Long Evil the Dead

Rating: 9/10 (12 April 2013)

For the fans of the Evil Dead, the newest edition to the franchise might be regarded as heresy or worse, capitalist branding of a beloved culturally acclaimed trilogy. It's hard to imagine the Evil Dead sans Bruce Campbell but it has happened and what I can say is that a vibrant, fresh and iconoclastic horror genre is approaching. Just as Tarantino has embraced a comical sense of blood in his recent films, Fede has breached new territory by incorporating gore as a horror mechanism rather than just a shock tactic. Technology has granted us privilege in art; directors are privileged enough to present the best utilization of technology. The horror genre has pushed many boundaries and yet is somewhat slighted for not being quite as prestigious enough but it's time that features like the Evil Dead break headway into universal film culture.
This re-imagining is nothing short of a brilliant story told with a tremendously enjoyable prologue from generations prior. As I understand it, this is set in the same location decades after Ash blessed the woods with his most noble jaw-line. I think, after one viewing I'm not as certain, an orange rusted Olds rests as a seating prop for Mia at an early point in the new film. That's the most homage I detected for Bruce: the film is detached while respectful and does not rely on the established. I must re-iterate, this is afresh take on an original and very entertaining plot. Another remarkable facet was the lack of cell phones. The cabin didn't even have a phone to use. The movie had the intensity of Twelve AngryMen by only allowing the six dedicated characters to interact. Given the rigid standards we, as an audience, placed on film makers the ability of ED to maneuver expertly about and still present a polished product is fantastic.
Blood and gore are staples in a horror flick. Almostexpected really but how often do we anticipate blood and guts in movies? Moreoften than not, unfortunately. We are conditioned. What separates ED from Sawand Hostel is the blatant disregard for camera technique to enhance the effect but rather the mutilation is highlighted. With the camera focused on a blade piercing a tongue in two, you wince and get that second glance at the split tongue unlike the gore-horror-shock-show when after you wince you see a bloody tool and dripping prosthetics. Once more, this film is reaching new boundaries because it isn't the shy kid in the back angrily hearing stupid, timid and mediocre responses and not having a voice, this is the kid hopped up on speed spouting things you wish you had never heard causing thoughts you never wanted. It is the type of thought that relieves you of anxiety. This is where the gore, and if you're deprived enough: violence gets a bad rap. Quentin Tarantino releases two movies that portray blood gushing from the human body as Old Faithful and everyone accepts that he is just a guy crazy over exaggerating but the flicks still demand credibility for ascertaining reality. Fede employs a legitimate amount of blood per wound, very dissimilar Freddy's drenching massacres (poor JohnnyDepp) and Django and demands very little; severe head trauma hardly flooding the room and machete wounds that bleed rather than gush. Simple and satisfying yet misunderstood.
If blood were to emanate from the human body in the fashion of Inglorious Bastards or even the Boondock Saints, we would all be more blood than tissue. A pretty floppy premise, really. I think these films serve the purpose of reminding us it isn't real and we don't have to imagine what it would actually look like or resemble to be torn apart that effortlessly. Iguess the ED does a rather great job of making a large number of the audience uncomfortable, beyond just gore and blood effects. Mind you, the scariest thing you will witness is you attaching to any one of the five friends. Still, this is the greatest thing to happen to horror since Cloverfield and the Poltergeist.Horror has become so removed from scaring the audience, and I mean actually terrifying the audience not just quick jumps and terrors, but lasting leaving amark that it has almost become forgotten. The ten dollar price tag is again appropriately assigned to thrilling ride.
The only film more disturbing in terms of material is FunnyGames and that's directed by a psychopath.