I've Seen More Evil In A Garbage Can. LOL!

Rating: 1/10 (5 August 2013)

I saw the first Evil Dead(1981) film directed by Sam Raimi, who later directed two more" Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn(1987) and Army Of Darkness(1992) which was his last horror film. Then after a lapse of 17 years he directed Drag Me To Hell(2009) which I feel paid tribute to his die-hard followers of Zombie Horror(myself included!). But Drag Me To Hell lacked the bite(pun intended!) of his original first two Evil Dead Films.
This 2013 remake's script was written by Sam Raimi and produced by Bruce Campbell who played the character of Ash in the Evil Dead Trilogy who did battle and eventually destroyed the Evil. Fede Alvarez was chosen to direct this film. He is an Uruguayan film director and screenwriter. He is best known for his short film Ataque de Pánico!
On to the review. I have been watching horror films since the 1980's. With the help of internet I have seen horror films as old as the 1930's. I saw this remake in my mid-thirties. I am a hard-core horror fan and I have seen the most gruesome horror films which are so disturbing that they linger in your brain afterwards.
Among the ones I have seen are Eden Lake (2008), Marian Dora's Cannibal (2006), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2003 and the prequel film Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning 2006 as well as Tobe Hooper's Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986). Also a separate film Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3(1990). I have also seen Wrong Turn (2003), Wrong Turn 2(2007) and Wrong Turn 3(2008). I have seen Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes and its remake. I have see George Romero's Night, Dawn and Day of the Living Dead. I have seen The Exorcist Trilogy of films written by William Peter Blatty. I have seen The Reanimator Trilogy Of films.
The list is endless...
So nothing is new to me: a hardcore horror fan. I watched this Evil Dead remake from start to finish without a twitch. The special effects in the film are standard. The sound effects these days are awesome with advent of surround sound technology. The direction of the film suffers in the area that there is no real plot in the film. A guy reads an incantation in the book and wham! The evil spirit is summoned and it starts to posses its victims who proceed to mutilate (or mutate LOL!) themselves. There is no clearly defined hero or heroine in the films. The actors are not seasoned enough to be able to lift the film with their on screen presence. There is no real climax in the film.
The first Evil Dead film(which developed from Raimi's short Within The Woods) had a good selection of actors, who despite having no big films behind their backs, made the setting of the film come alive. There was solid atmospheric horror in the film and the zombie-makeup and effects was top-notch. The tension built steadily step by step, which is the hallmark of a good director. The climax itself is awesome and is left for last.
Verdict: I don't think Fede Alvarez has future in directing more horror films. He should either change genres or pursue a career in directing theatrical shows or plays which is more rewarding. This is not due to any fault in the director but because of the over-flooded Hollywood film industry who are making more quantity then quality films. I think people have just run out of ideas.
To all movie lovers: if you have a chance to go to a theater to watch a play, be it a classic, suspense or romance, DO SO. It is much better to go outside and get some fresh air with your loved ones and watching REAL ACTORS at work, than spoiling your eyes glaring at the big screen.