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A
group of friends head up to a remote cabin for a little rest and
relaxation, everything seems to be going fine, until they start
exploring the cabins cellar and stumble upon a reel to reel
tape recorder that we quickly discover contains a professor reading
resurrection incantations from the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (Book
of the Dead). Wickedly creepy demonic possessions ensue, and copious
amounts of gore follow. The Evil Dead is not to be missed.
Saying
that The Evil Dead is a classic in the genre would be a
severe understatement. I think just about any avid fan of the
horror genre has at least heard of it, and if any of you readers
havent seen it, SHAME ON YOU!!! Youre grounded until
you pick it up and submit a full report! Bruce Campbell, the almighty
Chin wouldnt be a God to us without this little
horror gem. Sam Raimi probably wouldnt have been the Director
of Spider Man had it not been for this flick.
Nothing
I had seen previously to The Evil Dead could have prepared
me for what I was about to see. Granted, Romeros Dead
movies were shocking and disturbing, but something about The
Evil Dead just struck a chord in me, I knew that these guys
werent screwing around. If there was a song to describe
the goings on in The Evil Dead it would definitely
be AC/DCs If You Want Blood, You Got It. The
gore is absolutely disgusting; there is a ridiculous amount of
it and believe me when I say that when it starts, it never really
stops. The possessed are absolutely disgusting, and the overall
feel of isolation, helplessness and doom is so thick you can chew
on it. The most disturbing thing to me in the movie however, are
the possessed voices: When they're talking, and ESPECIALLY when
theyre screaming, to this day, that horrific sound sends
an icy chill down my quivering spine.
Time
and time again, in movies leading up to The Evil Dead and
hundreds that have followed, filmmakers have failed miserably
at creating believable isolation. How many times have you screamed
at the characters on the screen to just get the hell out
of there!? This flick has all the bases covered, the demons
that have been summoned have made damn sure that nobodys
going anywhere, and Raimi doesnt take any shortcuts while
proving to us, that these poor bastards are stuck in that forest,
end of story.
During
my initial viewing, I was either too scared, or too awed to notice
any flaws in this film, and now, 24 years later, I still cant
find anything to bitch about. Some may immediately jump and start
pointing out shortcomings, errors, and things that could have
been done differently, but to that, I will revert to my childish
ways, with my eyes closed, fingers in my ears, loudly chanting
la la la la la. I simply love this movie, for everything
that it was, is, and ever will be.
And
for those of you whove seen Evil
Dead 2, and/or Army of Darkness, get it out of
your mind that this movie is ANYTHING like those flicks. About
the only similarities between the three films is Bruce Campbell,
and even then, his portrayal of Ash is different in every film.
Ill say right now that I do love all of The Evil Dead films,
and especially Campbells performances in all of them, but
this one is purely serious horror, no humor, just visceral, gritty
seriousness.
This
is another one of those movies that absolutely has to be seen
by every horror hound. Otherwise, just sit in the corner and hang
your head in shame.
Pros:
Copious Gore, Horrific Possessions, Bruce Campbell.
Cons: Almost too good if you ask me.
Review
Rating: 10 out of 10 Arboreal cervical violations
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