Enough Gore and Atmosphere For Any Horror Fan

Rating: Null/10 (8 April 2013)

Evil Dead (2013)
*** (out of 4)
Remake of the 1981 classic has five friends going to a creepy cabin in the woods so that one can kick a drug habit. Soon after arriving the group find a weird basement containing a book, which one ends up reading and releasing a deadly curse. For the past twenty years there's been buzz on whether we'd get a fourth film in the original series or if someone would dare take the challenge and start something new. While I don't think this is quite as good as the original there's no question that the filmmakers put a lot of time and effort into the film and they've managed to make something that will probably be seen as the top of its genre in its own time. EVIL DEAD really packs quite a punch on a number of levels. I'm one who feels that gore is never scary and I think that's true here but it's somewhat different. Director Fede Alvarez builds up a rather creepy atmosphere, which certainly helps the impact of the film but he also manages to make the violence quite gruesome. I wouldn't call the violence scary but it's certainly got an intense shock level to it that makes it quite effective. The entire look and feel of the movie is terrific as you really do get something that soaks up the low-budget and manages to use it as a positive. I thought the director really did a great job at building up the loneliness of the woods and I thought this here added to the atmosphere. I also didn't hurt that the five actors gave such good performances. There's nothing Oscar-worthy here but all give cast members really turned in strong work and best of all is that the screenplay gave them something to do and managed to make us like each and everyone of them so that by the time the violence starts we can feel something for them. This here is something missing from a lot of horror films today. To say EVIL DEAD is a great throwback would probably be an understatement but I think the film proves what can be done when you get a director, a cast, writers and producers who want to do something right. EVIL DEAD is a gory, creepy, violent, over-the-top thrill ride that isn't flawless but it's certainly at the top of its game.