animator ( also directed by Yuzna and starring Combs ) is claimed to be a worthy addition to the series as well. I haven't seen it yet but I sure will when I get the chance.

I have to say that I love the original RE-ANIMATOR, which I think is a sterling adaptation of the Lovecraft story and a minor classic of '80s horror cinema complete with all the gore and gooey effects that you could wish for. For some reason, I never got around to watching BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, although I have seen the cheap and cheesy third film, BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR, which I didn't like.

I've now watched BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR and, sorry to say, it misses the mark in a big way. It seems that director Stuart Gordon brought the magic to the original movie because he's he's gone now and this sequel isn't up to scratch. Instead we get Brian Yuzna and special effects man Screaming Mad George, and together they produce what is simply a weak imitation of the first film.

Actually, the problem isn't so much with Yuzna, whose direction is fine, but the story, which simply retreads familiar material from the first movie. Bruce Abbott as Dan Cain has become a tiresome voice of reason and Herbert West just goes through the same motions as before. Plus, the film has a slow, dragged-out pace, and despite the quality of the gooey special effects, it doesn't feel innovative anymore, just predictable. I appreciate that the plot is a homage to THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, but even that goes nowhere come the rushed climax.

So I was a bit disturbed by that beginning ... and how and if it was a continuation of the very first Re-Animator. Which it is, even if a key character gets left behind. But we get a bit of fresh air overall. You can still wonder why especially the "good" doctor still keeps hanging with Jeffrey Combs character ... who clearly lost his marbles. But if he didn't we wouldn't have a movie otherwise, now would we? So suspend your disbelief and just accept what this is.

While the first one re-defined giving or inserting head, this one goes the head be so fly ... so many great practical effects, you may even forget about all the flaws this has and may not really care about them. Don't be squeamish, take this for what it is and just plain enjoy it - gore, nudity and blood included. And insanity of course