Re-Juvenator

"The Rejuvenator" is a pleasantly old-fashioned horror film, while still integrating today's requisite dose of elaborate makeup effects and gore. It is variously known as "Rejuvenatrix" (title displayed on print) and for foreign markets, "Juvenatrix".

Premise is the old reliable use of a woman seeking to regain her youth: former movie star Ruth Warren (Jessica Dublin), who funds the research of Dr. Gregory Ashton (John MacKay). He discovers the part of the brain controlling aging, and via lab experiments with rats, comes up with a serum to reverse the aging process.

Warren eagerly volunteers to act as a human guinea pig and is turned into her younger self (actress Vivian Lanko taking over the role in second reel), dubbing herself Elizabeth Warren, her own fictitious niece. Problem is that she turns into a hideous monster, requiring increasing dosages of the serum to be brought back to normal youth.

Ashton breaks the law to acquire numerous cadavers to prepare the serum, derived from human brains. In her monstrous state, Warren takes to killing innocents in order to survive, ultimately discovering how to get the same rejuvenation effect directly from a victim's brain (for lunch) without resorting to the doc's serum. He eventually develops a synthetic serum but by then it is too late.

Low-budgeter works because it is played absolutely straight, with campy elements, such as the obvious references to "Sunset Blvd." (Warren even has a Stroheim-like butler from the old days), allowed to blossom unforced. Adroit casting has Jessica Dublin and Vivian Lanko physically matched in the central role, each playing it in an appropriately florid and meanie manner. John MacKay and the Sandy Dennis-like Katell Pleven as his assistant are utterly earnest and believable as the scientists, while James Hogue plays Warren's butler/former lover with panache.

Highlight of the production is Edward French's elaborate makeup effects, moving from the routine expanding bladders under the skin to an original design of Medusa-like proportions as her head expands to monster scale. Tightly directed by Brian Thomas Jones, pic is designed to appeal to B-movie connoisseurs who can tolerate the explicit violence of contemporary horror efforts.

"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

A rich actress who has gotten too old for leading roles employs a scientist who is working on a formula for eternal youth. The formula involves withdrawing certain fluids from the human brain. She takes the serum, but its unforseen side effects turn her into a murderous monster. Brian Thomas Jone's "The rejuvenator" is a surprisingly gory and ambitious horror outing, with a ambitious plot and some excellent make-up effects. Granted, it lacked down-to-Earth characters, but if you liked films like "Society" and "Re-animator", the The Rejuvenator may be up your alley. The final transformation sequence is astounding!

Wow! I honestly can't believe that I'd never heard of this excellent little eighties horror film! How The Rejuvenator has managed to stay undiscovered all these years is anyone's guess, as this entertaining mix of splatter and Sunset Blvd does what it says on the tin, and then some! Science and the human body give way to all kinds of horrific horror scenarios - from the constant attempts to rebuild a face in the French classic Eyes Without a Face, to the teleporting disasters in The Fly, you can usually count on an intriguing, and frightening, film if it's based on something scientific. The plot here focuses on actress Elizabeth Warren; she's now too old for the good roles, and like most women, wants to recapture her youth. Unlike most women, however, she's prepared to go that extra mile to realise her dream, and she employs Dr. Gregory Ashton to make her young again. He discovers something in the brain that affects the aging process, and soon performs his experiment on her. But it has unforeseen side effects, and pretty soon Elizabeth begins regenerating into a hideous brain eating monster!

Given that it's an eighties horror film, you've got to expect rather a lot of silliness and tacky special effects, which the film has in droves; but it has to be said that the plot is carried off really well, and despite being cheap and nasty, the special effects fit the film and are a hell of a lot more believable than the CGI that would infect The Rejuvenator if it were made nowadays. The characters aren't exactly well defined, but a film like this needs the audience to care at least somewhat for them otherwise the story won't hold any weight, and director Brian Thomas Jones obviously knows that as he ensures that the situation feels as real as possible. The acting isn't bad, and sees Vivian Lanko doing well in the double central role, and while John MacKay doesn't exactly convince as a genius doctor - he's at least fun to watch, and the two have some chemistry together. The film is interesting throughout, and while there's no out and out standout moments, there's enough going on for it to remain interesting. Overall, The Rejuvenator might not appeal to everyone, but if you like your eighties horror cheesy and imaginative - I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this!

Dr. Gregory Ashton (John MacKay) and his assistant, Dr. Stella Stone (Katell Pleven), are on the verge of finding a serum extracted from dead human brains that will restore youth. However, the envious and arrogant director Dr. Germaine (Marcus Powell) wants to jeopardize his research. The wealthy sponsor Ruth Warren (Jessica Dublin) is the main donor of the research fund that supports Dr. Aston's experiments. Ruth is an aging actress that wants to return to her glorious days and forces Dr. Ashton to use her as human guinea pig of his experiments. Dr. Ashton exposes that it would be unethical and dangerous to her since his trials are limited to rats and is not concluded, but Ruthe threats to call off her donations. Ruth's operation is successful and she rejuvenates, becoming a beautiful young woman. She names herself Elizabeth Warren (Vivian Lanko), who would be Ruth's niece, and rejoices to party every night. Dr. Ashton has not synthetized his serum yet and needs more cadavers to extract the fluid from the brain to inject Elizabeth. But soon there are side effects, and Elizabeth needs more and more serum when she turns into a monster. But soon she has the lust for human brains and begins a crime spree to get the brains.

"Rejuvenatrix", a.k.a. "The Rejuvenator" (1988), is a great horror B-movie about the side effects of a research to find the fountain of youth. The screenplay is well written and, despite the low-budget, has great make-up and special effects. Dr. Ashton is hurried in his experiment by the lead donor of his funds and is forced to test his serum in her, despite his warnings. The conclusion is gore and gruesome, with a hook for a sequence. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Rejuvenator"