Evil Dead-2013

Director Fede Álvarez

Starring Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez

Scott’s Review #425

Reviewed June 21, 2016

Grade: B

Having recently seen the original Evil Dead, directed by horror master Sam Raimi, from the early 1980s, I found the remake fine but not as compelling as the original.

It’s hardly the most terrifying film you will ever experience either.

While the original was quite a low-budget film, the remake is modern and glossy-looking, though with only a tiny cast.

The film is set almost entirely inside a cabin in the middle of nowhere at night, has a wonderful mood, and includes all the necessary horror elements.

A Book of the Dead is unearthed, and evil spirits possess the youngsters one by one.

The film is entertaining, has lots of well-done gore (loved the bathroom face-cutting scene), and, while over-the-top, doesn’t feel overly cartoonish.

It has fresh energy.

It takes some liberties (in reality, someone with a torn-off limb wouldn’t keep walking around as if nothing happened).

A silly drug-addiction subplot feels unnecessary.

There are some genuine scares, and all in all, Evil Dead (2013) is an enjoyable horror movie-going experience.