A "reboot" that pays homage to the original.

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2013)

Before I proceed, I will correct a common misconception of the movie; it is a reboot which isn't a direct sequel but combines familiar ground with a different concept. A remake refreshes the original but contains the same basic picture. That covers that. No on we go.
I went to see this not knowing what to expect (divided opinions from the Evil Dead fanbase and mixed-to-positive reviews of critics further intrigued my interest in seeing this film), and I was overall impressed. It undoubtedly pays homage to the original: Chainsaw hand, amazing gore effects, tension-driven camera-work, and the idea of young adults going into a cabin in the woods only to be drawn to a cellar containing The Book Of The Dead. The story is more developed this time around, giving some insight about a young woman whose troubling times with her now-deceased mother, abandonment from her bigger brother, and drug addiction lead towards her "divine intervention" with the help of her brother, and supportive friends to "detox" her of her addiction and let go of her emotional turmoil. The characters don't have much time to grow, but you really get to feel for the lead character. Like the original, the book gets read, and one by one, they die until the final character remains only to be tortured and mutilated along the way.
(SPOILER)Tense and terrifying from start to finish, rarely does a modern day horror film make such an impact of delivering horrifying tension, gory scares, and consistent thrills while emotionally stooping to the lead character's role as she loses her friends and brother. It lacks the gross black humor or campiness of the original, but it's an excellent film in many ways and truly delivers the goods for any horror film enthusiast.