Fast, Furious, Grungy, Blood-Splattered, Cult Masterpiece of the Genre

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2004)

I first saw 'Evil Dead' way back at a guys' sleepover in the 7th grade. Up until that time, I had only been exposed to intelligent, PG-13 psychological horror films. I remember my friend showed me the 'Evil Dead' VHS slipcase and it read NC-17 on the back...wow, how exciting at this age...practically a porno!
Anyway, I prepared myself for the scare of a lifetime, only to come home the next morning with nothing but unsatisfied thoughts. I thought it was cheap, and went for all the blood and guts instead of plot. Years later, I came across the limited edition 'book of the dead' DVD edition of the film at Suncoast. I thought, "Wow, I remember that movie. Too bad I'm not into it, because that looks like such a creative and fun release."
Well, one thing that had happened since I had seen it back in the 7th grade, was my increasing taste and interest in old low-budget splatter films. So I went back home, called up my friend, and asked if I could borrow his beat up VHS copy to give it another viewing. Bam! Suddenly, something just came over me and I starting loving the movie. It was like I had never seen it before. So I went out later that week and ordered the very expensive 'book of the dead' DVD. Since then, I have seen it countless times.
I tried explaining Sam Raimi's grungy horror film in one sentence above, and I think I pretty much summed it up. It will seem like complete trash to some people, while it will be a treasure to others. The plot is simple, giving Raimi the energy to showcase his gore and distinct visual style. It's obvious he loves the camera, whipping it every which way and coming up with new techniques to shoot a scene.
Being a huge fan of the Three Stooges, Raimi injects the film with slapstick humor and laughs galore. This film represents the birth of one of the most popular cult icons ever: Ash. You know, the character played down to the bone by Bruce Campbell who eventually acquired a chainsaw for a hand and a shotgun in the other. The guy whose adventures with the dead continue in both Raimi-directed sequels; 'Evil Dead II' and 'Army of Darkness.'
'The Evil Dead' has lived on the back shelves of video stores for years, being cherished and kept alive by all those rabid fans out there. Even though Raimi is up to bigger things these days (the Spider-Man movies), I truly believe that this remains his best film. The one key to all of his movies. It will forever be his roots.
Yes, while the beginning may seem slow and extremely low-budget, stick with it. If you are an avid fan of the splatter genre, this may become your new favorite film.