A remake that really gets it right!

Rating: 9/10 (5 April 2013)

One thing I do have to say about Evil Dead right off the bat is that I saw it at the premiere showing in theaters, so there was a crowd. And I just find that in general horror movies are the most fun to see in a crowd at a movie theater, because you can all experience the same shocks, scares, and dumb jokes together. So, in saying that, I have to say this was a movie that was really FUN to go see. This is one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had at a movie theater in a while. If you're interested in seeing this while it's in theaters, try to see it before it's too late, because you're gonna have a good time.
Now...aside from the experience, how is the actual movie? Well...really awesome, honestly. Remakes are generally pretty pointless, and remakes of horror movies in particular usually suffer the most. There was even more pressure put on this one too, since the original Evil Dead from 1981 is a cult classic, and one of my favorite horror movies. However, this updated version is one of the few remakes that gets it right. This could be in part because Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, director and star of the original, served as producers on the movie, but I don't want to say that because it discounts the great work everyone else put into this remake.
One thing that surprised me about Evil Dead is how little of a remake it felt like at times. It'd be very easy to simply do a scene for scene retread of the old movie, but instead this version adds its own different characters, story lines, and intense moments. However, that's not to say elements of the original aren't in here. On the contrary, Evil Dead pays a lot of respect to the movie it's remaking by adding a ton of nods to it, some obvious and some more subtle. So the final product is a movie that takes an old concept for a movie, makes its own great movie out of it without copying, but also pays a lot of homage to its source. It works perfectly.
The basic premise is one we've all heard of before. There's five people out in a cabin in the woods. A book of the dead is found in the basement, and opening it releases evil demons that are out to possess and kill them. What Evil Dead adds to the mix is it centers around the main character of Mia, who is there in the cabin along with everyone else to try and kick her drug addiction. I thought this brought an interesting dynamic to the beginning of the movie, because where most horror movie characters just refuse to believe something is going on when they're warned, when Mia starts seeing the demon in the woods, the other characters have a reason to believe she's seeing things, because she's going through withdrawal. From there though...the movie is just a nonstop ride of gory scenes. Saying anything more than that would spoil the experience. However, if you're not into blood/gore, definitely stay away.
My only real gripe with Evil Dead is its script. The storyline is a little "eh" at times, the dialogue can be a little cheesy, and worst of all the characters mostly just aren't likable, at least until the end. Script issues aside, Evil Dead is fantastic and does everything right. I was really impressed with Jane Levy as the main character of Mia, who really brought everything to the table with her performance. Everyone else is mostly unknown actors, but they did fairly well most of the time. Fede Alvarez really did a great job directing this. One of the best things about this movie is that in an age where everything is done with CGI, Evil Dead uses only practical effects in the movie all throughout, and the end result is much more satisfying. There is a TON of blood and gore to be found here, so fans of that will eat this up. Possibly the most blood I've seen in a movie, at least in recent memory.
All in all, major props to everyone who worked on this movie, I really enjoyed it. No, it's not as good as the original, but I didn't expect it to be. What we do get, though, is still one of the best horror movie experiences I've had in a long time, and a remake that really gets it right. Whether you're a fan of the original or just want to see a good horror movie, Evil Dead satisfies.