Beyond Re-Animator (2003)

After 13 years in prison, the mad scientist from Re-Animator (1985) gets a new chance to experiment with the arrival of a young prison doctor, who secretly hopes to learn to reanimate dead people. Good intentions turn to horror.

Director:

Brian Yuzna

Writers:

José Manuel Gómez (screenplay), H.P. Lovecraft (characters)

Stars:

Jeffrey Combs, Tommy Dean Musset, Jason Barry

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeffrey Combs	...	Dr. Herbert West
Tommy Dean Musset	...	Young Howard 'Howie' Phillips
Jason Barry	...	Dr. Howard Phillips
Bárbara Elorrieta	...	Emily Phillips
Elsa Pataky	...	Laura Olney
Ángel Plana	...	Kitchen Zombie
Javier Sandoval	...	Cop 1
Santiago Segura	...	Speedball
Lolo Herrero	...	Sergeant Moncho
Enrique Arce	...	Cabrera
Nico Baixas	...	Moses
Simón Andreu	...	Warden Brando
Joaquín Ortega	...	Officer Falcon
Raquel Gribler	...	Nurse Vanessa
Daniel Ortiz	...	Winni

Storyline

Left to rot in prison for the past thirteen years after the blood-drenched events in Re-Animator (1985) and Bride of Re-Animator (1990), the misunderstood virtuoso of mayhem, Dr Herbert West, finds an unexpected ally in the person of the young medical doctor, Howard Phillips. Behind the thick walls of the impenetrable Arkham State Penitentiary, the blasphemous duo of dreamers set up a secret laboratory to test an entirely new reanimating serum, which--when combined with West's original phosphorescent reagent--can work miracles on the prison's inmates. Now, the stage seems set for the ultimate experiment; however, once more, this is easier said than done. Can the good doctors escape from this concrete pit of death?

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Plot Keywords:

man wears eyeglasses | miniskirt | tragic event | psychotronic film | back to life | 

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Taglines:

They Thought Prison Would Be The Death Of Him. But For Dr. West, Death Is Only The Beginning.

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence/gore, sexual content and language

Details

Country:

Spain USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 2003 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Beyond Re-Animator

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$302,586

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castelao Producciones, Fantastic Factory (Filmax), Filmax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (Fantasy Film Fest)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The young doctor played by Jason Barry is called Howard Phillips which are the first two names of H. P. Lovecraft, the writer of the story the first movie was based on.

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Goofs

You can see the boom mic the first time we see West inside his cell talking to Moncho.

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Quotes

Howard Phillips: I want to help people, not create mindless... freaks!
Herbert West: Having second thoughts, Doctor?

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Crazy Credits

The end credits are accompanied by a fight between a rat and the warden's severed penis.

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Alternate Versions

US premiere of the film, other than isolated festival screenings, was on Sci-Fi channel, which heavily trimmed gore and sex. Several scenes were cut out entirely.

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Connections

Referenced in Angry and Moist: An Undead Chronicle (2004)

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Soundtracks

Re-Animator Theme
Composed by Richard Band
Published by Re-Animator Music
Main Title Music by Reyn Ouwehand

User Reviews

This is not Re-Animator, it's BEYOND Re-Animator (but is that really a good thing?)

I think they had the right idea. The basic concept for me had potential. This special element representing 'the soul', energy that could be used to revive someone back to normal once re-animated. Having to kill one source to bring back another has a nice twist to it.

The opening and closing of the film was cool (with the intro of West and him walking away into the mist). I could deal with the new protege, Howard, or whatever his name is, though I would have rather he used his native accent to give the film some more flavour. (but having Dan Cain back would have been so much better)

My first biggest problem with the film comes from what they do with the basic concept. To me, they never fully realized it. I kept waiting for everything to go to the next level... especially when the riot broke out, I was hoping they'd take the massacre at the end of the first movie and just let loose. That never happened. Instead, they opted for a couple truly idiotic moments and what at the end of the day felt like a stale re-mix of elements from the first and second. I didn't want to see reflective moments from the first, though that might have been fine in a better movie... nor of Bride. I wanted something taken to a new level, much like Bride did after the original.

They had the concept. They had the setting. And I believe that Brian Yuzna can still direct a decent movie had he a good script and cast to work with. More and more, I wish they could have convinced Stuart Gordon to come back and take his rightful place as director of Beyond Re-Animator. I loved Dagon, very much showing he's still got it (not to mention the fact I love Re-Animator and enjoy From Beyond), and I could only imagine what he could have done with Beyond Re-Animator.

I think the script is the biggest fault of the film. Performances or the direction of those performances is next. The only truly golden character in the film is obviously Herbert West, with Jeffry Combs doing a wonderful job given the material he has to work with. I would rather they focused more on West than the silly little romance between Howard and that reporter (with an annoying voice recorded, which I believe must be because of bad dubbing to hide a thick accent. And if it wasn't dubbing, please dear god go back in time and cast someone else). The reporter subplots would have been better written out than to have to sit through them again. The only part I could get behind with that whole mess was at the end, when Howard had lost it and he was going back and forth calling out Emily (his sister) and Laura, the reporter, mixing the two up in his head, and just before that cradling her head in his hands. From that point on, the film was back on target... exactly as it should of been all along. Too bad there was only a couple minutes left in the film.

Don't get me started about the final Rat shadow sequence.

All I have to say in regards to the Warden was that he was no Dr Hill.

Overall, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth. A disappointment. At the back of my mind, there was a hope that it'd be at least on the level of Bride. Not great, but a decent Re-Animator fix. The final result is anything but.