“Evil Dead” Remake Proves to be Just as Gory and Gag-Worthy as Original

It left me giggling with glee and disgust. It made anyone with a tongue shiver with queasiness. It made my toes curl, my stomach do somersaults and the stoners in front of me slur out “riiiighteouuus.”

It was a horror movie only a true fan could like, and I LOVED it.

Fede Alvarez’s reboot to Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror classic “Evil Dead” was perfectly executed (no pun intended). I didn’t know what to expect going into the film. Previous reboots of ‘80s horror franchises such as “Friday the 13th” and John Carpenter’s “Halloween” series had tanked with critics and audiences alike, to put it lightly. I was also concerned about the integrity of the lead, Jane Levy, since her last role was as teeny-bopper Victoria Justice’s shallow and dim best friend in October’s “Fun Size.” However, “Evil Dead” had been generating positive buzz since the project’s announcement, so I had some hope for a quality film. My worry was also assuaged since Raimi and original star Bruce Campbell gave the remake their seal of approval by signing on as producers for the project.

The film follows five friends who go out to Mia (Levy) and David’s (Shiloh Fernandez) secluded family cabin to try and support Mia while she sobers up after a nearly-fatal overdose. After investigating a strange smell coming from the basement, the group finds a mysterious package in what appears to be the remains of an occult ritual.
One friend, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), opens the package to discover a book bound in human skin entitled “The Book of the Dead.”

While reading a passage, against the warnings scribbled throughout the book, Eric unwittingly releases an ancient demon with incredibly sinister intentions. Once it possesses Mia, it is up to the other four to try and expel the demon and put it to rest forever, before it does the same to them.

It was refreshing to have a new plotline for the remake, instead of a shot-by-shot double with new effects like the remake of Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” starring Vince Vaughn. While the original plot was standard for ‘80s horror, surrounding a group of teens on vacation who stupidly get drunk and release a demon, this plot had a bit more depth and reason to it. The new film expands on the contents of the Necronomicon (“The Book of the Dead”), and features a lot more blood and gore (not necessarily a good thing for some audiences).

I knew that there were some things the new film could not hold to the original, the foremost being the cheesy effects (see gloves touched up to look like decaying hands). However, the overly-bloody feel was still obviously prominent as it was in the original, so I didn’t feel too cheated.

In light of the success of “Evil Dead” with audiences, Alvarez has announced that a sequel is in development. Raimi has also announced plans to write a screenplay for a third sequel to his original movie, to be titled “Army of Darkness 2.”

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this hellish romp of a film, I will caution any person who feels apprehensive about the film’s gory reputation. I would recommend watching the trailer, because it is a good measure of the content throughout the rest of the film.