MOVIE OF THE WEEK (4/5/13): EVIL DEAD
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore
WRITER(S): Fede Alvarez, Diablo Cody and Rodo Sayagues Mendez (screenplay); Based on the motion picture "Evil Dead" by Sam Raimi
DIRECTOR: Fede Alavarez
WEB SITE: http://www.evildead-movie.com/
THE PLOT: Executive produced by Sam Raimi, the original film's director who has since gone on to enjoy revered status among horror and comic book movie fans, the 2013 version of Evil Dead finds Fede Alvarez at the helm of this new tale of terror in the woods.
Staying mostly true to the story of the original, this version finds a young girl named Mia (Jane Levy) seeking refuge at a remote log cabin (possibly in Michigan) that she and her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) used to visit as kids. Unfortunately, their mother has long passed away since those happier times after battling a severe illness - which might in turn help explain why Mia turned to hard drugs to cope in David's absence. But now determined to help Mia break her habit, David - along with his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), high school teacher Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) and registered nurse Olivia (Jessica Lucas).
Breaking her addiction, of course, is no easy feat - which is why Mia eventually has a breakdown of sorts - which is not helped at all by the discovery a weird smell of death in the cabin. The group eventually discovers the smell is coming from beneath them, prompting them to (of course) investigate and leads to the discovery of several dead animals ... And a book bound in barbed wire.
Then Mia decides to go outside in the rain during a storm ... Which wouldn't ya know it, someone in the cabin decides to read from the book despite a massive amount of warnings instructing them that doing so might just be the worst idea they've ever had. Ever.
The rest, as they say, writes itself ...
Staying mostly true to the story of the original, this version finds a young girl named Mia (Jane Levy) seeking refuge at a remote log cabin (possibly in Michigan) that she and her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) used to visit as kids. Unfortunately, their mother has long passed away since those happier times after battling a severe illness - which might in turn help explain why Mia turned to hard drugs to cope in David's absence. But now determined to help Mia break her habit, David - along with his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), high school teacher Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) and registered nurse Olivia (Jessica Lucas).
Breaking her addiction, of course, is no easy feat - which is why Mia eventually has a breakdown of sorts - which is not helped at all by the discovery a weird smell of death in the cabin. The group eventually discovers the smell is coming from beneath them, prompting them to (of course) investigate and leads to the discovery of several dead animals ... And a book bound in barbed wire.
Then Mia decides to go outside in the rain during a storm ... Which wouldn't ya know it, someone in the cabin decides to read from the book despite a massive amount of warnings instructing them that doing so might just be the worst idea they've ever had. Ever.
The rest, as they say, writes itself ...
THE TAKE: Now, before reading this part of this review (i.e. the main "review" synopsis itself), there are a couple of things you, dear reader, should know:
[1] I PURPOSEFULLY, while being completely aware of all the events of the original film (as well as being familiar with all of its subsequent sequels and related media offspring) did NOT watch the 1981 original before seeing this film;
[2] I am also quite aware of the reverence with which many people have for the original film and how its mix of gore and subversive humor have helped install its place in cinematic history; AND
[3] I am aware that no matter what I say the 2013 version of Evil Dead, thanks in part to a great, aggressive marketing campaign that has been able to pique the interests of both today's younger, used-to-gore horror generation and older fans of the original, will make a ton of money at the box office.
So, then, I am going to even bother to take the time and energy to compose a review of the film? Well, there are many reasons (my own ego, I have this forum to do so, etc.) but none of those are important. No, dear friend – we're friends, aren't we? – is because I saw it and if you're reading this, I suspect you have a desire to see the film as well ... And it might be best to temper your expectations if you plan to enjoy it.
First things first, the 2013 version of Evil Dead isn't scary. Maybe I've become single in my 30+ years on this earth and become numb to many things that go the proverbial bump in the night or the fact I haven't really enjoyed a horror movie since The Ring, but Evil Dead just feels like another average kids dying in the woods movie. In fact, it's so average that I have come to realize I was way too harsh when I wrote my original review of Cabin in the Woods, which was at least original and in retrospect, somewhat funny.
Once you've established the fact Evil Dead isn't scary, you may then start to notice just how uninterested you are in any of the film's characters – not that coming hoping for emotional, complex relationships – but there's not really a whole lot going on with any of them. Nope, these people are here to serve as victims, plain and simple. And while they do that well, they don't really do it all that well, if you know what I mean. Levy keeps things moving along well enough that she's sure to be a hit with the MTV Movie Awards crowd, but if you're over the age of say, 21, you might end up forgetting about the movie by the time you drive home. Maybe I just don't get it - fine. But if this is what's supposed to pass innovative, entertaining and sufficient as in regards to a horror movie, I'll pass.
