A group of friends head to a remote cabin where the discovery of a Book of the Dead unwittingly summon up dormant demons which possess the youngsters one by one.

Rating: 7/10 (4 March 2017)

Being quite a fan of the first three "Evil Dead" films, it easily became apparent to me how frustratingly different this version was. But let's stray from that path of depression 'cause the truth is, if this was a horror film without having a cult classic descendant, it is arguably a good film. It has the goodness that makes a conventional horror film work: it's dark, gory, creepy and at times compelling.
Just like "The Evil Dead," this version is heavy on brutality, blood and gore, which was all-the-way efficient. It also has the irony of it when there's a scene in the film where it actually rains with blood. It easily reminds of how much of an explosive bloodbath this franchise has been especially the first and original film. Where tons of blood gets splashed all over someone's face not to mention the extreme violence which consists of dismemberment, decapitation, hacking, smashing and all of its gory variations. It's so over-the- top that you're more likely love it than hate it and might even get you laughing hard at one point.
The film has a strikingly sharp and stylish look. It automatically builds a dark and creepy atmosphere. Unlike the original, the film takes place during a wet rainy season in what seem like a dead swamp with a connection road filled with water and completely dysfunctional when the tide peaks. The old, dusty cabin has a look that is entirely creepy and that visual feeling that something reeks in it. The woods are entirely covered with fog and filled with dead trees and mud. All that elements perfectly create a threatening and unsettling atmosphere that fits well in the film. It makes the exterior shots look remarkable and just appropriate to build a dark creeping terror. The make-up and special effects of the film were just excellent. The make-up effects combined with CGI for touch-ups to impress an improved look that on the possessed characters leave an edge of authenticity. Its special effects also, in every form of its gruesome employment, have weight and texture that its look on- screen is effectively translated.
"Evil Dead," in my opinion delivers the goods but not in the same category its previous films were known for. The previous "Evil Dead films" are geniuses in giving utter satisfaction, those rare horror films that managed to harmoniously blend humor, gore and scares into one package. There are flaws and it's kinda amateurish and cheap to look at but that's all part of the charm. The new version, however took a different path, being darker and more ingeniously violent and graphic with an odd mood of sadness. Well, what's done's been done and my final say is that this film is good just how conventional horror films could be. It's not exactly the type that would follow a cult sensation like its predecessors but it's an honorable tribute rather. It's a stylish and striking exposition of gore, violence, creep and atmosphere.