AKA Re-Animator 3

Tag Line : They thought prison would be the death of him. But for Herbert West, Death is only the beginning.

Jeffrey Coombes returns as Dr Herbert West in this long awaited 3rd instalment of the Re-Animator series by director Brian Yuzna. It's been 13 years since the manical Dr West last reeked havoc with his bizarre experiments on the dead, and since that time has been languishing in jail.

That's not to say that he hasn't been busy. Having been conducting experiments on the prisons rat population, using crudely fashioned instruments that he's built in his cell. But he really gets his chance to pick up where he left off when he is assigned to help the new doctor Howard Phillips (Jason Barry) in the prison infirmary.

As it turns out, Dr Philips is familiar with West's handiwork and his new work assignment is no co-incidence either. So fairly soon West is back in business, and experimenting on dead inmates with the help Dr Philips. Leading to all sorts of hilarious consequences when the sadistic chief Warden (Simon Andrea) finds out, and when the prison erupts into a full blown riot near the end.

Darkly humoured and in much the same vein as the previous 2 films, Beyond Re-Animator is a highly enjoyable sequel. Although perhaps not as gory as its predecessors, it still manages to be as entertaining, and it's good to see Jeffrey Coombes back as Dr West after all these years.

Overall marks : 5/10

Other Information.

• Alternate tag lines "Rest in pieces", "An obsession with overcoming death", "Welcome to Death row, the doctor will see you know"!

• Although set in America the film was actually shot entirely in Spain.

• The films budget was $3,000,000.

• Jason Barry's character, Dr Howard Philips, was named after HP Lovercraft, who's full name is "Howard Philips Lovecraft"

• Simon Andrea who plays Warden Brando played "Delgado" in the 1989 UK TV series "EL C.I.D." starring John Bird.

• This was the 9th film to be made by Brian Yuzna's Spanish production company "Fantastic Films" which he set up with producer Julio Fernandez. Their other credits include "Arachnid", HP Lovecraft's "Dagon" and "Faust ; Love for the Damned".

• The US DVD was slightly cut compared to the European release. This trimmed down the scene where 'Speedball' overdoses on re-agent and we see his eyes pop out and his guts explode. It also trims the fight between Dr Philips and Laura as he hacks at the back of her neck.

• Jason Barry, who plays Dr Phillips, played Tommy Ryan in James Cameron's "Titanic".

• Santiago Setura, who plays inmate "Speedball" also splayed Rush in "Blade 2" and Baltasar in Jess Franco's "Vampire Killer Barbies".

Cast & Crew.

Cover Gallery.

Buy the UK DVD (uncut)

Buy the US DVD (cut).

Notes on affiliate sites.
 

Other films in the series.

All Time Classics.

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