It’s a a remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror film. Now, director / co-writer Fede Alvarez brings us his version of “Evil Dead.” Is it better than the original classic?
EVIL DEAD
TriStar Pictures
This film has been rated R by the MPAA for the following reasons: strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language.
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Screenplay by: Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues Mendez
Based on the Motion Picture “The Evil Dead” Written by: Sam Raimi
Produced by: Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell
Cast: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore
Studio Synopsis:
In the much anticipated remake of the 1981 cult-hit horror film, five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.
J.P.’s Take:
Clearly “Evil Dead” 2013 is a re-imagined vision of Sam Raimi’s own ’81 horror/comedy classic, which put him on the map 30+ years ago. Not to go into greater detail in comparing the two versions, however, I consider the 2013 edition a bonafied horror film. Seeing this remake brings to mind another recent “creepy cabin” themed creation by Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers”) called “Cabin In The Woods” for which I hail as the unconventional scare fest and one of my favorites.
Although “Evil 2013” follows the basic architecture of the cabin in the woods tradition, this rendition actually pays homage unto itself. Director Fede Alvarez, a Uruguayan filmmaker, has taken ques from Raimi in the way it’s shot: from quick erratic pans and zooms to key scenes reconstructed from its ancestor, which fans like me will keenly recognize instantly. Again, with any good creep show, there is a deluge of blood paired with relentlessly gory make-up effects. I must applaud the visual effects team for the practical techniques and applications for presenting these effects in stunning detail. They were quite cogent and pretty frightening. I listened for the audiences’ reaction to the characters being brutalized — all I heard were gasps and shrieks through out the theater.
Yet, once you get past the blood and guts one question does remain. What is the turn of events here? Knowing the initial storyline for the original “Evil Dead,” I figured the new version wouldn’t stray too far from the forerunner. Here, the plot twist is subtle as writers Alvarez, Diablo Cody and Rodo Sayagues brought a little realism to the script.
This plotline involves a staged drug intervention for the character Mia (Jane Levy). Mia waits, with her friends Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), for her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) to arrive to lend their moral support. The remains of events that transpire leading up to the carnage happen pretty quickly as Mia and friends finally enter the cabin. Instantly, Mia is sickened by a rancid smell emanating from within the cabin. Her friends and brother don’t seem to notice this horrific odor and basically chalks it up to her imagining the smell as a result of her withdrawals. But then their dog, named Grandpa, catches wind of this scent as well and it’s coming from beneath the cabin floor.
David pulls back the rug and finds blood streaks surrounding the basement door. Like the “Scooby Doo” gang, he and Eric do a little exploring below to investigate. To their dismay, they discover a room hidden away where the smell gets stronger. Here is where my pulse began to race and the hair on my arm stood on end. As they open the door, hanging from the ceiling are the carcasses of dozens of dead cats and a book wrapped with barbed wire. “No! Don’t open that book – leave, leave now,” I said. Even one of the pages in the book said “leave this book alone.” You know if I were them I’d take heed. But if this revelation didn’t spell trouble in the beginning I don’t know what would have.
Witnessing that scene would have given me provocation to evacuate the premises immediately. Nope! Not these young dumb but brave souls; they stick around anyway. They are thoroughly convinced that if they stay everything will be fine in the morning, and besides they’re doing this for Mia’s sake. Obviously that wasn’t the case here. “Cabin in the Woods” was much more satisfying in the end, while “Evil Dead” 2013 fulfills fans blood lust quickly.
Once again, because I’m a Sam Raimi fan, my initial response to this retooling is on the positive side, yet I was getting a bit tired of sitting through all the blood shed. Sure I was impressed by the set up of some frightening cringe-inducing scenes (sadistic as they were). Unfortunately, they also became old after a while.
I loved the nods to the original ~ fitted in just the right places. Dark comedy made its way into the script somehow, yet it felt muted amidst more blood shed. However, there wasn’t a clear indication as to who would survive the hellish scenario in the end and that was a nice twist. I was equally as impressed by the detailed make-up and effects, as I was with “Cabin in the Woods” effects. The change up in the plot device was a believable send up from the previous film, as the filmmakers tried to connect the dots between the demon possessions and Mia’s drug habit. But, there is a piece of me that wanted just bit more out this script. I also wanted a couple of the characters to use their heads for more than just a hat rack in planning the group’s escape. This minor flaw doesn’t really diminish the fact that it earns placement in my 31 Frights Horror Movie marathon, but I’m afraid it’s dropping down to second — maybe third place — on my list. Personally, I hold true to the 1981 “Evil Dead” film, which was the unconventional horror movie that broke tradition in writing, make-up effects and shooting techniques. Fortunately, this update is definitely one of the better horrors of the year.