Evil Dead

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Evil Dead
Released 4/5/13, now in theaters

Director, Fede Alvarez, takes on a horror legend with his remake of the Sam Raimi classic, Evil Dead.  Alvarez's version stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, and Jessica Lucas.  Can Raimi's handpicked choice to direct the remake reclaim the magic of the original movie?

The film begins as a  young woman is captured in the woods.  She wakes up to find herself tied to a post in a basement awaiting "saving" by a group of onlookers, including her father.  An old woman reads from an ancient book imploring the girl's father to save her soul.  Just before she is burned, the audience realizes she is indeed possessed by an unspeakable evil presence. 

The film forwards to an unnamed future time period where Mia (Levy) has traveled to a remote family cabin in the woods in an attempt to kick her drug habit.  There to assist are her brother, David (Fernandez), his girlfriend, Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), and friends, Olivia and Eric (Lucas, Pucci).  Soon after arriving, the group follows a horrid stench emanating from the basement where they discover several dead cats hanging from ceiling hooks.  They also discover the book the old woman used earlier.

As Mia struggles mightily with her sobriety and growing uneasiness in the cabin, Eric, a teacher who is curious about the new book, begins to examine its pages.  Despite the disturbing images within the book and unaware of the consequences of his actions, Eric begins reading passages from the book aloud.  When Mia's growing uneasiness reaches a fever pitch, she attempts to leave the cabin against her companion's wishes and encounters a demonic presence in the woods.  Thus begins a night of terror that Mia, her brother, and friends are not likely to ever forget.  That is, if they survive the ordeal.

So, what can you really say about the remake of a classic except whether or not the remake does justice to the original material?  For me, it's a bit of a mixed bag.  The biggest mistake I think the remake made was not playing an absurd situation for laughs.  This is what the original Evil Dead trilogy did masterfully.  The remake went for the straight horror element.  And something this absurd only works through the sheer stupidity of the players in the game.  Seriously, how many portents and stop signs do you need when reading a book made of flesh?  Every page Eric reads from the book has a message of "Don't say this" or "Stop Now!"  and what does he do?  He continues reading the enchantments in the book aloud and releases Hell on Earth!  Or, at least Hell in a secluded cabin.  The original Evil Dead has its fair share of idiots, of course.   But, since it played the situation for laughs as well as fright, the plot plays much better in the original.

Again, going for the straight horror element, the remake does succeed in creating a foreboding, chilling atmosphere.  Its scores of blood and jump scares does achieve the first rule of horror; be unsettling.  As a work of pure horror, Evil Dead delivers. 

There is a new "Ash" so to speak.  I won't reveal which character survives to the inevitable sequel(s).  What I will say is fans of Ash should stick around for the end credits.  You might find it really "groovy!"

Evil Dead does what is needed for a horror movie.  It provides gore galore and unsettles you with some truly putrid imagery.  However, it doesn't possess the cheesy fun of the original.  It's a decent watch if not a great one.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:  *** stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee. Buy this on DVD when released!
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.