Since it has been out for a little while, you’ve probably already seen a multitude of reviews on Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead. For this reason, we’re just going to summarize our thoughts on the remake/re-imaging in a snappy bullet point fashion to save all of us time. We’ve all got things to be doing, like watching this on repeat.
The Good
- The cold turkey angle is an interesting way to add some freshness to the now rather popular cabin in the woods narrative. Are the strange goings on a figment of Mia’s overactive imagination as a result of her withdrawal from drugs – or is there something stranger going on? The latter, obviously.
- Alvarez has a strong eye for a good horror visual. The brooding atmosphere of the film is magnificently crafted – further adding freshness and a visceral raw earthiness to the film. This reaches its pinnacle in the film’s blood-soaked conclusion.
- Sticking with horror visuals – Evil Dead is chock full of convincing gore and some really inventively grotesque moments of body horror. As a horror lover, there were moments when even I couldn’t look at the screen – from licking switchblades to hacking off limbs. It’s like being round at your Gran’s for dinner, right?
- Shiloh Fernandez and Jane Levy bring a sense of youth, vitality and sexiness (in the case of Shiloh) to the series. Sorry Bruce, we still love you!
The Bad
- The dark atmosphere, results in a loss of the fun, manic charm of the original. This is unfortunate as if done well, it may have provided a welcome break from the tension.
- As is often the case with the horror film, several characters have no real use – apart to face gory deaths. This is mainly noticed in the female characters Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore). We’d expect this in bargain bin horror schlock, not in a generally well-handled feature like this.
- It ultimately leaves very little lasting effect. The original trilogy are all diverse and memorable in their own right. This whilst moderately enjoyable at the time, is likely to leave you after seeing it.
Overall
The Evil Dead is an atmospheric watch, bring a visceral rawness to the gore and bodily horror. It feels fresh and vibrant thanks to the new cast, but lacks the madcap charm of the Bruce Campbell/Sam Raimi collaborations. This results in a film that may be relatively enjoyable at the time, but will most likely prove forgettable in the long run.
Rating: 3/5
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