Writer: Fede Alvarez, Diablo Cody
Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas, Lou Taylor Pucci, Elizabeth Blackmore
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/
Alright, a re-make of the classic Evil Dead. Everyone knows I pretty much worship at the church of Raimi. So, obviously, this re-make was going to bring me out of hiding to do a new review. I actually was dreading this re-make until I read a couple reviews from the early pre-screenings and checked out some video blogs and everything people said made it seem hopeful. So I started to think, maybe this was going to be worth seeing. They must have been paid off. It was awful.
I know people are still going to want to see this for themselves, so I don't want to give away too much. So I'll just give a basic run-down. It starts out with something different. Not what you're expecting from watching the original. Which quickly turns to cheese and makes it difficult not to laugh. After that, it's still the basic story of 5 kids going to a cabin in the woods and getting fucked off by demons. A few changes here and there. Names, slight plot variations. We do have some familiar themes in music and sound, but it just wasn't enough. You're led to believe it's going to be brutal, but instead it comes off pretty tame. (Note: adding things like a nail gun and some extra gore does not make a film "brutal". For real brutality you have to bring it home in the script.)
We had a good time. A small screening party with some good food and a few friends. If it hadn't been for that and I had paid to go see it I would have felt ripped off. In spite of everything I left the theater feeling slightly disappointed.
Verdict: * *
- Xtoph
