Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez
Directed by Fede Alvarez
Sam Raimis Evil Dead horror legacy is alive and well thanks to an updated remake, which ditches the camp but goes for the jugular in the gore department severed limbs and all.
First-time feature filmmaker Fede Alvarez steps behind the camera for this exercise in gruesome storytelling which, although lacking in originality, packs a visceral punch.The narrative formula, aside from minor tinkering, remains the same five friends visit a remote cabin in the woods and unwittingly summon a demonic force that threatens to send them all to hell.
Although the 1981 version put Bruce Campbell on the cult hero map thanks to his snappy one-liners, this reboot features a breakout performance from Jane Levy, star of TVs Suburgatory, who commits herself amazingly to a gripping and sometimes disturbing character.
Although Evil Dead is bereft of the schlocky humour that made the original series such a hit, numerous nods to its predecessors are peppered throughout which are sure to keep diehard fans delighted.
The remake succeeds mainly thanks to the use of practical special effects instead of CGI; the results are truly effective and make for some shocking thrills.
Evil Dead can be seen on the surface as a lackluster rehash of a horror classic but closer inspection uncovers a gritty homage that pays respects to its roots while providing enough thrills to satiate todays demanding moviegoers.
