The Evil Dead (1981) - A relentless, unflinching, original, and gory horror classic that set the standard for 'cabin in the woods' films to come

Rating: 8/10 (26 January 2018)

Released during a fantastic time for horror films, 'The Evil Dead' crept in under the radar and while it may not have invented the 'cabin-in-the-woods' trope, it certainly popularized it and many other horror cliches to come. As well, the film was endorsed by Stephen King himself, who rightly praised its originality (for the time of course), and though it was mocked for a while, it's found its rightful place in horror filmmaking history.
THE STORY
'The Evil Dead' can never claim to have a robust and complex story, but that's not necessarily a problem. The basic premise - a group of somewhat drunken young adults stay at a cabin and accidentally unleash hellish forces that kill them one by one - is quite simple, but it's how Sam Raimi and company take this premise and go with it that is truly admirable. The concept of the Deadites, and the way Possession works, which seems to be a mixture of a contagion-style contact spread and Exorcist-style demonic possession - is quite imaginative and original. Possibly never before and rarely after have creatures in horror been so cleverly designed. The contagion-like spread through touching adds a sense of realism that makes the otherwordly hellish nature of the possession all the more horrifying. The fact that the Deadites mock and taunt their victims before killing them makes them not just spooky creatures, but frightening villains to contend with. Even if the basic premise is very simple, the flourishes with the Deadite concept is original and frightening enough to justify it. Out of 5 possible points for this category, 'The Evil Dead' gets 4 points.
THE TECHNICALS
'The Evil Dead' was made for a budget of only $350 000, and was from all accounts an arduous and difficult shoot. Thankfully, the labour paid off for the most part. Not only were the concepts original and creative, but the filmmaking shows off a lot of talent. Dutch angles are usually a source of frustration, since they're often use to unsubtly point out things that are supposed to be bad, and are as a result quite cheesy. 'The Evil Dead' is a clinic on how to use dutch angles effectively, as they are used in scenes of tension and uncertainty. Rarely, if ever, are they used when a Deadite is on the screen. They are used when a character, especially Ash, is frightened and panicking. This way, what would be a static scene of a character losing his mind is now enhanced and compelling because the camerawork draws the audience in. As well, the use of stop motion animation at the end is unexpected, but very effective. The makeup is also often fantastic. Though the film is indeed gory, it's used to heighten the fear. An 'Evil Dead' that shies away from gore is not proper 'Evil Dead'.
Very creative cinematography is employed here by Sam Raimi and Tim Philo, who make the most of a cramped location and pull off some great shots. The legendary demonic POV shots still hold up today, and 'The Evil Dead' stands as a testament to low-budget creativity in part due to this.
Easily the strongest technical aspect of 'The Evil Dead' is the sound production. The film is filled with demonic voices and unfamiliar noises throughout nearly every scene, and the slightest sound is enough to freak out the viewer. Though the film's score is, in my opinion, fairly standard and not worth much mention, the sound design is fantastic and deserves recognition.
Occasionally, the film's continuity stumbles a bit, as seen with that horrible Deadite Cheryl double doll that looks very little like Deadite Cheryl, or the changing hairstyles of the cast. As well, as much as I've come to enjoy the stop motion finale, it must be acknowledged that it is rather off-putting how inauthentic it looks at times. For the most part, though, the technicals of 'The Evil Dead' are great. I'll give it 4 points here too.
Overall, 'The Evil Dead' is a great horror film, an absolute classic worthy of any horror fan's attention. It's not for the squeamish or easily offended, but there's enough creativity and conviction on show to distinguish it as one of the best of its era. Highly recommended.