Evil Dead (2013) Review

Rated R (Strong Bloody Violence and Gore, Some Sexual Content and Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 31 Minutes

Cast-

Jane Levy-Mia

Shiloh Fernandez-David

Lou Taylor Pucci-Eric

Jessica Lucas-Olivia

Elizabeth Blackmore-Natalie

Randal Wilson-Abomination Mia

Rupert Degas (voice)-Demon

Jim McLarty-Harold

Sian Davis-Old Woman

Stephen Butterworth-Toothless Redneck

Karl Willetts-Long Haired Redneck

Inca-Grandpa the Dog

Directed by Fede Alvarez

Rev up that chainsaw once more as Sam Raimi's cult classic, "The Evil Dead," is remade for a new generation courtesy of director Fede Alvarez.

Note: Screened on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at AMC Loews Village 7.

'We're going to get you…we're going to get you. Not another peep. Time to go to sleep!' On October 15, 1981, a twenty-one-year-old Sam Raimi premiered his first film, "The Evil Dead," at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, Michigan but little did he know that the ultra-low budget horror flick he made would transform into a highly revered cult classic whose impact on the genre continues to be felt thirty years later. Despite its overly-simplistic plot and amateurish performances, what made "The Evil Dead" so memorable was Raimi's no-holds-barred direction. With an inexperienced cast and crew of thirty-seven people, the film was shot in an abandoned cabin in Morristown, Tennessee over what actor Bruce Campbell described as 'twelve weeks of mirthless exercise in agony.' Any other person would've just quit while they were ahead but not Raimi. He believed in his film and that passion is evident in every zooming frame. It's a relentless picture for sure given the amount of violence and gore on display yet the level of creativity that Raimi displays behind the camera is nothing short of amazing. Then the unthinkable happened: a remake was announced in 2011. For horror fans, "The Evil Dead" was as sacred as The Bible and they naturally feared the worst. The presence of Campbell, Raimi, and Robert Tapert as producers assuaged the fans somewhat but skepticism remained…until first-time director Fede Alvarez showed an exclusive trailer at New York Comic Con last October. The crowd went absolutely ballistic and thunderous applause filled the IGN Theater. Does the final result live up to the promise of that trailer? Yes, a thousand times yes! Gleefully violent to the extreme, Alvarez's "Evil Dead" is a ferocious assault on the senses that showers its audience in an orgasmic display of blood, guts, and hacked limbs. This is not only one of the best remakes I've seen but it's also one of the best horror films I've seen in the last ten years. 

In an attempt to kick her heroin addiction, college student Mia (Jane Levy) travels to her family's remote cabin in the woods with the support of her friends Olivia (Jessica Lucas), Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), her estranged brother David (Shiloh Fernandez), and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore). As Mia begins suffering through severe withdrawal, the rest of the group makes a gruesome discovery when David's dog follows a blood trail to a cellar door hidden underneath a rug. Inside the basement are nasty smells, a ceiling full of mummified animals, and a mysterious book wrapped in garbage bags and bound in barbed wire. Eric is immediately fascinated by the tome and he proceeds to snip off the wires and opens the bag in order to examine the text inside. Written in an ancient alphabet and filled with disturbing illustrations, Eric ignores the warnings scrawled on each page and recites a passage aloud. This awakens a dormant evil that slowly begins possessing each member of the group to feed on their souls as all hell literally breaks loose. 

I haven't been this immersed in a horror film since 1987's "Hellraiser," and that was over twenty years ago! For the most part, Fede Alvarez's "Evil Dead" follows the general plotline of Raimi's version but the script (written by Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues and an uncredited Diablo Cody) for the remake expands upon the original film's bare-bones story in a number of clever ways while also adding some dramatic heft. Instead of having five college students spending their spring break in an isolated cabin in Tennessee, Alvarez establishes Mia as a struggling heroin addict who previously tried to quit but eventually relapsed. This provides a more credible motive for the group to stay in the cabin because they want her to get better. In Raimi's film, the brother/sister dynamic between Ash and Cheryl was barely touched upon while the remake shows Mia and David having a strained relationship, largely stemming from unresolved issues with their deceased mother. These additions to the plot come into play once Mia is possessed and starts manipulating the emotions of her friends and brother. 

Of course, most audiences will be coming for the gore and in that category, it does not disappoint. In fact, I would highly advise those who have weak stomachs to bring a barf bag. The minute Eric (rather stupidly, I must admit) unleashes the demonic horde that lies dormant in the woods, "Evil Dead" never lets up, with one brutal set-piece after another as Alvarez continuously one ups himself and gives the people what they want. The infamous 'tree rape' scene is even more harrowing but that's just the tip of the iceberg as bodies are mutilated and dismembered, arms are hacked off, heads are smashed open, and people are vomited upon. This is shown in all their graphic glory, with the camera lingering upon the carnage on display. When a possessed Mia slices her tongue in half, I had a huge grin on my face. This film is a gore-lover's wet dream and what's great is that almost all of it was achieved through practical effects, which is further enhanced by the director's excellent use of lighting to create a tense, moody atmosphere. Even Raimi's swooping, swirling camerawork is effectively recreated. The last fifteen minutes, a perfect concoction of suspense and terror, will leave you gripping the armrests of your seat as Alvarez pulls a surprise gender role reversal between Mia and David, pulling out all the stops with a climax set during a literal rainstorm of blood that pays homage to the original films while also forging its own path. Suffice to say, you'll be standing on your feet cheering once the end credits roll. "Evil Dead" does suffer from a few flaws, although they're relatively minor. Being a remake, the film doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel and there were times where a character's sense of disbelief strained credibility. Some of the dialogue can get downright cheesy but that's par for the course these days. Still, it's not enough to derail the film and for all of its ninety-one minute running time, Alvarez's remake is an exhilarating experience. 

The performances won't be winning awards anytime soon. Nevertheless, the cast puts in some solid work, with Jane Levy and Lou Taylor Pucci being the standouts. Levy is put through the wringer both physically and mentally, especially during the last fifteen minutes while Pucci adds some dark humor to lighten the mood. When asked if the actions written in the book will rid themselves of the demonic spirits haunting them, Pucci's Eric retorts, 'Am I sure? Of course not! It's not a science book!' Filling in for Bruce Campbell is Shiloh Fernandez, who lacks the charisma and charm of the cult actor. It's a good thing he's never presented as an 'Ash'-like hero because it would've been a total disaster. The rest of the cast make the most of their underwritten roles, even if they're just fodder for the demons. 

Premiering at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas on March 8, "Evil Dead" is set to be released on April 5, 2013. Reviews have so far been positive, with 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. Diehard fans that grew up watching the original films will be out in force but the big question is whether today's younger audiences will pay to see a borderline NC-17 film after being weaned on PG-13 horror for so long. I hope they do because it'll provide Hollywood with more incentive to green-light R-rated horror films that don't compromise themselves for the sake of money. The advance screening that took place this past Thursday was filled to maximum capacity and while the audience was at times uncomfortable with the large amount of gore on-screen, their response at the end was very enthusiastic. Fede Alvarez's "Evil Dead" won't have the massive cultural impact that Raimi's film had but that in no way diminishes the quality of this remake. This is a horror lover's dream come true, one that revels in its ultra-violence to create a near-perfect symphony of unrelenting bloodshed. Time to go back for seconds…and maybe even thirds!

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Everything's going to be fine? I don't know if you've noticed this but everything's been getting worse, every second. Does that sound fine?!"

Make sure to stay after the end credits for a very special cameo!