The Evil Dead (1981)
Director: Sam Raimi
Writer: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManicor
How I Watched It: Itunes Rental
Review By: Griff
After watching the trailer for new remake of The Evil Dead I figured it was good time for a trip down memory lane to give the original a re-watch. I have to admit I haven’t seen this movie in probably 25 years. At the time, I remember that it scared the pants off me. So I was curious to see if it would still hold up all these years later.
The story is pretty basic horror movie stuff. A group of five friends head to a remote cabin to spend the weekend drinking, smoking pot, and getting naked. They arrive at what is arguably the creepiest cabin ever and things start getting weird right away. A cellar door slams open by itself and of course they have to downstairs to investigate. While they are down there, they find a very old book that looks to have a human face stretched out on it and some old audio tapes. They smoke some dope, and listen to the tapes that describe and ancient evil that is released through the book they found. Unknowingly they play the incantation that allows some demons to be released who can possess other people bodies. Now the friends are being taken over one by one by the demons and the friends are forced to start killing each other in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
This was one of the most brutal movies that I ever exposed my young mind to when I was kid. I must have been about 15 years old when I watched this for the first time and really shook me up back then. Re-watching it today, The Evil Dead does lose some of it’s punch because the effects are really poor. That said, I thought it was still very effective. The woods rape scene was as disturbing and effective as ever, and I still love the scene with where the girl starts naming all cards. This is still a movie that you won’t forget.
The Evil dead was shot on a shoe string budget with some scene even shot in Rami’s garage. For it’s time and for the money that they had at their disposal, Raimi and crew did an amazing job. For my money, The Evil Dead stands up with any of the other seminal horror films from that era.
The Evil Dead is horror masterpiece that should be viewed by anyone who is a fan of genre. Is the acting bad? yes. Is the story a bit unbelievable? yes. Are the special effects dated? of course, but it is still works because Sam Raimi created a movie that doesn’t just rely on gore but is truly scary.
The Evil Dead gets 3 guys from me.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Mark,
I watched The Evil Dead not long ago only because of Sarah’s (who you know now) insistence that I see the movie because of her absolute infatuation with Bruce Campbell. That saying, I was not overly enthusiastic about this film. After seeing Evil Dead, like you, I was very impressed by the movie’s personality that begs you not to take the movie too seriously and enjoy the ride for what it is. Evil Dead is definitely a classic that is one of the benchmarks in eighties horror films. Great review.
It is not JUST because of Bruce!!! I love the movie – it makes me giggle!!!
Excellent film, hope you drop by my trilogy review for this series.
What you think of the remake?
I was in highschool when this came out. I didn’t see it then, but I remember a friend describing, in great detail, a movie he saw where a tree raped a woman. That scene made a big impression on him.
I finally saw this many years later and remembered this guy in highschool. In fact, I saw the whole trilogy. I prefer the second film over the other two.
Great review. It’s a very fun horror movie that isn’t all about the scares, but is more about having a good time with itself and showing us what you can do with the smallest amount of money. Thankfully, they succeeded at that and definitely made me wonder as to what I can do with my mind and my money. Hmmm….
I just watched this for the very first time last year. Had NO CLUE what I was in for but I challenged myself to watch this one, part two and Army of Darkness. I loved it! Bruce Campbell is the best.