In 1981, filmmaker Sam Raimi released the horror supernatural film, Evil Dead. The success of the first movie led to two sequels, Evil Dead (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992). These films introduced an iconic character, Ash Williams, portrayed by actor Bruce Campbell to the horror genre. More than two decades later, Raimi and Campbell produced a fourth installment of the franchise, Evil Dead (2013), which serves as a reboot of the series.
Directed by Fede Alvarez, in his directorial debut, Evil Dead is a story about five friends who decide to stay in a remote cabin in the woods. The group includes David Allen, his girlfriend Natalie, his sister Mia, a schoolteacher, Eric, and a nurse, Olivia. The group is there to help Mia, who is struggling with drug addiction. David discovers a door in the cabin’s basement that leads to a room filled with rotting animal carcasses, a shotgun, and an eerie book entitled Naturom Demonto.
Eric, curious about the book, reads a forbidden mantra written in it, thus unknowingly awakening an evil demon from hell. That night, during a heavy rain, Mia sees a mysterious girl in the woods, but the others think she is hallucinating. Fearing for her life and unable to resist her addiction, Mia steals Eric’s car and drives away. However, the car crashes into a tree and sinks into a swamp. Running into the woods, she is confronted by the evil demon, which possesses her body.
The next morning, David and the others find Mia in the woods, behaving strangely and dangerous. David, fearing for his own life, locks her in the basement. Olivia, who has been stabbed by Mia, becomes possessed as well. Natalie, seduced by the evil demon possessing Mia, sneaks into the basement and is also wounded by Mia. David saves Natalie, but Eric tells him that he committed a grave sin by reading the forbidden mantra from the book. Naturom Demonto is a death book, and demons will rise again once they’ve successfully killed five human lives. According to the book, the only way to “purify” someone possessed by a demon is to bury them alive, mutilate their body, or burn them.
David and Eric, reluctant to kill Mia, try to find another way to save her. However, Natalie, who is now infected by the demon, attacks them with a nail gun. David shoots and kills Natalie, but Eric dies in the process. David then douses the cabin in gasoline and tries to capture Mia from the basement. During a struggle, Mia stabs Eric, who has become possessed, but David eventually stops her and buries her alive. In a twist of events, Eric’s soul is consumed by the demon and he tries to kill David.
Evil Dead (2013) is a gruesome and terrifying horror movie from beginning to end. Directed by Fede Alvarez, the movie is a fantastic reboot of the original franchise, which introduces an entirely new cast and story while staying true to the horror genre. Although the film has some flaws, such as a few weak plot points and characters, overall, it is an excellent horror movie filled with blood, gore, and jump scares.
One of the highlights of Evil Dead (2013) is the cinematography, which creates a tense and creepy atmosphere. The camera work captures the essence of the horror genre, with clever tricks and techniques like POV shots, long takes, and sudden cuts that keep the audience engaged and constantly on edge. Additionally, the practical effects and visual effects are outstanding, adding to the film’s gruesome and gory feel.
In conclusion, Evil Dead (2013) is a worthy addition to the horror movie genre, providing fans of horror with a gruesome and terrifying film that is sure to keep them on the edge of their seats. With an engaging plot, tense atmosphere, and brutal violence, Evil Dead (2013) is a noteworthy horror movie that should be on the watch list of any horror movie fan.
