There are certain films that horror fans would have you believe should never be remade. They should exist forever in their original state. The Exorcist, The Shining, etc to name but a few. The Evil Dead definitely fits into this category. I started expecting another poorly conceived and executed rehash. I finished not entirely unsatisfied, but at some point the bloodbath is so excess that it may cease to be shocking.
Director Fede Alvarez is obviously a fan of the original film. Their fingerprints are all over this well executed remake. He has approached this with the right attitude and tries to deliver all of the elements you would expect from the original film, but leaves his own touch. With this new Evil Dead they have tried to introduce a more cohesive plot, instead of a group of demon fodder twenty somethings just going up to a cabin in the woods for no obvious reason. This time we are introduced to the gang as holding an intervention for their drug addicted friend, Mia (Jane Levy). Her older brother David is there with childhood friends Eric (the nerd), Olivia (the nurse), and Natalie (the blonde). This makes for some interesting ideas on withdrawal. Are the things Mia is experiencing just part of her going delusional?
Also in trying to introduce the characters to us our leads all have to act. They seem to struggle a little with this, expressing is not their strong suit.But one possession later (the iconic scene which would make the fairer sex cringe ), we have our first casualty and the film takes off and never stops.The gore is brilliantly well done. In particular are a shot involving a knife and a tongue and an electric bread knife and a possessed arm. From there we have rivers of blood and gore. The the shocks keep coming thick and fast and you barely have chance to catch your breath.
You need to go into this film and be prepared to switch off your brain and just enjoy it for what it is, an extravaganza of blood and guts and a tribute to a horror classic. On the whole, Evil Dead was never meant for subtlety , and it succeeds that way. But, would the audience care enough for the gore as it is overdone?If you like your horror creepy and subtle you may not get the most out of this, but if, you like it loud, in your face and with tons of blood this is the film for you.
WORTHY MENTIONS
According to reports in the press, the film used 70,000 gallons of fake blood. In an interview, Fede Alvarez said they used 50,000 gallons for the final scene alone. This is compared to the 200-300 gallons used in the original.
MY VERDICT
*** - Not for weak hearted
not got to watch this one yet, but a big fan of the evil dead series. the first part that came out in 1981, was the best of them all, and by the time army of darkness is done one feels really sorry for bruce campbell, or herein ash... :) making horror movies these days i guess is much easier these days with all the technology, one cant but admire that the same thing was done back in the 80's :)
ReplyDeleteThe original was a cult but this one takes it a notch up.Making horror movies have become easier these days, but I still believe the best horror movies are the one which use technology sparingly but builds upon the audience to unleash the horror at the right time. The Asian movie makers are a master in this art.
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