Remakes. Reimaginings. Whatever you want to call them, Fede
Alvarez’ ill-advised reboot was never going to please everybody. Alvarez made a
smart move in dropping Ash though. There’s no way his movie could have lived up
to the 1981 original, and trying to fill the boots of Bruce Campbell would have
proved too distracting. Ash is out, as is the goofy humour that made Raimi’s
original trilogy so welcoming.
A remote cabin in the woods becomes a blood-soaked chamber
of horrors when a group of 20-somethings unwittingly awaken an ancient demon.
Starring Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Shiloh Fernandez (Red Riding Hood), Jessica
Lucas (Cloverfield) and Elizabeth Blackmore (Legend of the Seeker), Evil Dead
is one of the goriest horror movies you are ever likely to see. Colourful,
sickening and occasionally inspired, Alvarez has created a blood-soaked
juggernaut of suspense and violence.
Back-story is bleak, the characters barely register and
there’s precious little fun to be had along the way. Fans of the original
trilogy might appreciate the change of direction, because at least the
filmmakers have dared to be different, and if it all goes wrong they can
disregard it easier, but the tonal shift couldn’t be more obvious. This is no
fun-packed, demon slaying oddity; this is torture porn for the masses turned up
to eleven.
“You’re all going to die tonight”. Visually compelling with
a final act to die for, what Evil Dead lacks in soul it makes up for in nail
guns, body horror and acid-tongued demons that make Regan from The Exorcist
sound like an angel. Groovy. AW
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