***** out of five

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2002)

This ultra low budget quicky could very well be the best horror movie ever made. This is the first and best of the trioly that was followed by Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn and the fantasy/comedy Army of Darkness. Where Evil Dead 2 took a more comedic aproch this movie is a little more horror and a little less slapstick. Sam Ramai gives the viewer a lot from very little, Ramai has always been known for taking his films one step above anything out there at the time and he does just that here. The special effects are beoynd belief considering this was made in the early 80's and some of the most unique camera angles of all time. The most original thing about the whole movie is that we never actually see the spirits, they always take the form of the camera adding to the suspense. The movie also may be one of the goriest of its kind, there is constanly blood and limbs flying in every direction. But of course there are some scenes that will turn some people away like a scene where a girl gets molested by a tree. Bruce Campbell is excellent as the lead who's slapstick style reminds me of an early Jim Carrey. Although it is probably too weird for mainstream horror fans this film have become a cult classic over the years and for good reason.