In the past ten years, the horror industry put out remakes of classics like "Halloween," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," and "Friday the 13th," so what's different about the new "Evil Dead," which released nationwide yesterday? This reboot of Sam Raimi's 1981 "The Evil Dead" not only lives up to the original, but, on most fronts, surpasses it.
The basic story is very familiar. As in the original, five friends head to a remote cabin and run into demonic forces. Evil possesses them one by one after they discover the Necronomicon, a book of dark magic. Horror author H.P. Lovecraft invented the mythos surrounding the Necronomicon in his stories prior to the book's use in the original "Evil Dead" series.
There's more backstory than the original, which had virtually none, and although kind of tired, it works. Jane Levy ("Suburgatory") plays Mia, who stayed with her crazy mother through her death after her older brother David (Shiloh Fernandez, "Deadgirl") bolted. David brings his girlfriend and meets up with his sister and two friends at the cabin where they'd vacationed as kids. But they find a dilapidated shack, with unsettling evidence that someone has broken in. And the group's mission - to help Mia kick her drug addiction - turns into one of survival, not just for her but for all.
Immediately rooting for Mia because, face it, she's just so lovely to look at. But even though these are attractive kids, this is no banal T&A flick with kids going out in the woods to party and have sex. There is no sex. Root for them all because they're fueled by a higher motive, to help a friend in dire straits. They care about Mia and each other.
Raimi's "The Evil Dead" stands out as among the most original and beloved movies of horror fans, but the extremely low budget made for cheesy effects - tons of Karo Syrup fake blood, with some of the demonic "goo" strangely resembling oatmeal. (And possibly green Play-Doh?) There's much repetition - jumpy shots of some unseen evil force racing through the woods, dead-eyed Cheryl rasping and jeering at those not possessed through the crack at the top of the cellar door, the novelty of which worked in 1981, but would hardly do so now.
The new "Evil Dead" acknowledges its predecessor's brilliance by retaining both of these, but briefly, and packs in enough original, intensely-paced action to keep horror fans on seat's edge. The film's near-perfect execution, with excellent dark cinematography throughout, includes plenty of disgusting gore, and no oatmeal.
Raimi, who gained widespread fame outside the horror realm as the director of the "Spider-Man" series before returning to horror with "Drag Me to Hell," picked Fede Alvarez to direct the 2013 "Evil Dead." Raimi also produced the 2013 picture with Bruce Campbell and Robert Tapert, star and producer, respectively, of the original series, which included "Evil Dead II" (1987) and "Army of Darkness" (1992). This first feature for Uruguayan Alvarez, who achieved fame upon the release of his short film "Ataque de Pánico!" on YouTube, surely won't be his last!
Horror fans, get out and see this one on the big screen. On a budget? Remember, Regency still charges only $5 for shows before noon on weekends and before 6 on weekdays. Click here for showtimes. And here's a little hint: True "Evil Dead" fans will want to stay until after the end of the credits for a little treat.
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