Simply put, I love horror films. Since I was 7 years old, I’ve had a fascination with the genre. Halloween, Friday the 13th, you name it. One of my favorite horror films is the 1981 Sam Raimi classic “The Evil Dead,” starring Bruce Campbell as the venerable Ashley “Ash” J. Williams. A remake of the ” The Evil Dead” huh, I don’t know what I think about that, I thought when I saw the ads on TV.

I must say, I had wished that Sam Raimi made another Evil Dead film after 1992′s “Army of Darkness,” but other than the well-received 2009 gem “Drag Me to Hell,” he has not returned to the horror genre.

There were rumors that began circulating some time ago that there would be a reboot of the Evil Dead series. Alas, in 2013, we have a new version of “Evil Dead,” helmed by Fede Alvarez, and produced by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell.

The story is a familiar one. Five twenty-something friends spend a weekend in a remote cabin out in the middle of the woods. They happen upon the Book of the Dead, evil in the surrounding woods is summoned, and attempts to possess and take everyone out by one. As we all know, in a film in which a bunch of young friends inhabit a remote cabin, there’s likely to be a body count involved.

The acting is solid (as much as it could be for a horror film.) The only really familiar face in the cast is Jane Levy (ABC’s “Suburgatory“) who portrays the focal character Mia. Her older brother David is played by Shiloh Fernandez.

Alvarez’ Evil Dead veers off in some different directions than the 1981 original. Gone are the off-kilter camera shots for which Sam Raimi improvised with cameras on 2×4′s and other low-tech solution. Also gone, thankfully, is the use of clown-like demon makeup . Still present are sequences that up the gore literally seem to soak every inch of film with blood. There are also a few nudges and winks that seem to exhibit some of the gonzo wit Raimi infused into the original.

For fans of the original series expecting a huge letdown… you can relax. Fede Alvarez succeeds at crafting a horror film that embraces some of the simple charm and shock of its 1981 parent, and updates it appropriately with modern special effects capabilities and thematic elements. Without spoiling anything, I’ll mention that just like the original, this film features a few scenes that will make even the most seasoned horror fans squirm in their seats. This is a scary movie indeed.

Visually, the film looks fantastic. Effective use of lighting, quick edits, and close ups in many ways mimic the pacing of the 1981 classic. There are several interesting point-of-view shots in the woods that seem to replicate similar shots in the original as well.

How does the film sound? In one word… perfect. I was really impressed with how effectively the film utilized spatial and directional sound effects. The soundtrack was eerily appropriate delivering heightened tension and shock when needed.

The full Redband trailer appears below.This should only be viewed by mature audiences!

Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Screenplay by: Fede Alvarez & Rodo Sayagues
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes

My Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

If you like the original Evil Dead film… this is a must-see. You know you want to see it… I really enjoyed it!

If you like horror films, or enjoy having the pants scared off you… this is the film to see.

I’d love to hear what you thought of the new film, sound off about the old film, or simply sound off about horror films in general.

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