About The Evil Dead (1981)
Five friends go up to a cabin in the woods where they find unspeakable evil lurking in the forest. They find the Necronomicon and the taped translation of the text. Once the tape is played, the evil is released. One by one, the teens become deadly zombies. With only one remaining, it is up to him to survive the night and battle the evil dead. Classic 1981 horror written and directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man).
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Runtime: 85 minutes
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
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Review: The Evil Dead
It’s not often I get a good scare from a horror film these days, not from Hollywood anyway. Japanese horrors manage to be eerie and unnerving but something has been lost in the west. It’s no coincidence as lot of the classic horror films are being remade, not that they need to be. Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is considered one of the classics but ashamed as I am to say I had never seen it before until now.
This low budget film follows the progress of five friends – Ash (Bruce Campbell), Scotty (Hal Delrich), Linda (Betsy Barker), Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) and Shelly who decide to spend a weekend at a remote cabin. During their stay the group discover The Book of the Dead as well as some tape recordings of incantations which give rise to demons that take advantage of the group’s isolation by proceeding to take them over one by one. Will anyone survive the encounter with the demons? Can evil really be stopped?
Being made on such a small budget The Evil Dead is going to look raw in places but the effects are surprisingly good and there is an uncomfortable atmosphere throughout the film. Yes, an isolated cabin isn’t the most original setting for a horror film but Raimi films things in such a way that you’ll seldom feel comfortable. The fast-paced movement of the camera through the surrounding woodland is one of the deftest touches while the infamous scene involving one of the girls and some very hands on branches is a hard one to forget.
The five friends are made to suffer for their weekend away. First Cheryl is possessed by demons and is locked in the basement while the other friends begin to be whittled away one by one. The make-up is very effective and you get the impression that every dollar spent on this film was painstakingly considered. The Evil Dead manages to achieve what many horror films don’t with a tiny budget while it’s less than illustrious rivals draw on many millions when they’re being produced. There’s plenty of atmosphere, blood and gore here to satisfy the majority of horror fans but the film isn’t perfect.
Watching The Evil Dead for the first time I found myself wishing I had seen it when I was growing up in the eighties. I think the films we experience at a young age often retain a special place in our hearts even if as adults we see many of the undoubted weaknesses. The Evil Dead isn’t the best horror film I’ve ever seen even though the effects are pretty good and the acting is effective for what is demanded of a horror film. While I was impressed by what Raimi achieved in the early eighties I wouldn’t say I was left astounded by the film either.
The Evil Dead is rightfully a cult classic today, being made on a tight budget but managing to have more heart and chills than many horror films I could name. It’s not the best horror film I’ve seen, it does have flaws but it’s definitely one that all horror fans should experience at some point. It’s certainly a vast improvement on the majority of horror films released today.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Evil Dead | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
