It was 32 years ago that childhood friends Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell introduced a small, low budget horror film that would influence the genre for decades and become one of the biggest cult classics in film history. That movie was “The Evil Dead”. With little money and a cast and crew made up mostly of family and friends, Raimi and Campbell still managed to craft a visceral, gory, and frightening gem that remains one of my very favorite horror pictures of all time.
In keeping with Hollywood’s current remake fetish and creative brain freeze it seems only logical that we would get “Evil Dead”, an update on the 1981 classic. When I first heard about this project red flags went up everywhere. How dare they mess which such a cult favorite and one that I personally hold as sacred. I was instantly skeptical and uninterested. That was until I heard some very interesting details. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell would be producing the movie. Game on! From that moment on I’ve been anxious to see this film. My anticipation grew after seeing the first trailer and after hearing Campbell and Raimi’s enthusiasm. But I still had a deep burning question – could they even come close to capturing what made the original so great?
They certainly weren’t afraid to set the bar high. The movie poster features the line “The most terrifying film you will ever experience”. While I wouldn’t go that far, “Evil Dead” is still a creepy, gore-soaked, step back in time that’s sure to entertain old-school horror fans and shock newer viewers who are more accustomed to the popular PG-13 ghost stories of today. Raimi and Campbell hand over the directing keys to Fede Alvarez but their bloody fingerprints are all over this picture. And while there are question marks and a few plot holes, I still found this to be satisfying horror ride and a perfectly acceptable reimagining.
There are several noticeable story changes in this film. Instead of it being five friends taking a fun filled vacation in the Tennessee hills, these five folks come together for a much more serious purpose. Mia (Jane Levy) has struggled with a drug problem and after a serious overdose her friends Olivia (Jessica Lewis) and Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) decide to take her away to her family’s remote rundown cabin to help her quit cold turkey. Mia’s brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) meet them there to help. After making a grisly discovery in the basement, the group uncover a book bound in human skin and filled with disturbing text and images.
Now fans of the original know this is the Necronomicon (The Book of the Dead) and that by quoting a specific set of words from the book, you would awaken an evil presence in the woods. Well that’s what happens and quite literally all Hell breaks loose. One demon possession later and the creepiness shoots through the roof and the blood starts to flow. Now you should know this going in but in case you don’t let me emphasize that this is an extremely graphic film. A crowbar, an electric knife, a machete, a box cutter – these are just some of the instruments of defense of death and this film isn’t shy about using them.
The spectacular special effects only makes the eeriness more pronounced and the gore more vivid. This is worth mentioning because Alvarez was emphatic that no CGI be used. What you see is the real deal – old school visual effects with some clever illusions and slick camera tricks. I loved this decision. It’s a clear reminder that great effects can be done without the cheaper and often times more obvious CGI. The visuals work hand-in-hand with the brilliant use of sound. Every creak from the cabin, every flick of a switch, and every chord from the score help in giving the movie an eerie and intense feel. This is a very technically impressive film and I can just see Raimi wanting to play with all the visual toys that weren’t available to him in 1981.
Now perhaps the biggest question that will be asked by many centers around the horror. Is “Evil Dead” scary? This is almost impossible for me to gauge because movies never really scare me. For me effective horror pictures are one the creep me out, not necessarily scare me. While not on the same level as its inspiration, this film definitely has its creepy and disturbing moments. But it certainly scared some people during my screening so if that’s what your looking for, you should find it here.
But you won’t find the same sly and subtle humor that’s in the original. Everything here is dead serious (pun intended) and I honestly missed those lighter moments. There were also a few minor things that didn’t quite work as the movie intended. There’s an opening scene showing a disturbing past event that had happened in the cabin’s basement. The trouble is the entire scene felt completely disconnected from the rest of the movie. I had so many unanswered questions about it and I just don’t understand why it’s there. Then there is a scene close to the big finale featuring a bit of creative (and utterly preposterous) engineering. I’m not going to give anything away but it and its subsequent scene was just too ridiculous to buy into. Thankfully the movie doesn’t waste any time moving past it and making its way to its entertaining, blood-soaked ending. It too is different from the original but it worked for me.
