A horror landmark that spawned one of the most beloved trilogies ever ... essential for any casual horror viewer.

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 2004)

Join me, if you will, as we travel back to 1978. College buddies Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell are preparing to put their Super-8 days behind them and move on to The Big Time. But before they can enter the Land of Moviemaking, they have to decide what it is they're going to make. Deciding that a horror film would be most fun, they shoot "Within the Woods" as a way to raise funds for the production of their film. Soon, they have around $150,000 - little for a film, but they decide it'll be enough to get started. And so production on "Book of the Dead" begins.
Now, let's fast-forward to a time around late 1981 or early 1982. After about four years of torturous filming and production work, it seems that "Book of the Dead" is ready to be released. A test screening is performed, and it does very well. But producer Irvin Shapiro says, "Boys, you call it 'Book of the Dead' and they're gonna think they're gonna have to read for two hours." And so the production is re-named, released, and raved about by critics everywhere (including the Master himself, Stephen King). Congratulations, folks: you now have "The Evil Dead".
The film's shallow story deals with a group of five college students, who travel to a cabin in the woods for a weekend of good times and beer. At the cabin, however, they discover an odd-looking book and a tape, which they proceed to listen to. On it are Sumarian burial rites that, when said aloud, awakens evil flesh-possessive spirits from the woods. One by one the kids are picked off - until only Ash (Bruce Campbell) remains...
Sam Raimi, now at the peak of his career with the "Spider-Man" series, wrote and directed this low-budget horror thriller, which I believe I can safely call a "classic". The film is, for the most part, very original, and while its predictability may reduce the amount of scary scenes, its a non-stop rollercoaster ride of gore that horror films will likely love.
Bruce Campbell's character, Ash, is for the most part weak and nerdish through much of the film. Unlike its sequels, "Evil Dead" makes no attempt at being funny, but it makes a hell of a fine attempt at creeping us out.
"The Evil Dead" is a horror landmark that spawned one of the best-loved trilogies ever. Those with a very vulnerable stomach may want to steer clear of the film, which originally received an NC-17 rating but was released unrated for better box office sales. Simply put, "Evil Dead" is essential for any casual horror viewers.
THE EVIL DEAD by Sam Raimi. *** out of ****.