EVIL DEAD

Evil Dead (18) 

Director: Fede Alvarez / Screenplay: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues 

​Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez

The most terrifying film you will ever experience.

“Listen to me my people”, boomed the Great Raimi. “I will appoint a follower and he will remake Evil Dead for you”. And the people cried; “NO! For horror remakes do suck and bite the big one”. And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. But it came to pass anyway. And the people dared to hope for the best; for the Mighty Campbell had stated that the film “Doth kick Ass!” and...
Any-hoo, enough of that malarkey! “Evil Dead”. The much-anticipated (and slightly feared) remake is here at last. Released in the UK cinemas on 18th April. So, what’s the YGROY verdict?

If you have any awareness of the original “The Evil Dead” (and if not, why not?!), then you don’t really need a synopsis of the new version. It has been updated and some nifty elements added, but the base elements are the same. After a brief pre-credits sequence, which explains what happened to the previous occupants of the cabin in the woods, five twenty-somethings head to the ubiquitous dilapidated building. Two of these are brother and sister, David (Shiloh Fernandez) and Mia (Jane Levy). Mia is a recovering drug addict and has been brought to the isolated spot, so her friends can help her “play the game of cold-turkey” (as she says at one point). It’s suggested through the film, that the reason she “crack-ed up” (Hah! I’m here all week folks!), was due to David bailing on her and leaving her with their dying mother, so there’s some emotional baggage there. After noticing a deathly stench, they find the cellar is full of sacrificed animals and a strange book wrapped in barbed wire. Of course one member of the group becomes curious, and starts to read the incantations within (despite the book being scrawled with other text saying “DON’T READ THIS!”. I shit you not!). And it’s about this time, that the defecation impacts upon the rotary air-cooling device. By various means the group start to succumb to demonic possession, and Linda-Blair-isms start to fill the air. At first, it is kind of suggested that the supernatural glimpses that Mia experiences are possibly due to the withdrawal, but this intriguing notion is dropped pretty early. In fact one character shouts out another and calls them a coward when they put this explanation forward, especially as things get stranger. However, any more detail would spoil the fun…

This is a film that literally drips with reverence for its source. Fans of the original (and “Evil Dead II”) will have an absolute field-day spotting the homages and references to the origin. There’s the “lucky” pendant necklace, the broken wooden step in the cellar, the possessed hand, the chained-up cellar door, and so on. Even the soundtrack is a direct (excellent) riff and update of the original’s OST, complete with the iconic “demonic growl”. It’s very clear that Fede Alvarez has studied (and presumably been advised by Raimi) the cinematography of the first film, and he does a first class job with it. There are identical tracking shots, and the misty woods and blood-red colours are remarkably vivid.

I’ve probably tip-toed around THE question for long enough now. Is it any good? Well … Yes. It is. It is very good. Paradoxically, what will probably work against it is the brilliant advertising campaign. Whilst this is a good solid horror film, it is in no way the gruelling and “most terrifying” film EVER that has been promised. Whilst regular horror fans might well roll their eyes at that claim, will it bring “mainstream” punters into the cinemas that want to test their nerves? That remains to be seen… Yes it is very gory and uncompromising, and it delivers on all of the necessities of a good scare flick, but not to such a vastly different extent as some recent-ish entries like “Saw” or “Maniac”. However, it is an excellent example on how to update a franchise and present a good remake/reboot (“Friday the 13th” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” hang your heads in shame!), and for that we should be truly grateful. But I don’t think it’s going to be the saviour of genre and start a new horror-wave as people are hoping. There are a couple of questions that bother me as well. If the “Book of the Dead” is so dangerous, why the hell do people leave it lying around? Bury the damn thing or put it in a safety deposit box or something people! Who the hell are the Rednecks at the beginning? Just what is “The Abomination”? And why is the dog called “Grandpa”?!

Having said those minor negative points, let’s revel in all the good stuff! The small cast are all great, particularly Jane Levy as Mia, in what is surely a break-out role. Having to deliver pretty much ALL human emotions across the spectrum, she is eminently watchable, and gives an excellent scare-face as well! The plot has an admirable obsession with limb removal, with or without the aid of power tools! The effects (bar some minor post-production touch-ups) are CGI free and very impressive. This is one blood-soaked film. You’re extremely unlikely to see a gorier foray on the cinema screen for some time. (NB: The BBFC site says that the UK version is uncut, but at this moment in time, I’m not sure if this print is same as the US R-Rated version. If anyone knows, please enlighten me). We’re also treated to an updated version of the “No-Mr.Tree-I’m-not-that-sort-of-girl-buy-me-a-drink-first!” scene that caused so much controversy in the original “Evil Dead”.

I did sort of have issues with some of the decisions that a leading character made towards the end of the film, which seemed absolutely ludicrous …, that was until I realised what significance a MacGyver-type electric device had, which leads into an interesting narrative twist. And that’s what’s particularly cool about the movie. It does follow the original’s plot quite closely, but it’s not afraid to take risks and throw you a “curve-ball” occasionally.

Incidentally, true fans of the franchise MUST stay for the end credits. The tape recording of the professor from the 1981 version is played over them. Then there is a (very) brief post-credits scene which either has mind-boggling implications for a sequel, or is just Raimi and Alvarez messing with us! Could go either way judging by recent interviews (but I’m guessing on the latter...)
It might not eclipse the original, or be the ground-breaking experience that we hoped for, but it certainly does not disappoint. Tough and unapologetic, it wears its (dripping) heart on its sleeve, and provides 92 minutes of sheer bliss for horror fans. Enjoy.

It is not the “most terrifying film you will ever experience” or a huge game-changer for the genre. What it IS though, is a damned good horror film and a perfectly respectable remake of a classic. Good performances, great (low-on-CGI) effects, uncompromising attitude and an understanding of what die-hard fans of the macabre want in a movie. We say “Grooo-oovy”!

                                                                                                                      By Dave Stephens