Quick Review: Evil Dead (2013)

EVIL DEAD

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
APRIL 4, 2013

Reliable as a remake and as a decent horror film, “Evil Dead” may not be the “most terrifying film you will ever experience,” but it does find a nice balance between the “gore-fest” that Hollywood horror has become. The eerie horror that produces scares, although it’s still the goriest film you will see this year, if not even longer. This film will live well into the next century, helped chiefly by Fede Alvarez’s decision to go primarily practical.

Jane Levy takes a massive leap out of her “Suburgatory” doldrums and performs alright as the demonic victim. With plenty of homages to the original, the remake value of this film is astonishing and never quite feels retreaded. Capitalizing with a solid final act and some memorable cinematography, “Evil Dead” proves that horror remakes do not have to be terrible given the right direction. The final product is still not for the faint of heart or stomach. Even if the experience wasn’t as bad as I built it up in my mind, it was still a challenge to get through, unless you’re used to seeing people projectile vomit into another person’s mouth or slice their tongue in half with a retractable box cutter.

RELEASE DATE
April 5, 2013

DIRECTOR
Fede Álvarez

WRITTEN BY
Fede Álvarez
Rodo Sayagues

BASED ON
“The Evil Dead”
by Sam Raimi

STUDIO
TriStar Pictures
Sony Pictures

R
(for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language)

HORROR
92 minutes