modern marvel's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

A halloween classic and a staple of my home, “the Evil Dead” is one of the most ludicrously insane action/comedy/horror films id remembered seeing as a youth, and wow does it hold up as a horror staple all of those years later. Don’t get me wrong, the film quality is dated and faded, the acting a bit rusty, and the effects a tad on the lower budgeted end…but just like any good film, it overcomes any shortcomings to present to you an enjoyable film experience. In 1981, this was wholly original; there were few if any films coming close to this level of “what the heck?” that this one was edging toward with every minute of its runtime (i’m pretty sure it wasnt until Peter Jackson released “Bad Taste” that the laugh/horror quotient was remotely close to being met). Sitting down to watch this movie for the first time in close to 4 years (the five dollar bin from wal-mart is still my friend apparently), i was pleasantly surprised at how gripping, hilarious, and SCARY the movie was. 33 years later (with 2 sequels and a remake), that is quite an accomplishmenet and part of why this movie is considered one of the horror greats. I look forward to revisiting it again and again and seeing how my perceptions change as i grow older; at 13 this movie was balls out horrifying and at 32 its a horror classic that still induces shock and awe. And even when I refer to it more for being the debut film from director/writer Sam Raimi (he of the evil dead sequels, darkman, one good spider-man, one great one, and one we don’t like to talk about, Drag me to Hell, and that wizard of Oz sequel with James Franco), its still not a footnote: its a genuine film with a rabid fanbase 30 years later and a horror film worthy of every accolade. Is it perfect? Heavens no, but damn does it come out swinging.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

I remember reading a story one time from an interview with the girls in the movie (ellen sandweiss and betsy Baker) that they met the Raimi’s and Mr. Bruce Campbell (dramatic pause for THE ash williams, thank you!) at a diner to discuss the film and saw “two college boys throwing fries at each other, goofing off, and making lewd jokes to one another.” How they still signed the dotted line to travel with that cavalcade of immaturity to the woods to film a scary movie ona shoestring budget is beyond me, but I am glad they did: this film is full of a lot of great performances from a healthy group of friends and unknowns. It does show its newness to the craft, as not everyone is holding their own 100% in every scene, but generally speacking every member of the cast (sandweiss, baker, Campbell, Richard DeManicor, et all) do a fantastic job of feeling like real individuals in a surreal environment. To say one person is bigger than the other and outshines the rest is fair (Bruce Campbell obviously making the biggest name for himself) but unjustified; everyone involved performed to their fullest without overacting to their grandest and silliest.

Film - Perfect 5.0

The moment where this film shines is in the production: This film is exquisitely realized from start to finish. Sam Raimi’s spark and vision toward direction was so fresh and different at the time that I’m very surprised that it wasnt copied more often. The POV shots, the whipping angles, THE ENERGY LEVELS, and the feelign of being “there”; not entirely new, but done in such a fersh and “in your face” manner that it felt revelatory the first time watching it in 1981 (i assume, i was born in ‘82). The production design is simple and yet top notch, with the trees (you know what i mean! wink wink), the sky, the wind, and even the house itself becoming characters in a grander whole to making the film what it is. The special effects are incredible considering the budget, with the “tree rape scene” (the reason for the prior wink) being a shock of ingenuity even to this day, amongst others moments of grue and terror that are expertly done for the low low cost of…i don’t know, something really cheap that turns out even more perfectly done that ever thought. This is the kind of film that only feels dated because it has a date on it. Perfectly conceived and executed.

Edge - Sordid 2.9

This is a seriously violent movie. Not so much in the vein of a lot of horror films these days (i.e there is not torture or slow serial killers or anything of the sort), but when that necronomicon opens up, all hell literally breaks loose and it is a glorious display of bloody 80’s hyperviolence like only “the Evil Dead” was able to accomplish. Despite the underpinnings of both sexes in a cabin, the sexual displays arekept to a minimum because this movie moves at a clip and doesnt let up once begun. It is not the most violent or brutal movie ever made or seen, but there are sheer moment of violence and brutality that will leave your head spinning if its your first time viewing anything of its ilk.

Reality - Supernatural 3.2

The moment the necronomicon is opened, the aforementioned “all hell breaking loose” occurs and the movie goes from “this seems realistic, with real people in a real environment being real” to “holy wow! wait what!?” because literally things happen that transcend “improbable” into “impossible” pretty quickly and never let up. It’s hilarious, it’s scary, and its ridiculous. Its everything a fan of the genre could ask from this type of movie, delivered in spades. but is it realistic? I suppose that depends on your perception of reality.

2 Comments

• MJ5K May 19, 2010 10:01PM

  Regarding MetalJunky5000’s Review
  Hm, good point. I guess I should fix that. Thanks for the catch, Hurwizzle.

• jasonhurwitz May 19, 2010 6:29PM

  Regarding MetalJunky5000’s Review
  Question, MJ: If the film is in the top 3 of the most violent films you’ve ever seen, why did you give it only a 3.7 for violence? It seems to me that “most violent films I’ve ever seen” would automatically warrant at least a 4.5 if not a 5!

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