Barbara Crampton Talks Re-Animator, From Beyond & Teacher's Pet
At Popcorn Frights 2025, FlickDirect’s Allison Rose sat down with horror royalty Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, From Beyond, You’re Next) to celebrate her career and a special triple bill screening of Re-Animator, Teacher’s Pet, and From Beyond. Crampton reflects on 40 years of Re-Animator, why it has become a cult classic, and how Stuart Gordon’s theatrical background gave the film its operatic energy.
She also discusses her approach to acting in horror, emphasizing that characters never know they’re in a horror film, and previews her latest project, Teacher’s Pet, a suspenseful and beautifully shot thriller where she takes on a more dramatic role. From Masters of Horror panels to new indie collaborations, Crampton continues to prove why she’s one of the genre’s most enduring and versatile icons.
ABOUT RE-ANIMATOR
Re-Animator (1985) introduces audiences to the brilliant but deranged medical student Herbert West, who develops a glowing green serum capable of reanimating the dead. Arriving at Miskatonic University, West quickly draws the attention of fellow student Dan Cain and Dan's fiancée, Megan Halsey, after a series of bizarre experiments involving cadavers and West's secret formula. As the experiments escalate, the line between science and madness begins to blur.
The situation takes a darker turn when West's rival, Dr. Carl Hill, discovers the serum's power and seeks to exploit it for himself. Soon, the university morgue becomes a nightmare of grotesque reanimations, leading to chaos, terror, and carnage. Balancing shocking gore with pitch-black humor, Re-Animator cemented itself as one of the most iconic cult horror films of the 1980s, thanks in large part to Jeffrey Combs' unforgettable performance as Herbert West.
Directed By: Stuart Gordon
MPAA Rating: NR
Genre: Horror
Running Time: 86 minutes
Distributed By: Empire International Pictures
Re-Animator is © Empire International Pictures. All Rights Reserved.