Horror Trunk Review: Disappointing Dead

Rating: 4/10 (18 April 2013)

The storyline is unsurprisingly similar, but it fails to convey atmosphere and depth to the characters. The opening is used to 'establish' the evil that will be unleashed, basically acting as a 'Here's what to expect before the film has been begun' slogan.
The film is sombre and depressing as we are introduced to characters that are consumed with their own dramas and problems, leaving no room for subtle humour or pace, that the first had and this film badly needed. The music is filled with classic horror cues, and there are two notable jumps (for me) at least.
The gore is in abundance, and with the majority being practicable effects instead of CG, it's impressive, especially when taking into account the report that over 500,000 gallons of fake blood was used in one day. However, what this film lacks in story and substance is attempted to be replaced by blood and guts; not that I am complaining of course, but it feels like another lazy Saw franchise fob off. You can almost hear the director saying "Feed them mindless gore and they will love it..."
As a standalone film I enjoyed it, but the inescapable Evil Dead 'original elephant' in the room only serves to create nostalgia for the original. Evil Dead is a modern echo of a cult classic that will disappoint die-hard fans looking for the stylish balance of terror and black humour that resonates so easily from the first. To be honest I enjoyed the last 10 minutes the most, as the momentum of the story picked up and the storyline finally had my attention. A gory film that tries to compensate with blood, but with a tagline that it cannot live up to.
If you go down to the woods today you're in for a nasty surprise...
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