Evil Dead [Blu-ray] [2013]

My heart sank when I heard that Evil Dead was being re-made for a 'modern' audience ...... however, after viewing the film (several times since 2013) I can say that I will highly recommend it.The practical special effects are excellent, acting is very good, the reason for being at the cabin is believable and the Evil Dead lore has been adhered to faithfully by a director who genuinely cares about the source material.I recently watched this with my daughter after watching Evil Dead 2 and Evil Dead 3 and she thought this was by far the best film. I probably have to agree since it is certainly the most competent, brutal and unflinching version of Evil Dead (although the recent Evil Dead Rise comes close).The Evil Dead series of videos is a very strong franchise and this film is certainly paying homage to the original 2 films while attracting a while new generation of horror film lovers to check it out - I highly recommend a viewing to anyone who likes proper horror films.

I know my title for this review may seem a bit steep,but I was honestly so impressed and pleasantly surprised with this movie,it's made me ecstatic!!I have been a fan of the original for as long as I can remember,but this is an ENTIRELY different animal.Where the original was kinda campy at times(albeit in a very entertaining way),this one is utterly,completely,balls-to-the-wall CRAZY!!It still has some of the black humour and sillyness of the original,but it's mostly played straight...a move which could have been risky but man,did they ever pull it off!!I think the biggest(and best)difference,is the story.It's obviously still very close to the original but the changes they have made are really,really good.Inventive,clever and well thought-out,it puts almost every other horror re-make to shame in that department.The acting is all stellar and extremely committed(watch the bonus features to see what the lead actress went through),with everyone fitting their characters perfectly.It's the pacing of this movie which really takes it to the next level,it's just SO incredibly awesome...I mean,it feels more like a French horror film in that sense,it just doesn't let up once the carnage begins,it's totally breathless and relentless until the amazing finale....just WOW!!If you like you're horror films with tons of craziness/gore/excitement,then this is one for you,I honestly stand by my review title....I have seen this film multiple times already and I truly believe it is one of the greatest horror films I have ever seen. BUY IT NOW!!!

Evil Dead is probably one of the goriest films I've ever seen. I can only assume that the film makers supplied several swimming pools filled with fake blood...because there is so much of it. Blood on the floor, blood on clothes, blood on faces, raining blood, blood on...wait a minute, raining blood!? Yes, it goes to that extreme. So Evil Dead is a remake of the original of the same name, we follow a group of teens in a cabin in a remote location who try to help their friend to stop taking drugs. They find the book of the dead and what ensues is a heck load of blood and gore! Oh, and all of the following: tree rape, slicing tongue and snogging someone, car crushing a girl's hand and her pulling it out...and my favourite, absolutely decimating someone with a chainsaw. I'm talking ripped to shreds! Total annihilation! Ohhhh so satisfying to watch...in a sick weird way. As you can probably tell, I enjoyed the hell out of this and have done for several viewings. It knows exactly what it is, a fun gory flick that does not take itself too seriously. Yes the characters are bland and expendable and yes the acting is mediocre, except Jane Levy who was actually really good. But you didn't watch this for an Oscar nominated performance. No no no you wanted to see a girl slice her mouth open with a shard of glass! I mean the enhanced use of makeup, prosthetics, costumes etc. just made the experience all the more enjoyable and authentic. I appreciated the dark comedic undertone, particularly from the possessed Mia, that definitely harked back to the original. Director Fede Alvarez did a good job, lots of creepy camerawork and I adored the opening bird's eye view shot where the teenagers are driving along the road. His usage of visual exposition, such as flashbacks to the opening scene, were pointless and unfortunately spoon fed us everything. You'll guess the whole plot in the first 10 minutes, which is its downfall. However, I wanted to see gore and it delivered...massively. My advice: don't read a book made of skin and wrapped in barbed wire. Just don't.