A gore classic

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2002)

A bunch of college kids take a weekend trip to a remote cabin in the woods. They unwittingly resurrect the evil dead--spirits who can possess them and have them kill each other off. The only way to get rid of them? Bodily dismemberment.
In terms of plot this is pretty lame--there are a few lapses in logic that are annoying. Characterizations are nonexistent and the acting is bad (even Bruce Campbell!). But the film moves like lightning with some very imaginative direction by Sam Raimi. And when the evil dead attack after the first half hour, the movie goes barreling out of control. Tons of gore, blood and violence are thrown in your face with great sound effects and some truly gruesome makeup. Also it's kind of funny--notice how many times Campbell is covered with blood but his face is clean and his clothes dry in the very next shot!
This was made back in 1981 on next to no budget by a bunch of college students. It's incredible what they achieved with so little to work with. Also there are two or three incredible tracking shots that I can't get enough of!
This was dismissed by horrified film critics back then (I remember one reviewer was so disgusted he requested that every single print should be burnt!), but it slowly grew into quite a hit. It's now considered a modern day classic. And Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell jump started their careers with this.
So ignore the plot and concentrate on the imaginative direction, gore, special effects and sound. For horror movie fans this is a must.
WARNING: There is a very tasteless sequence in which a woman is raped by a tree!