When Stuart Gordon Brought Re-Animator Back to Life!

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https://www.peliplat.com/en/article/10080501/when-stuart-gordon-brought-re-animator-back-to-life

Back in 2012, I was living in Edinburgh, slogging through a dull-as-dishwater day job. There was one silver lining, though. I was there during the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Fringe - without having to shell out thousands for accommodation!

Of all the events happening, one popped out immediately: a screening of Re-Animator, one of my all-time favourite comedy horrors.

What made it even more unmissable was that the director, Stuart Gordon, was there in person to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterwards.

I’d been a fan for years. His other Lovecraftian gems, like the criminally underrated Dagon…

and From Beyond…

They were already favourites of mine, and I knew he was also producing a stage musical of Re-Animator at the Fringe that year (That's a whole other story…)

But still-seeing him at the Cameo Theatre, introducing the film that made his name, was something else.

I arrived early and, to my amazement, spotted him grabbing a coffee with zero fanfare.

I’d planned out so many clever questions in my head, but when I finally went up to him, all I managed was: “Hi, I’m a huge fan! Can I get a picture with you?” (Sooo original, I know!).

Then, to my horror, my camera immediately froze! (Yeah, back in the day when people used an actual camera with batteries…), But he was kind and patient while I fumbled, and I walked away with a photo I still treasure.

And nope, I don't have any photos of the real me online, so you'll have to make do with Gordo and my ZedBear pic!

They say never meet your heroes - but he proved that saying was wrong.

Inside the theatre, the screening was packed and we were all waiting for it to start.

I’d seen the film countless times at home, but in that packed cinema, surrounded by people who knew every line and every crazy moment, it felt entirely new.

The atmosphere was more like live theatre than film, with all the whopping and cheering and hiding behind your hands at the scary bits!

The best moment came when the 35mm print jammed and the movie stopped. Instead of shouting and jeering, the crowd burst out laughing - like it was all just part of the experience.

Stuart hopped up and asked sarcastically, “Does anybody have a copy of the movie on DVD?”

And to his amazement, dozens of hands shot up! Lots of people had brought copies of the movie along so he could sign them.

A few minutes later, we were watching the movie again - this time projected from someone’s DVD copy. It was total chaos, but in the best way.

That night stuck with me because it perfectly captured what makes festivals magical. It’s not just the film themselves. it’s the communal experience, the unexpected moments like the film breaking, the energy that comes from sharing cinema with people who love it as much as you do.

Watching Re-Animator at home on my couch will never come close to what happened in that theatre.

Film festivals are about those one of a kind nights that you can’t replicate and I hope everybody gets to attend one at least one in their lifetime, because they really can be special.