‘Evil Dead’ remake pales in comparison to original trilogy

I really don’t know what to make of Evil Dead.

When I heard that the iconic 1981 horror movie The Evil Dead was being remade, I was apprehensive.

Full disclosure, I’m a huge fan of the original Evil Dead trilogy and the third movie in the franchise, Army of Darkness, is my desert island film.

What I love about the Evil Dead movies is how masterfully they blend bloody horror with comedy. Indeed, it could be argued Army of Darkness is a slapstick comedy with horror themes.

When I saw a trailer for the Evil Dead remake, however, the movie that was being advertised didn’t look funny at all. Indeed, it looked like gross-out torture-porn, a genre I have no interest in whatsoever. Because of this, even though I’d heard some good things about the new film, I entered the theater very skeptical.

Yet, the movie I ended up watching was quite unexpected. A curious hybrid of horror styles and sensibilities, I actually liked it, but I’m not sure how many others will.

Evil Dead tells the story of five friends, who go to stay in a cabin the woods. The trip has a serious purpose, however. Mia (Jane Levy) is trying to beat a heroin addiction, and the others are there to support her and make sure she stays clean.

The group discovers that, since they last visited, the cabin has been broken into and used for some bizarre ritual magic. They also find a strange book, the Naturom Demonto. Ignoring the warnings in the book, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) reads from it, unleashing a terrifying force that possesses Mia and is intent on claming all of their souls.

Evil Dead has a marked affection for the original movies, and there are plenty of callbacks and references for fans to enjoy. It also features only practical effects, which further adds to the ’80s horror movie feel.

At the same time, this isn’t a funny movie, and it has a hard edge. While there are some cartoonish elements to the gore, it’s pretty gruesome, and there were a number of scenes where I had to turn away.

Still, although it’s not for the faint of heart, Evil Dead isn’t a sadistic movie. The film is character-driven, and its characters are presented as actual people, whom we are asked to empathize with and relate to. The movie doesn’t revel in their pain.

The friends using the cabin to help Mia get clean is also a good plot device that helps to effectively set the stage and drives the story from start to finish.

Unfortunately, the acting is pretty lackluster. There’s no Bruce Campbell equivalent here to steal the show, and while no one is terrible, no one’s particularly great either, although Levy puts in a game effort.

What ultimately won me over, however, was the film’s self-awareness and utter fearlessness in flipping the script and defying audience expectations.

At the beginning of the third act, the movie takes a turn that totally changes the direction of the film. I won’t spoil the ending, but let me just say it’s well-earned and satisfying.

Indeed, Evil Dead is best seen as a companion piece to 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods. Like Cabin, Evil Dead shows a similar eagerness to explore the horror genre and challenge its conventions, although it is far less ambitious and not nearly as good.

The biggest thing I didn’t like about this movie was the tree rape scene and the decision to include it.

The original Evil Dead features an infamous scene where one of the female characters is sexually violated by plant life. It’s gratuitous, disturbing, awkward and unnecessary, and I’ve never met another Evil Dead fan who’s said they liked it.

Making a modern version of that scene is something I find pretty distasteful. Although this time the filmmakers make the scene more relevant to the plot, and somewhat make up for its inclusion with the movie’s third act, I still think they shouldn’t have put it in.

Despite this, I enjoyed Evil Dead. Still, I suspect that it’s going to appeal to a pretty narrow audience.

A strange blend of modern and ’80s horror sensibilities, the people who will get the most out of it are those who like the horror genre in general and want to see an interesting exploration of it. Unfortunately, it’s not a good enough movie to make an appeal to moviegoers who aren’t horror fans, and even some horror aficionados will be turned off by its unique sensibility.

All that being said, if you love horror movies or want to see a film that’s sure to have you and your date wincing into each others arms, go see Evil Dead. Otherwise, give it a pass and rent Army of Darkness.

Side notes

If you see this movie, don’t leave until after the credits. It’s worth it.

Finally, even though I didn’t have much of a personal connection to his work, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the passing of movie critic Roger Ebert. A titan in the field, and master of the art of movie criticism, he will be missed by many. For The Beacon‘s tribute, read the article in this week’s issue by my colleague, Catherine Krummey.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on April 11, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Columns,Movie Reviews,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry