Groovy? Well, not that much actually...

Rating: 5/10 (4 July 2013)

As a big fan of the original "Evil Dead" film, nay, strike that, a fan of the original trilogy, it was a bit hard to approach this movie with a neutral stance.
But in all fairness, then this 2013 version of "Evil Dead" is a good enough way to introduce a new audience to the franchise. However, was it a necessary project to see the light of day? Hardly so. In my personal opinion, a continuation after "Army of Darkness" would have been better off.
The effects in this 2013 version was good, although they were visually great and gory enough to keep most gore-hounds happy, then they just lacked that special touch that is found in the original trilogy. As campy and out of date by today's standards, then the original trilogy just somehow pulled it off better. I suppose that is part of the cult legacy.
This fresh and new take on the original story did have some striking similarities to the first two movies, yet there were parts that deviated far, perhaps too far (I am, of course, talking about who ends up with the chopped off hand, the chainsaw and walking away as a sole survivor here). And no, I am not going to ruin it by saying who it was. However, I will say that this twist and turn from the original story didn't sit well in my stomach.
The book, Naturon Demonto, was just more wicked and vile in the original trilogy, with far better illustrations, glyphs and sigils. But of course, that is not essential to the movie itself, it is just a horror nerd like me noticing and commenting on that.
The possessed people in the movie were actually quite interesting to look at, especially with the mutilations and gore they were subjected to. However, the eyes just lacked that shiny yellow color as seen in the original movie. But still, there was some pretty interesting effects and ideas to be seen here.
As for the people cast to portray the roles in the 2013 version. Well, they were doing good enough jobs, but they had pretty big shoes to fill out, to which they managed to do well enough in their own right.
For me, as an avid fan of the original trilogy, then this 2013 version was sort of a disappointing, although not surprisingly so, revisit to the 1981 cult classic. But for people not old enough to be familiar with the original movies, then the 2013 version should provide adequate entertaining, and hopefully light an interest in watching the original trilogy.
Watch the movie up to the very end after the credits are done rolling, it is well worth it.