Even though this is a remake of a true classic horror picture, for me it was important to not judge this movie strictly by the 1981 film or to go to far in comparing them. This movie stands on its own and it does it well. But it never forgets its roots and that’s the main reason I found it to be a success. It follows the pattern set forth by the earlier film and then amps things up 110%. It’s gruesome, it’s gory, it’s relentless, and it all fits perfectly with the films frightening tone. Fans of the classic will love the various tips of the hat to the original and new fans will be rocked by their visceral dose of old-school horror. I see it appealing to both groups. “Evil Dead” worked for me not only as a solid modern-day remake but as one of the better horror pictures to come around in years. It looks like Raimi and Campbell’s tried and true formula still works today.
keithandthemovies.com 
Great post, I remember being terrified of the original when it came out.
Me too! This certainly isn’t the original but it clearly tries to walk its own path while using the same ingredients that made the first film such a classic.
Great write up Keith 🙂
Thanks bro.
Nice review mate. Seems this isn’t quite doing the business for a lot of people but I dunno if people’s expectations were a little too high. Glad you feel it generally worked though, I’, quite looking forward to seeing it although I’m the exact opposite of you in that everything scares the crap outta me! 🙂
BOO!!! (Sorry, couldn’t resist). I think you’re onto something. My expectations were through the roof as well but I made a conscience effort to not do the comparison thing. It was tough since I do love the original so much.
Good review Keith. It was okay, but nothing that I really needed to write home about and tell all my friends about.
But you did write home about it. Well maybe not home, but you did write about it. Okay never mind, that whole gag just blew up in my face! 😉
Nice review Keith. I was pretty disappointed with the film. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it wasn’t perfect. I had my hopes up a little too high I suppose. The visual were amazing and the gore was intense…it just didn’t scare me.
Thanks bro. I can completely appreciate where you’re coming from. I loved the original and had very high expectations. But I begin to reign them in over the last couple of weeks because I knew I would set myself up for a letdown.
It wasn’t scary to me either but as I mentioned in the review, movies just don’t scare me. What I like in a horror picture is creepiness and I thought this film had that. Not as much as the original but creepy nonetheless.
Not interested in this in the slightest, sorry. I thought the first one was funny but it’s not something I wanted to ever see again. Btw, don’t forget to participate in Five for the Fifth when you’ve got a moment 😀
I missed your post today!!! Grrr, my WordPress app is acting stupid! I’ll be sure to check it out when I get to my PC at work. 🙂
I reeeeally don’t see “Evil Dead” being up your alley. 🙂 One of its faults is that it lacks the subtle humor of the original. It’s darker and more serious.
Great review, Keith! I’m not a horror fan at all but I’m really looking forward to watching this one this weekend.
Thanks man! It’s an intense and gory ride but that’s to be expected from an Evil Dead picture. I’m really anxious to hear the thoughts of a non-horror fan. I’m curious if this has any value outside of genre folks.
Nice review Keith, we are checking this one out this weekend. I am not the greatest at handling gory horror films so wish me luck.
You’ll need it then my brutha! This thing is gore galore! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!!
I actually unsuccessfully petitioned for the misses to be allowed to go and write my portion of the review. She was all for it as she loves horror films. Sadly we got shot down and something about payback for making my brother watch animated kids films was mentioned.
Awesome!!!! I wish I could go with you guys just to watch you! LOL!
I am a horror fan and I too was uncertain at first. After that original red-band trailer I was sold. This film lived up to my expectations and I was scared plenty of times. Some jumps and BOOs, but mostly “What the F?” moments. I can see what you mean about the opening sequence, but let me offer this, it was necessary to show why David chooses the path he takes at the end. He is not going to abandon Mia if there is any other way, and he chooses a harder way than the characters in the opening. (Although I’m with you in asking, who are all those other people in that scene?). I think it makes more sense in the context of the whole film rather than looking at it just as a opening shock scene.
