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Posted By: bIGdADDIEhENRY at 12:35pm, September 20, 2008
I was like ten or 11 the first time I saw evil dead. It freaked me out back then and confused me. I didn't understand why a woman got attacked by a fucking tree or why Ash said, "we can't burry Shelly....she's a friend of ours." But when I rewatched it in high school, then in college, and after college, it just keeps getting more awesome-er (yes I did say awesome=er). The trilogy is the only flawless trilogy out there in cinema as far as I am concerned.
RH
Posted By: Darkened Soul at 12:50pm, September 14, 2008
I remember the first time I watched The Evil Dead. And I must say it was one of the moments when I was utterly speechless and amazed at what I had just witnessed. The entire movie was frightening from beginning to end. It also had a few moments that might be considered comical. But overall it was a spectacular gore fest that any true horror fan would love. I also found myself watching it again and again. Maybe it's because of the fact that I live in East Tennessee not too far from where the movie was filmed. Or maybe, it's just because it was an amazing film that will stand the test of time for generations to come.
My favourite and the best horror film ever made. If you haven't already seen it watch the original *uncut* version. Think *pencil* and you will know what I mean!
Let me be blunt: I ignored this movie with my life for years because I assumed it was just another cheesy zombie movie that would amount to nothing more than yet another night of boredom that I’d end up falling asleep to. I LOVE zombie video games, but I have never once seen a zombie movie that could fulfill that awesomeness and utter zombie carnage that games like Dead Rising and Resident Evil did. Until I saw The Evil Dead, I assumed it was simply impossible to put that much awesomeness that zombie games have on film. Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead both bored me, were pathetic, and couldn’t come close to filling that hole that zombie games put in my heart. So, why would I want to watch something like The Evil Dead?
I only watched it because one of my favorite critics, Yahtzee from Zero Punctuation, suggested it. To my shock, The Evil Dead is the first and only zombie movie I have ever enjoyed. Ever.
Unlike boring George A. Romero films—
The amount of punk carnage was not toned down, much like the games I love. The characters actually have some personality and had something to say other than: “Oh, God, zombies!” over and over again. They didn’t bother to ask what is going on, giving them a sense of self-aware realism. This movie was also purely for ENTERTAINMENT. Let me repeat myself: ENTERTAINMENT. Do half the directors/writers out there even know what that world means? There was no brainless social commentary we’ve heard since we were old enough to pee on our own, as seems to be included in every movie ever made by law or something. I think that is why I like Sam Raimbi so much, because he clearly states that his movies are for ENTERTAINMENT (I’m going to put that in all caps from now on in hopes some random director who stumbles on this will remember what it means) and not for retarded critical acclaim or some pointless social commentary.
As for the violence, for an 80’s movie, it was freaking childishly amazing! This is the kind of stuff I’d dream about as a little boy. Some of the gore effects were hard to look at because they were insanely outdated, but they were few and far between. At times, they even added to the cheese atmosphere. This is just as violent as modern horror movies like 30 Days of Night and The Hills Have Eyes remake, if you can look past the armature blood effects. (I’m mainly referring to the lack of decent blood on the severed limbs/heads.)
Also, the cheesy disturbing factor added to it. But unlike modern horror movies—like Mirrors—there was no cheap cliché scares. The clichés that were there this movie created, which I can ignore. The idea of being raped by trees was pretty original and laughably disturbing, in a good way, as well. Also, the idea of zombies that . . . umm, shape-shifted—is that what they did?—was both original and just awesome. I’m not even sure I’d call them zombies as much as vampire-evil-doll-clown-zombie-demon . . . things.
Overall, this gave me a new hope that zombie movies could be truly amazing and gory. This really is THE best zombie movie EVER. Why? Because it remembers ENTERTAINMENT.
What more can I say?
Posted By: thedescent08 at 7:12pm, August 26, 2008
There is no need for me to give a detailed review of this movie because if you're on this web site you've likely seen it. If you haven't, just go out and buy it. The Evil Dead is hands down among the best horror ever made, it makes my personal top five list easy. Though it starts off slow, and lacks the comedic value of its sequels it just has something special about it. Whatever that something is I love it. Save for ED2 everything else Raimi has produced is crap, Spiderman included. At least we got this gem out of him first.
"What more can be said of Raimi's legendary cult-classic that hasn't already been beaten to death like a puss-oozing zombie that crosses paths with Ash? Possibly nothing, but I'll try.
Before Spiderman and before the countless spin-offs of this movie were made or even conceived, Raimi and friends decided to make a low budget zombie flick mainly for fun, and surprisingly it has become a masterpiece of shock and horror. Possibly a perfect example of how to make an entertaining film on a shoe-string budget, The Evil Dead delivers what it promises, the ultimate in grueling horror. Even with it's mild budget and sometimes shaky acting, TED shocks and spooks the audience through chilling atmosphere and some of the most violent effects ever put on film. Those who are squeamish need not apply. As a matter of fact, just run for your girly life.
There are several reasons this film succeeds. First, Raimi's camera work is truly masterful. By using fast camera work and aggressive shots, Raimi has created an eerie world that is sometimes hard to look at but too entertaining to turn away from. His style from behind the camera is absolutely unmistakable. This is perfectly exemplified in the beginning of the film, where the camera alone creates enough atmosphere to leave you biting your nails in suspense of what's to come. You feel at any moment someone is going to get their neck chomped on by some zombie hiding just out of view. One of the most impressive openings I can think of, perfection in pacing and atmosphere. It gets even better once the action starts. Some shots hold for a seeming eternity, and part of you wishes for it to stop for it's unrestrained gore and violence...but the other part of you is getting a sick kick out of it. One of the most impressive shots is where the darkness from the trees begins to chase people, knocking any tree or obstacle down that happens to be in it's way. Truly magnificent technique, however they did it.
TED also succeeds because it's self-aware of the fact that it's a simple zombie movie and never takes itself too seriously, and doesn't expect the audience to do so either. It's meant to be campy, cheesy, revolting and chilling at the same time. There are moments in the film where it seems to be making fun of itself and the genre in general. For this fact alone, one cannot hold certain things against it such as sometimes questionable acting from the supporting cast and sometimes the downright implausibility of certain situations. If you can accept this and you're not put off by mannequin ultra-violence, then you should find yourself on the supporter's side of the fence. I think some don't like it because it can be ridiculous and cheesy in parts, although it was meant to be. Even with the fact that it's sometimes cheesy, there are some downright chilling moments in this film that most horror films nowadays cannot begin to muster. Case in point, the zombie screaming from the cellar door. The zombie growls and howls themselves are enough to send shivers up one's spine. And let's not forget the unforgettable tree love scene, ridiculous and hilarious simultaneously.
Last but certainly not least: Bruce Campbell as Ash, the badass of all zombie films. Campbell is Ash, period, and always will be.
In my opinion, this is by far the best of the trilogy, and although there could have been more of the chainsaw, this is the definitive zombie film and probably always will be. I feel it succeeds over it's sequels due to it's increased violence and lack of humor in comparison. It's blood, gore, camera work, and shock factor are still formidable even today and are what make this such a cult classic. If you've ever liked any horror film, this is an absolute must-see.
Love or hate it, there it is." -- Manthorpe, imdb.com
Tied with 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' as being the best horror film of the eighties, and is certainly among the most definitive horror classics of all time that accomplishes so incredibly much with so little.
