Evil Dead (2013)

Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods. The evil presence possesses them until only one is left to fight for survival.

Director:

Fede Alvarez

Writers:

Fede Alvarez (screenplay), Diablo Cody (screenplay),

Stars:

Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas

Cast

Cast overview:
Jane Levy	...	Mia
Shiloh Fernandez	...	David
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Eric
Jessica Lucas	...	Olivia
Elizabeth Blackmore	...	Natalie
Phoenix Connolly	...	Teenager
Jim McLarty	...	Harold
Sian Davis	...	Old Woman
Stephen Butterworth	...	Toothless Redneck
Karl Willetts	...	Long Haired Redneck
Randal Wilson	...	Abomination Mia
Rupert Degas	...	Demon (voice)
Bob Dorian	...	Professor Knowby from the Original 'Evil Dead' (voice)
Ellen Sandweiss	...	Cheryl from the Original 'Evil Dead' (voice)
Inca	...	Grandpa the Dog

Storyline

Five twenty-something friends become holed up in a remote cabin. When they discover a Book of the Dead, they unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left intact to fight for survival.

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Plot Keywords:

Woods | Demon | Book Of The Dead | Cabin | Animate Tree | 

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Taglines:

The most terrifying film you will ever experience.

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Genres:

Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook [es]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Posesión infernal

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

FilmDistrict, Ghost House Pictures, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gillian Jacobs auditioned for the role of Mia but lost to Lily Collins. Collins later dropped out and was replaced by Jane Levy.

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Quotes

Mia: [possessed, to David] Why don't you come down here and let me suck your cock, pretty boy?

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Crazy Credits

There is a short scene after the credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Evil Dead (2007)
James mentions the remake that is in the works.

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Soundtracks

"Baby, Little Baby"
Written by Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues
Performed by Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez
Published by Fede Alvarez (ASCAP) and Rodo Saygues (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Harmless, but not necessary

Fede Alvarez's Evil Dead is likely the best film that could be made in current times bearing the title as Sam Raimi's cult classic. Nonetheless, it's a film that is always aware of its goal - to be as gory and as excessive as possible - and creates an easygoing vibe that will likely appeal to those who hold its original so dear to their hearts.

This sort of depends on your response to the exclusion of the original film's main character, Ash, who was played by Bruce Campbell, who serves as an executive producer on this remake. His absence wasn't a big deal for a non-fan like myself, but I can sense something of an upset being that the film doesn't include its own main character. However, it's not like Friday the 13th without a Jason, or a visit to Elm Street without Freddy, so there isn't a huge hole in the film's interior.

We focus on five kids that venture out to a remote cabin, only this time, they're going there for a slightly different reason; they're trying to get their friend Mia (Jane Levy) sober from drug abuse and get her back on the road to mental stability. The group winds up stumbling upon a book of the dead, which to add to ominousness, is inked in blood and bound by human flesh. It unleashes a demon into Mia, who in return, attempts to mutilate and butcher her friends, which will turn them into demons as well.

If you want gore, you'll get enough gore for an entire horror franchise. With the original driving force behind The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi, still having a reasonable say in what goes on, the feel of the classic film is present alone in its abundance of bloodshed. Tongues are ripped in two, blood is vomited, flesh is frequently punctuated by knives, spears, glass, and whatnot, and violence and brutality is commonplace. I was astonished by how it is handled; not in the vein of another Hostel sequel, that would generate melancholic attitudes because of the constant brutality, but in the way where it is more of a novelty rather than a sickness. That's what, I believe, makes the film so fun and entertaining; it isn't so keen on being sick and nasty as it is on being a grotesque piece of entertainment.

Gone besides Ash, however, is that feeling of raw, unnerving naturalism that was present heavily in the original film. Raimi's low budget endeavor seemed to be a surreal document of a trip went wrong, using original camera angles and woodsy videography to generate effective atmosphere and tone. This remake employs these tactics nicely, but with more of a well-refined, studio touch. Consider the POV-shots Alvarez attempts at, in order to effectively mimic (or perhaps pay tribute) similar sequences in the original film. They still work because we are unsure of what exactly it what the POV is from. However, they feel more polished and less amateur, which leaves us with more of a seldom appreciation than what we saw the first time around.

This is the kind of horror film that effectively works, even though it has its own limitations. It still favors weirdness and gross-out instances over character (even though this one tries a bit harder to evoke personality with some of its cast), and character stupidity is rather prominent here. And yet, there is enjoyment to be had simply because the events are fun and lax and the buckets of gore (all natural, by the way - no CGI) are a shockingly pleasant addition. This doesn't have the unexpected setups, plot twists, and constant entertainment of recent efforts like The Cabin in the Woods and Final Destination 5, but it does have a heart and a sense of fun and terror.

NOTE: My video review of Evil Dead, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YXN13tiA8I Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, and Elizabeth Blackmore. Directed by: Fede Alvarez.