The movie that put Sam Raimi on the map. He would go on to direct two more completing a trilogy. One that over the years has established itself as a cultural landmark in horror cinema, with all three now cult classics. But those two movies are for the subsequent posts covering the trilogy. For this, I will be focussing on the one that began it all.
The story follows a group of five college students, out for a vacation in an isolated cabin in the woods who unwittingly unleash a demonic presence from the forest through a mysterious book and a recording. This was the movie that introduced Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams who over the course of the trilogy would go on to become one of the most iconic horror protagonists of all time, and this is his first step. The character just wouldn’t be the same without Campbell’s performance. He gives the audience someone to who you can relate, and who can hold his own under these circumstances. The character would go on a journey through the trilogy, and Bruce Campbell is always there perfectly handling it.
Raimi’s touch is present throughout, with one of his unique choices of rapid camera movement in one take being a particular favorite of mine.
Alongside that we get the campy horror, that will go on to be his brand.
The atmosphere remains perfectly tense throughout, and the minor humor elements are balanced well, never taking away from the horror aspect of it. The sequels will go on to further amplify the comedic aspects of the movie, the thing Evil Dead movies are primarily known for. But this part is much more serious in tone. Tom Sullivan does an excellent job with make-up work. The make-up effects during the possession are excellent, and alongside that, the practical effects with the gore, are just perfectly gross. Besides that, the movie also uses stop motion in certain scenes in quite creative ways.
The blood and gore in the movie are just off the charts, something that ended up giving the movie an NC-17 rating. Now over the years, there have been more boundary-pushing movies in this area, but that doesn’t mean The Evil Dead should be taken lightly. The movie is perfectly capable of catching you off-guard, and grossing you out. So proceed if you feel you have the stomach for that. But there are sequences where the movie feels repetitive trying to re-tread similar steps and a few choices that take you out of the experience. But overall, The Evil Dead is a really good start-off to the trilogy.
The horror style and the nature of the performances might not be up to everyone’s alley, but its effectiveness even as a low-budget horror is undeniable.
Tweet
VERDICT: 8/10
