New faces save Evil Dead from getting inane in this respectable remake of a Sam Raimi film. The horror flick has some very good special effects, CGI and makeup that turn the film into a gory blood bath.  Although the script does follow the original made in 1981, the evil in this film far outweighs anything Raimi did 32 years ago. Horror fans should be eating this one up with a side of plasma.

A car driven by David (Shiloh Fernandez) accompanied by his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) and his dog Grandpa speeds along a wooded highway then turns onto a side road that leads to a thick wooded area in a forest.  David pulls up to a decaying house where three people, Mia (Jane Levy) his sister, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) his best friend, and Olivia (Jessica Lucas) are upset over their late arrival. After exiting the car, David tries to make amends for the lost time, but Eric makes an issue of it.

Jane Levy in TriStar Pictures’ horror EVIL DEAD.

Being best friends, the group has taken on a surprise intervention of getting Mia off drugs by having her go cold turkey at the remote cabin. After they settle in, Eric finds a strange book and starts to read passages from it. As he reads a bizarre sentence aloud, Mia freaks out from her drug withdrawal and runs off into the woods.  There she sees a strange teen with an evil look which causes Mia to run away screaming toward the cabin.

The film gets very dark and gory as each of the cabin mates gets exposed to the evil that has taken hold of the house. Director Fede Alvarez does his best to scare as he slowly starts to infuse wickedness drawn from the strange force that infects Mia.  With a lot of disgusting gore, slicing and dicing, doom-entrancing soundtrack and a heavy measure of disquieting sound effects, Alvarez creates a psychotic atmosphere that chills and terrifies. The only downside is that the film is predictable, but if you just go with the flow, your terror genes with overcome that flaw.

(l to r) Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Shiloh Fernandez, Jane Levy and Elizabeth Blackmore in TriStar Pictures’ EVIL DEAD

The set alone becomes a character in the plot as the old log cabin represents a repulsive cage with its animals being the five unknowing visitors.  The rotted wood of the logs that make up the frame are like shredded skin, its stairs to the basement are weak and covered in a coating of dried blood, while a bedroom becomes a ghastly entryway into a bathroom that beckons fear. Alvarez adds bloody rain, lightning and a quagmire of mud to his terror as each element takes a stab at making the lives of the five friends fearful and disoriented.

Director Fede Alvarez on the set of TriStar Pictures’ horror EVIL DEAD.

The acting by some fairly new role players becomes important to keeping the film’s story the center of attraction.  Newcomers include Jane Levy (Fun Size, “Shameless”, “Suburgatory”),  Shiloh Fernandez (Red Riding Hood), Lou Taylor Pucci who was amazing in the indie film The Story of Luke, Jessica Lucas who played Lilly in Cloverfield and Elizabeth Blackmore who has had a fair run at a couple of TV Series.  It’s their ensemble acting in Evil Dead that brings out their individual talents and makes the film work.

Evil Dead has been rated R by the MPAA for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language. Fans of Sam Raimi’s original, The Evil Dead, should go in knowing this is not an exact copy (however, they may get a sense of déjà vu)  The classic 1981 film doesn’t hold a candle to this update horror surprise.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A scary blood fest of evil and debauchery. (B-)

WARNING:

“Get a good night’s sleep before going to see this film as you may not be able to afterward.  I’m just saying.”

Additional Film Information:

• Cast: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore
• Directed by: Fede Alvarez
• Genre: Horror, Remake
• MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language.
• Running Time: 1 hr 30 min
• Opening Date: April 5, 2013
• Distributed by: TriStar Pictures