Alvarez's Reawakening

Rating: 7/10 (8 May 2019)

Alvarez helms a reawakening, pun intended, of Raimi's cult classic and delivers a formidable horror film. It is frenzied from start to finish. Excellent direction, screenplay, special effects, cinematography, settings, score and acting. All of the actors involved offer gifted and truly frightening performances. This time around five friends visit a cabin in the woods to detox Mia. Along with Mia are her brother David, Eric, Natalie and Olivia. Soon the "Book of The Dead" is discovered in the cabin's cellar. Eric, against everyone's pleas, reads from the book and Mia is immediately possessed by an evil force although the others initially believe she is going through the detox process. It's like no other detox process this viewer has ever witnessed. Having awoken the dead the friends fight off attacks from the force A.K.A. Deadites at every angle. Eric continues to try to reverse his actions and figure out what has happened. He believes killing Mia is the solution. This film is much more gory than the original and lacks the quirky and outlandish vibe, but at times odes to the original are referenced. Nonetheless this film works.The plot is horrific, creepy, disquieting, grisly, brutal, thrilling, bone-chilling, ferocious, gory and has a sublime ending. This film is part of "The Evil Dead" franchise and this viewer sees it as a re-imagination for newcomers to enjoy if sleepless nights are your thing. There is also an interpretation presented for a possible sequel, which would be welcomed if it can stand up to this caliber of horror. It is a terrifying experience, memorable and at the very top in it's genre.