The Rejuvenator

Rejuvenatrix isn't really a proper horror film in my eyes, but it makes a nice change from the norm and is entertaining throughout. The story involves an old wealthy woman who wants to be young again, and is investing vast amounts of money in a "serum" that will make her young. She gets her wish, but the catch is that after the serum wears off, she is transformed into an old hag with a taste for blood. There are some respectable gore scenes such as a woman's brain being pulled from her head, and a nurse splattered against a wall. But the tone of Rejuvenatrix is different from a slasher film so these scenes don't seem as cool as they normally would. Still this is thoroughly entertaining, it never really gets boring, and there's some decent gore - what more can you ask for? It also provides some interesting views on the debate of 'growing old gracefully'.

I wouldn't recommend this to slasher fans, but those who love all styles of horror film should enjoy it.

"Rejuvenator" is a fresh spin on the immortality theme. Aging actress, Vivian Lanko, puts the squeeze on a doctor, John McKay, who's rejuvenation experiments she is funding. Pressed to use the youth serum he is developing before it is perfected, he injects Lanko with disastrous results. This fountain of youth story flows nicely, the script includes interesting characters, and touches of dark humor. The make up effects are especially interesting, and the whole production has class not usually associated with the horror genre. Fans of "Re-Animator" should seek out this impressive, similar film. .............. - MERK

An aging actress employs a scientist to make her younger and it comes with drastic side effects. Whenever the potion wears off, she turns into a monster and needs human blood to rejuvenate. It's a fun concept that well executed with excellent special effects.

A washed up actress resorts to eating the brains of a few unfortunate people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. She does this to stop from mutating into a gruesome creature. She became a creature in the first place because of an experiment to regain her youth gone wrong. Apparently brains contain something that can transform her back to normal. Seems like a b-movie with a convenient set-up to show off some splatter but the story is actually full of rich character development and a strong tragic story. It plays out like a compelling "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" type drama that lectures on the ethics of science and how money can't buy back time. There's a pretty good amount of gore and blood with the brain eating violence and also with the slimy and gooey ending that looks like something out of the movie "Society" which had surreal special effects.

So many 80's horror films that were made mostly for the video market have been unfairly thrown aside in the 30+ years since they were released and many of them have a lot of creativity that deserves to be seen by a new audience. The Rejuvenator is one of those lost films that still has the capacity to entertain.

A doctor has been working on an anti-aging serum forever, but he hasn't been working fast enough to please one of his biggest financial benefactors - an aging actress whose career could use a refreshing. Even though he's nervous about it, he agrees to shoot her up with the serum, telling her all the risks and that she'll need multiple doses of the serum or else the entire thing will reverse. The only problem is that he needs human brain tissue to make more serum and he's running out of cadavers.

The special makeup effects are top notch, the performances are spirited with just enough camp appeal given the subject matter, and the script is smarter and better written that other films of this type and budget. This is a film that could benefit from a new Blu-Ray release.