The Bride of Re-Animator (1990)

47% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(7,526 ratings)

Loosely adapted from H.P. Lovecraft's Herbert West -- Re-Animator comes this sequel to one of the wildest, bloodiest, and funniest horror films to ever come down the pipe. Set eight months after the gruesome events of the first film, the follow-up opens with the demented Dr. Herbert West (Jeffrey… More Loosely adapted from H.P. Lovecraft's Herbert West -- Re-Animator comes this sequel to one of the wildest, bloodiest, and funniest horror films to ever come down the pipe. Set eight months after the gruesome events of the first film, the follow-up opens with the demented Dr. Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) continuing to perfect his "re-agent" formula to regenerate dead tissue with the help of his ever-troubled assistant Dr. Dan Cain (Bruce Abbott). New characters include suspicious policeman Lt. Chapham (Claude Earl Jones) and Cain's old flame Francesca (Fabiana Udenio). Returning to Miskatonic Hospital after a short stint in the military, West and the reluctant, often unwitting Cain plan to create new life from a patchwork of body parts -- including the heart of Cain's beloved girlfriend. However, things quickly get out of hand thanks to the snooping of Lt. Chapham and the return of the evil decapitated Dr. Hill (David Gale) who wants revenge for his beheading. There's also the problem of West's dozens of oddball creations who want out of the dungeon they are trapped within. It all comes to a head as Cain and West resurrect their "bride" just as Dr. Hill literally flies in to take his vengeance with the help of West's freakish creations. ~ Patrick Legare, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Brian Yuzna
Written By: Woody Keith, Rick Fry, Brian Yuzna
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Dec 31, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Aug 19, 2003

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The over-the-top acting that Gordon encouraged in Re-Animator is continued here with Combs particularly adept at the darkly comic throwaway line.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Less a sequel to the critically praised 1985 horror film Re-Animator than a rehash based on the same H. P. Lovecraft stories.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Brian Yusna has replaced Stuart Gordon in the director's chair, without bringing new life to the affair. Even the jokes in the Woody Keith/Rick Fry screenplay seem refried, suggesting that all too much of this Bride is old and borrowed...
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It can't come up with any really great plot points that weren't covered in the original, so it rehashes them to a boring degree.
, Film4
Absolutely tasteless, glorious, gory fun with special effects from a crew of specialists who have, as one critic wrote, just gone abracadaver.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
Could have been better but still a fine sequel.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The excessive blood-spurting gruesomeness and cartoonish stop-motion effects trivialise the horror and undercut the would-be black humour in this travestied sequel to Stuart Gordon's hugely enjoyable film.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
If it lacks the intimate cohesion of the first film despite its desire to resurrect a feeling of doomed love, it at least isn't coy about ladling out the goodies.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
While Re-Animator has wit and audacity and gore and ferocity to spare, Bride of Re-Animator has gore... and the same actors.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
not particularly scary
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Good stuff.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
In dire need of Stuart Gordon's direction.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

Just as crazy and hilarious as the first, Jeffrey Combs is amazing. I love how he can come across as nuts, smart and funny all in one. The plot was really good, it kept you involved the entire time. I think what made it such a good follow up is that it gave you everything you loved… More
Just as crazy and hilarious as the first, Jeffrey Combs is amazing. I love how he can come across as nuts, smart and funny all in one. The plot was really good, it kept you involved the entire time. I think what made it such a good follow up is that it gave you everything you loved from the original and enhanced it. The ruthless and gross out gore was done oh so classy.
Anthony L

Not quite as good as the first but lots of gore and lots of fun. Couldn't help but feel sad for the bride though *sniff*
Dr Blood

It's a disappointing sequel to the original "Re-animator" because it really copies the "Bride of Frankenstein" storyline too much and still has nothing to do with H.P. Lovecraft's tale. It's still quite good though because you get to see lots of… More
It's a disappointing sequel to the original "Re-animator" because it really copies the "Bride of Frankenstein" storyline too much and still has nothing to do with H.P. Lovecraft's tale. It's still quite good though because you get to see lots of Fabiana Udenio. She isn't much of an actress but she's quite a babe. With its larger budget, you can't fault the film for gore effects or humour either but it's just not as fresh...
Steve B

I defy anyone to explain how the opening sequence fits into the chronology of events.
Ryan M