The acting in Evil Dead is passable, I guess, although it is worth noting Jane Levy does a great job, looking kind of like a well-rested and showered Kristen Stewart in the role of Mia. These are the stereotypical (insert ethnicity) group of young teens/college/post graudate age kids doing the same usual things having the same ridiculous logic once it's clear something is clearly amiss and the humor – which is not as prevalent as you might hope for – is average at best.
Let me put it to you like this: If you removed the words "Evil Dead" from the movie and called it anything else, say "The Woods" or something, I'm pretty confident the average movie goer's level of excitement after seeing it would not be as high as it was before. It's not that the film's bad, it's just not really all that remarkable, either (despite what all the wonderful marketing and other reviews would have you believe). It's just another movie, only with a lot of history behind it. Save for a somewhat funny nail gun experience and the eventual arrival of the hero's infamous chainsaw, Evil Dead is more Average Dead at best. Unlike Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc., there are no real memorable heroes or villains to be had here, just some humor, a lot of blood for the sake of we need to market that there's a lot of blood and ... Not much else.
[1] I PURPOSEFULLY, while being completely aware of all the events of the original film (as well as being familiar with all of its subsequent sequels and related media offspring) did NOT watch the 1981 original before seeing this film;
[2] I am also quite aware of the reverence with which many people have for the original film and how its mix of gore and subversive humor have helped install its place in cinematic history; AND
[3] I am aware that no matter what I say the 2013 version of Evil Dead, thanks in part to a great, aggressive marketing campaign that has been able to pique the interests of both today's younger, used-to-gore horror generation and older fans of the original, will make a ton of money at the box office.
So, then, I am going to even bother to take the time and energy to compose a review of the film? Well, there are many reasons (my own ego, I have this forum to do so, etc.) but none of those are important. No, dear friend – we're friends, aren't we? – is because I saw it and if you're reading this, I suspect you have a desire to see the film as well ... And it might be best to temper your expectations if you plan to enjoy it.
First things first, the 2013 version of Evil Dead isn't scary. Maybe I've become single in my 30+ years on this earth and become numb to many things that go the proverbial bump in the night or the fact I haven't really enjoyed a horror movie since The Ring, but Evil Dead just feels like another average kids dying in the woods movie. In fact, it's so average that I have come to realize I was way too harsh when I wrote my original review of Cabin in the Woods, which was at least original and in retrospect, somewhat funny.
Once you've established the fact Evil Dead isn't scary, you may then start to notice just how uninterested you are in any of the film's characters – not that coming hoping for emotional, complex relationships – but there's not really a whole lot going on with any of them. Nope, these people are here to serve as victims, plain and simple. And while they do that well, they don't really do it all that well, if you know what I mean. Levy keeps things moving along well enough that she's sure to be a hit with the MTV Movie Awards crowd, but if you're over the age of say, 21, you might end up forgetting about the movie by the time you drive home. Maybe I just don't get it - fine. But if this is what's supposed to pass innovative, entertaining and sufficient as in regards to a horror movie, I'll pass.
The acting in Evil Dead is passable, I guess, although it is worth noting Jane Levy does a great job, looking kind of like a well-rested and showered Kristen Stewart in the role of Mia. These are the stereotypical (insert ethnicity) group of young teens/college/post graudate age kids doing the same usual things having the same ridiculous logic once it's clear something is clearly amiss and the humor – which is not as prevalent as you might hope for – is average at best.
Let me put it to you like this: If you removed the words "Evil Dead" from the movie and called it anything else, say "The Woods" or something, I'm pretty confident the average movie goer's level of excitement after seeing it would not be as high as it was before. It's not that the film's bad, it's just not really all that remarkable, either (despite what all the wonderful marketing and other reviews would have you believe). It's just another movie, only with a lot of history behind it. Save for a somewhat funny nail gun experience and the eventual arrival of the hero's infamous chainsaw, Evil Dead is more Average Dead at best. Unlike Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc., there are no real memorable heroes or villains to be had here, just some humor, a lot of blood for the sake of we need to market that there's a lot of blood and ... Not much else.
PARTING SHOT: A movie that will satisfy hardcore horror fans but leave the average movie goer a little more than just placated, Evil Dead is worth watching ... But only if you really feel a need to watch it because you've already convinced yourself you will enjoy it.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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