Relentless Horror!

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2013)

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE the original 'Evil Dead' Trilogy by Sam Raimi. I'm not like the angry biased people who immediately dismiss remakes of classic horror movies because they aren't the same as the original. Most of these hipster trash talkers didn't even really watch the movie. I loved the spirit of this terrifying gore filled remake/re-imagining of 'Evil Dead'. I gave it a chance. A good horror movie is a good horror movie.
Synopsis: The two leads are Mia played by newcomer Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez as her brother. Many are enraged by this change, but I accepted it. I mean honestly, it would be even worse if they decided to remake the Ash character with a new actor. Seriously, no one can fill Bruce Campbells shoes. That being said, I was actually impressed with the approach the film takes this go-round. 5 friends gather at a Cabin to help one of the group, Mia, overcome her drug addiction. As the hours go by she gets edgy and they discover a basement full of witchcraft type items. One of the group brings out a book and starts to read from it. This is when the demons start to take over. As the movie progresses I honestly felt the movie didn't really have a lead character because 3 of the 5 characters seem to become equally important.
The imagery is beautifully gruesome. The tension builds up in creeping terror fashion until the scares start to get louder and more prominent toward the end. There are even certain aspects of the remake that pay great homage to the original Evil Dead. The quick shot of the Chainsaw. The implication that the girls hand will become possessed like Ashes hand. The terrifyingly creepy cellar scenes. When the guy reads from the demonic book you know right away that horror is about to follow. The movie has a constant feeling of dread. There are some scenes that will make people laugh, but for the most part, this movie was relentless horror! The movie also had a little heart. There were certain scenes that will bring out emotions in the audience. I admit there was a part where I almost felt a tear forming in my eye. The make up effects are disgustingly real. Don't see this movie if you have a weak stomach. I read that they refrained from using CGI effects in this movie to stay true to the spirit of the old school approach of the original. I loved that they chose to do that. The demons in this had the true 'Evil Dead' feel to them. I was so creeped out the entire movie. The faces of the demons are some of the scariest images since "The Exorcist". I felt like a kid again watching "The Exorcist" for the first time. The voices of the demons will surely haunt most viewers for nights. I definitely closed my closet door after seeing this movie. The directing is clever and creepy. This movie has a lot of good examples of how a horror movie should be made. The actors and actresses give believable performances. The actress who plays 'Mia' was so good in her terrorized and demonic performance. Sure sometimes the characters made stupid decisions, but come on, we all remember the part when the girl walked into the woods alone just because she 'heard something' in the original Evil Dead right? If the characters don't make at least one stupid decision in a movie, then there wouldn't be a horror movie right? I can tell the filmmakers put a lot of effort into this movie. The filmmakers knew how the fan base of the original trilogy would react to certain things. I'm glad that the original director Sam Raimi and original star Bruce Campbell helped a lot with production for this movie. They also had help from Robert Tapert, the producer of the original. If they weren't there to supervise, I can tell this movie wouldn't have been half as good as it is. This is definitely the best horror remake. Also one of the best and goriest horror movies released nationwide in theaters. This made the Saw movies seem "PG". The movie has that 'independent' feel of the original while also having a mainstream feel at the same time. I really appreciated this movie. I even cared for the characters. Not like most horror movies where you can't wait to see the characters die. I wanted these characters to live. It was a great tragic movie, just like the original. It terrified me and made me and the audience at the theater cringe and wanna cover our eyes. Watching this movie with a crowd of people is the best way to experience it. I haven't had that much fun at a theater in a LONG time. I encourage you to see it with at least 3 other people. Turn up the volume, and have fun. The quality of the Blu Ray really brought the horror to life at home too!
I do have slight criticisms. I like to believe the movie is set in modern times. But I didn't see a single Cell Phone. Also regarding that, it would've been nice and more modern if at least one character said "There's no service out here", because a lot of people in the theater kept saying "Why don't they just call 911?". Another thing is, after their hot lady friend is killed first, they just forget about it right away. As if it was nothing tragic! Other than that, this movie is legit horror though!
All in all, don't dismiss it as just another pointless horrible remake. Give it a chance. But most of all, DON'T keep comparing it to the original.