Evil Dead (2013): NR #40

I would say sorry for missing last week, but I didn't, cause I put up that totally serious review of "Twilight", so HA! Take THAT! Anyway, this week's movie is one that I've been excited for, and somewhat dreading as well. The reason for this is that I love the original films that this is a remake of. Did this new version do the original justice, or even hold a candle to it? Let's find out in my review of...

PLOT
In this re-imagining of the 1981 classic, "Evil Dead" follows five friends going up to a cabin in the woods for a weekend. The reason they're going is because one of them, Mia, is a struggling drug addict who's trying to go cold turkey. They've all come along for support, and to make sure that she doesn't try to run like last time. While at the cabin, they unwittingly find the Book of the Dead and read a passage from the book. Now Mia is possessed by a demon and terrorizing her friends who are trying to survive until dawn.



PROS
If you've seen any of the trailers or commercials, you know that this film is heavily advertising it's gore, and I have to say, that's one area that "Evil Dead" passes with flying colors. It starts out cringe worthy enough, but tries and succeeds in one-upping itself at every new and creative kill. You definitely don't want to go in with a full stomach.

Another praise for the gore is that most if not all of it is done with practical effects. This basically means that they never use CGI effects for the blood and gore. This makes every cut of skin and pint of blood spilled seem real and hurt even more.

I really enjoyed the new setup to the story. The idea that the person who get's possessed is going through withdraw is a clever idea and allows the characters skepticism to make sense.

All throughout the film, you're wondering who's gonna be the new Ash, the main character from the original "Evil Dead", and the film does a good job at that. It throws a lot of red herrings to throw you off the trail and makes a few of the references and homages seem clever.



CONS
Like most horrors films today, "Evil Dead" suffers from a huge lack of characterization. While the first 20 minutes has a little bit, once they find the book, character development stops completely. All five people become sheep for the slaughter, which takes some impact out of the kills, at least it takes out the emotional punch.

There are a ton of references to the original "Evil Dead" trilogy, from the glaringly obvious to the extremely minors. The biggest problem with the references is that they keep reminding us how inferior this remake is the original. While I would try to separate the two, this version won't let me.



CONCLUSION
I'm sure I know what you're wondering, and I'll answer your questions now. Is it better that the original, no. I never thought it would, and it's not. Is it worth seeing, yes. While it doesn't hold a candle to the original, it's fun on its own and definitely worth seeing with a crowd, or with your friends. Does Bruce Campbell make a cameo? Yes, but it apparently sucks, I didn't stay past the credits to see it. Does that answer your questions?


RATING
RENTABLE