I’m with you, I don’t think it was an opening shock scene. A buddy of mine thinks it is but I disagree. I think there’s more to it and you may have nailed it. I just couldn’t figure it out or tie it into the main story.
I got the feeling watching that scene that they wrote a scene that they could have Bruce Campbell appear in the token nod-to-the-original-cast cameo that remakes usually have. Thankfully they went a different direction in that regard.
Great write up. I think we’re mostly on the same wave length in our thinking here. It wasn’t everything it could have been. But lets be honest, so many people enjoy the original three films, for so many different reasons, there’s no way to please everyone. There were things I would have liked to see more of.
I did find enjoyment in the fact that a lot of the humour that was in the movie (for me anyway) was in self-referential meta humour. I’m thinking specifically about things like Jesus in Glasses’ line that was something like, “there’s a lot of inconsistencies and nonsense, but one thing is true throughout…” and Shiloh getting tossed repeatedly into walls, like Campbell in the originals.
Great comments! I also like the subtle running gag with Eric being a pin cushion. I mean he gets put through the ringer but keeps popping up!
There were so many strong points, and a few big failures. I think when this comes out on Blu-Ray I’ll have to revisit it with a full spoilers review. I feel like I can’t talk about the specific things I really loved or hated.
Looking forward to this one Keith. I actually have no expectations for it, so I’m going in completely open-minded when it hits the UK. From what you and filmhipster are saying, I think this is the best way to approach, but a 4 stars from you gets me more interested…
Keep your expectations under control and be prepared for the gore! LOL! That’s a winning formula when it comes to this film. Anxious to hear your thoughts.
Sad the ending lost you. I know what you’re referring to, but I was buying anything they were selling at that point, it didnt bother me in the least. 😉 I thought this movie was extremely awesome.
You’re right about the opening sequence not being necessary, but by the time I walked out of the theatre, I had forgotten all about it. 😯
Now THE ending was pretty awesome. There was that one setup to it that I thought was a little off. But hey, what a hoot! I’m ready to see this puppy again. Next time with my Squeamish wife!
Ha! That’ll be something. I cant imagine anyone squeamish making it through this movie. LOL 😮
Just read Fogs’ review and now yours. OK, you guys have sold me on this. I’m going to make an effort to catch it before it leaves theaters.
Oh you should! It’s an old fashioned splatterfest just with amped up visuals! Anxious to hear your thoughts!
Great write-up bro. The positive are flying in on this film. I’m happy to hear it.
Thanks man. Yep, you’re going to have to see this one when it opens there.
Nice write up Keith! I just dragged Adam to see this one yesterday. We will be giving it the full 3 guy treatment later this week. It sounds like we are on the same page with this one. Good but not great. Tip of the hat to Alvarez for not holding back on the gore. I was impressed they didn’t try to sell out for a pg-13 film to try and get some more asses in seats. It definitely lost it’s campiness though and I know this is going to sound weird but it lost some of its “charm”.
Appreciate it man. Can’t wait to hear you guys take it on. I really did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to seeing it again. I 100% agree, this one is charmless. But there is some subtle humor to it that I got a kick out of. It’s a no holds barred gorefest and, like you, I tip my hat off to them for that.
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Good review. I’m usually allergic to remakes, but will probably end up seeing it eventually.
You know, there just aren’t hardly ANY watchable remakes. The only reason I was excited about this one was because Raimi and Campbell’s names were attached. Still not the original but it tries to be different in its own gory way.
Just watched it and I am very disappointed, laughed more than I was scared 😦
Good Review 😀
Hate to hear that. I had a lot of fun with it. It didn’t scare me either but then again no movie does.
You can hate it all you like but its the truth damn it!