Directed by:
Sam RaimiScreenplay:
Sam RaimiCinematography:
Tim PhiloComposer:
Joseph LoDucaCast:
Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Ted Raimi, Scott Spiegel, Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, John Cameron (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Writer/Director Sam Raimi's relentless, gore-spattered debut is a landmark in horror cinema, a no-holds-barred onslaught of gruesome terror and nightmarish effects which has earned its rightful status as a legendary cult classic. Five college students travel to a remote cabin in the woods and unwittingly unleash a monstrous evil force hellbent on their total destruction. The Evil Dead is truly the ultimate experience in grueling horror. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
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Reviews (13)
The cult value, of course, prevails. If it hadn't become such a theme, there would be no reason to revisit this slasher, but history would have it otherwise. Today, however, the first film is like a bit of Deja vu, a strange sense of Ash having two hands, of not making fun of the Necronomicon yet, because this is the actual first encounter with evil. And, of course, Bruce is still a young innocent man here. It's interesting, but other parts of the Evil Dead phenomenon have more charm for me.
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I get why this film has cult status, but for me it’s not worthy of a full score. The first half was great, but the second has several dull moments, the plot gets stuck somewhere and all I could do was wait for an ending that was clear. The final disintegration of the demons didn’t have any atmosphere due to the not very good special effects. It needs a remake, those special effects today don’t work as they should.
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If you watch it alone, The Evil Dead seems like a depressing horror movie about a descent into madness beyond the boundaries of rational certainties. In the cinema, those levels are still there, but the entertainment value of the whole work stands out more, and that includes the unintentional elements, from the characters and their behaviour to the film’s low-budget roots, which are evident in the out-of-focus shots, among other things. At the same time, however, Raimi’s talent and creative brilliance become fully apparent on the big screen. The Evil Dead is an essential entry among the legends of enthusiastic amateurs who simply got together with some friends, picked up a camera and shot a genre milestone that opened the door to the wide world of professional productions. But the reason that thousands of others set out on the same path but only a few filmmakers actually succeed in graduating to the Hollywood big league consists in the level of talent. It’s not about Raimi picking up a camera, but everything that he does with it and how. With deflected angles and exalted gestures, poses and precise framing, he not only displays his disposition for almost comic-bookish expressive visuality, but also perfectly draws attention away from the limitations of the production environment and fascinates viewers in every respect through intense scenes.
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This crazy affair, changing from an atmospheric horror to a slasher to a splatter finale, holds together only thanks to the occasional crazy idea. Sam Raimi delivers fresh ideas but lacks balance. Bruce Campbell has charisma, but the others around him only serve as background. As for the suspense, the best for me was probably the laughing Linda between the doors, the thought of which still makes me laugh and scared at the same time. But the highlight remains the last visit to the basement before Raimi unleashes his gallery of disgust. The atmosphere there is palpable. In the final evaluation, it is a weaker horror flick, where the viewer can fully enjoy grabbing at various limbs and their ultimate amputation. And even though I enjoy being scared of what I can't see, it's disappointing when I don't find out anything at all.
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Since the remake is knocking on the door, I decided to watch the original 1981 film without being some kind of horror movie fan. And I have to say that this 30+ year old film does not do the genre any shame. Many of the scenes are nicely paced, the atmosphere is thick, and the visual effects are quite well done for the time (the rape in the woods was really scary). Otherwise, the make-up artists also did a great job and created more than one hideous face.
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