** out of **** "Bride of Re-Animator" is a nearly bad movie saved by a few inspired moments of intended lunacy. A sequel (and somewhat of a re-hash) to Stuart Gordon's "Re-Animator" - which was an adaptation of the stories concocted in H.P. Lovecrafts… More
** out of **** "Bride of Re-Animator" is a nearly bad movie saved by a few inspired moments of intended lunacy. A sequel (and somewhat of a re-hash) to Stuart Gordon's "Re-Animator" - which was an adaptation of the stories concocted in H.P. Lovecrafts "Herbert West-Reanimator" - the film feels more like a test of patience (and taste) rather than successful horror-satire. While its predecessor reaches the level of brilliant, appealing (?) trash; the sequel seems to drag on-and-on; forever attempting to find a point to exist, and never quite finding one. Is it a bad film? No, in theory; this doesn't quite qualify as one. It's a film of many bad moments, many missed opportunities - yes - but it's also better than a lot of horror sequels out there. In some respects, I can say I respect it. "Bride of Re-Animator" is what it is; and if you watched the first film in the franchise for the gore effects alone - and not the sharp satire or refreshingly over-the-top acting - you probably won't be too disappointed by what this one has to offer. Still, it pales in comparison to Gordon's original. This sequel finds mad scientist Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) and his partner-in-crime Dan Cain (Bruce Abbot) returning for another go-round with West's experimentations in the reanimation of human body parts and full corpses. The concept still remains fascinating and intelligent; although at least in "Re-Animator" it felt new and fresh, while here it feels slightly recycled, and not in a particularly good way. Anyways, I'm drifting; Herbert and Dan are moved from Peru back to Arkham, Massachusetts; where they resume their roles as doctors at Miskatonic University Hospital. Both men are ready to put the events of the first film behind them; even if the fellow doctors and medical students are much less accepting. Nonetheless, Herbert and Dan settle in a house-by-the-cemetery and make themselves at home. For a while, I was wondering: what happened to Dan's girlfriend Megan? The ending of "Re-Animator" was a genuine cliff-hanger; we were left to wonder whether Herbert's infamous serum would revive her full-time, or if it was too late. Apparently, it WAS too late; she doesn't even make an appearance in this film, and Dan has a new love interest; an Italian beauty named Francesca (Fabiana Udenio). But of course, Herbert is feeling a bit lonely himself; and his latest experiment is so create a mate. A "bride" for the re-animator. He shall complete his creation with the heart of Dan's former girlfriend, the legs of a hooker, and various other body parts as well. Meanwhile, a snooping police officer (Claude Earl Jones) has his suspicions about West; most of which are derived from the deranged madman's peculiar past. This same officer soon meets the re-animated head of Dr. Hill (David Gale) - who is out for blood after having suffered through the events of the first film; forgotten, and neglected. "Bride of Re-Animator" may be short on depth, winning satire, and wit; but it certainly isn't short on blood, gore, and special effects! If it all comes down to visual detail, the sequel to "Re-Animator" is a goddamn master-class freak-show; although since it never quite comes down to that, it feels unpolished and unfinished. That isn't to say that all will feel the way I did; some might settle for the gory make-up effects alone, because they are undeniably impressive on their own right. And of course, the satire might work for those people too; I just wish it had for me. As always, Combs is very convincing as Herbert West; although even here, his performance feels slightly inferior to the one in "Re-Animator". It's still over-the-top, and it makes for one of this sequel's few key pleasures, but there's an ingredient missing; and it's pretty darn critical. But at the end of the day, "Bride of Re-Animator" is a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Whether it's messy methods of storytelling and style-setting work for you or not really depends on your personal tastes as a film-goer. While I'm no doubt the kind of viewer who can sometimes just sit back and enjoy the campy, gore-happy ride; this one just didn't impress me a whole lot.
John M

In my opinion the first installment is an excellent cult classic horror movie which didn't need to be RE-ANIMATED with this unsatisfying sequel. "Bride of the re-animator" has its funny, gory and scary moments but the pace drags most of the time and it feels… More
In my opinion the first installment is an excellent cult classic horror movie which didn't need to be RE-ANIMATED with this unsatisfying sequel. "Bride of the re-animator" has its funny, gory and scary moments but the pace drags most of the time and it feels substantially less inspired that left me a very unpleasant feeling about it. Perhaps easily forgettable, this flick still has it's moments and deserves at least a moment of the gorehound's time, otherwise, I wouldn't recommended you to married this BRIDE. Leave her at the altar!!!.
Anthony V

Actually closer to the HP Lovecraft story than the first.
Christopher B

While not as good as the first film, this one is still entertaining as hell with outrageous effects by Screaming Mad George. I haven't seen it in a long time and I'm scared to ruin the memories considering what I think of director Yuzna's output now.
ken j

part 2 in the Re-animator series not as great as the first but still worth watching a few times