Alice Oscura, Featured Writer
It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since the release of Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead (2013). And now with the recent release of Evil Dead Rise, I thought it would be fun to revisit the 2013 film.
Evil Dead (2013) is the fourth film of the Evil Dead series and dubbed a re-imagining of 1981’s The Evil Dead. Actress Jane Levy (Don’t Breathe) stars in the pivotal role of Mia Allen. The trip to the remote cabin is an intervention led by Mia’s friends and estranged brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) to help her overcome her heroin addiction. The story smartly situates the main characters in the necessary location without using the age-old trope of a bunch of horny teenagers heading out into the woods to have fun. The tone is more serious and opens up a whole new playing field. It is easy to see where the lines between withdrawal hallucinations and demonic possession can become blurred.
The story manages to stay true to the original material without making it seem campy, and yet they were able to successfully switch the narrative skillfully enough to let the film be able to stand on its own merits. Another bonus was the fact that Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Bruce Campbell were producers for the film, and they were able to give tons of creative support behind the scenes. The uncomplicated nature of the story made it easier to appeal to various audience demographics and not just the ones driven by the nostalgia for The Evil Dead series.
Unfortunately, the supporting characters were not always likable and unable to draw the sympathy of viewers in conjunction with the story being told. However, it was apparent that while the cast was more than dedicated to their performances the script was written in such a way as to draw the focus on Mia’s character most of the time. Levy’s performance was phenomenal, to say the least. Mia’s battle is almost metaphoric in the sense that she ends up becoming possessed by a demon that she vanquishes by the end of the film when the main goal was to conquer her demon of heroin addiction. She destroys herself physically to survive and destroy the demon. Kind of poetic in a sense; nothing can sober you up faster than having to fight for your life against a demon.
Back in the day, Raimi was praised for his use of practical effects on the set of The Evil Dead (1981). Evil Dead (2013) adopts the same practice here but managed to combine it effectively with unique and brilliant cinematography. Not to mention the fact that they did not shy from the violence, blood, and gore that has become so synonymous with The Evil Dead series. There are some tough sequences where even the most avid horror fan will find themselves cringing or averting their eyes from the screen.
The fact that people are still discussing and making comparisons to the original says a lot about the film’s relevance and strength ten years later. And I am sure that it is safe to say that horror aficionados all over the globe have been doing a re-watch of The Evil Dead series (guilty as charged here) while they waited with bated breath for the release of Evil Dead Rise. Consensus has been positive since Evil Dead Rise’s release last week and has surpassed $40 million worldwide in its debut weekend alone. Whether you are looking for something absurdly campy and nostalgic or straight-up possession, it is clear that the entire series has a lot to offer fans.
So, are you a fan of Evil Dead (2013)? What’s your favourite scene? And you can check more Deadite-related content below:
Dark Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump. I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers’ curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. Read More