When we hear the word "remake" in films, there's a strong chance we flinch because we usually think remaking an original movie kills the spirit of the original film. But from the looks of Evil Dead which is a remake/reboot/loose sequel in the Evil Dead franchise, you won't think that way. Or at least I did not.
Evil Dead is about five friends at a cabin in the woods when evil is unleashed and forces them to fight for their lives. Mia (Suburgatory's Jane Levy) is a drug addict who decides to go cold turkey and her brother David (Red Riding Hood's Shiloh Fernandez), his girlfriend Natalie (newcomer Elizabeth Blackmore), their friends David (Thumbsucker's Lou Taylor Pucci) and Olivia (Cloverfield's Jessica Lucas) are with her for support and reinforcements. Then the Book of the Dead is discovered and shit starts coming down and the evil forces around the cabin begin possessing them one by one.
When people first learned about an Evil Dead remake, the fans of the original cried for no remake because they want this one untainted but producers Sam Raimi (director of the Evil Dead trilogy), Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell (Ash Williams of the original trilogy) made sure that fans of the original films and incoming new fans will love this remake and they carefully picked a director for their baby. It looks like they nailed it because Fede Alvarez took this film to a whole new level of carnage and gore. By the way, Evil Dead is Alvarez's feature film debut.
Fede Alvarez wanted the film to be ultra bloody and brutal and you got it. But he didn't do it haphazardly. The new Evil Dead doesn't look like a bloody B-movie. NO. It's actually well made. It's also relentless when the horror begins and even though this new version removes the absurd and dark humor of the trilogy, Alvarez managed to keep the bizarre feel which is one of the essences of the original trilogy (I think I'll stop here for the comparisons between this and the original).
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| The calm before the storm |
Additionally, he wanted the film to be CG-free. It was revealed in interviews and set reports that all of the effects in the film are practical effects and the crew researched on magic tricks and illusions to perhaps cover them up and they did an awesome job at keeping the effects as practical and cringe-worthy as possible. The film was also shot beautifully and I think that the cinematography looks glossy and yet, there's still this feel of grittiness which is enhanced by the set design.
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| Worst hangover ever? |
I have to commend the actors for doing a great job and for taking on this film because they are all willing to get dirty and bloody which is an indicator that as an actor, you care for the film you're working on. I learned from one of Jane Levy's interview that she really has to be buried alive in once scene and she did it even though of course, being buried alive is not a comfortable feeling while working.
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| Feast on this, motherfucker! - Mia |
Speaking of Jane Levy, I think she is the standout among the five leads. Her portrayal of the junkie Mia brings a whole new level of depth and edge to the character and her moments of terror and redemption.
And the characters here are not just for body count. When they die, you won't feel empty. There's a possibility that you'll feel bad for the characters because they don't actually fill the stereotypical slut, jock, and virgin roles. They're not there to have a good time. They're there to support Mia as she tries to recover from her addiction. I actually felt bad for them especially this one character which I won't give out obviously to avoid spoiling the film.
For the fans of the original trilogy, the film has a lot of references for them to discover. If you're a fan of the films, prepare to hunt for easter eggs in stor for you as the film pays a lot of homage and tributes to the trilogy. And for those whose attentions were caught by the trailers, trust me, the trailers did not spoil anything at all. There are still surprises you have yet to see in Evil Dead and they are really, really worth the wait especially AFTER THE CREDITS.
My only concerns for the new film are one: there are some inconsistencies in the plot and two: it's not really the most terrifying film like they said it would be.
In the end, the new Evil Dead will win hearts of genre fans, gore hounds, and fans of the franchise because they'll get what they came for: gore, shocks, and a well-made horror remake/reboot that works and it can be an exhausting experience for the faint-hearted.
RATING: 4/5
TRAILER:
(Trailer courtesy of YouTube and images courtesy of the red band trailer)
