Essential 80s horror flick!

For the ultimate paradigmatic definition of a cult classic horror movie, one should simply behold the unforgettable ultra-low-budget Sam Raimi flick The Evil Dead. Back in 1979, Raimi and a cheery gang of friends journeyed out into the woods of pastoral Tennessee with the objective in mind of making a movie. Raimi was a filmmaker who had previously directed low-budget short films that seldom received the attention they deserved. Those working on the movie had hoped for it to be shown in a few theatres at most...they certainly never anticipated the cult status it received.

Audiences very enthusiastically welcomed The Evil Dead and adored the distinct, unusual and impeccable blend of over-the-top comedy and gore.
This movie is overwhelmingly remarkable for a number of reasons. For starters, it marks the official feature film debut of director Sam Raimi. This film brought the director into the spotlight. Raimi went on to make The Quick and the Dead, A Simple Plan and the recent live-action Spider-Man films.
Secondly, actor Bruce Campbell became a star after starring as the film's main character. Campbell went on to become the B-movie king for a reason.
Thirdly, it's one of the only popular commercial films to earn the dreaded NC-17 rating from the MPAA. Raimi was not afraid to toss around copious amounts of blood.

The Evil Dead is a ludicrously gory, silly, absurd yet hilarious horror/comedy hybrid. It's so violent and gory, in fact, that it makes Arnie's 80s action flicks seem like a pleasant picnic. When you're not reaching for the vomit bucket due to the gore, there are many moments that create genuine, spine-tingling terror. All these merits apply, yet it was made on a shoestring budget of about $350,000. It was also made outside a studio system, allowing the filmmakers the freedom to do whatever they wished. The Blair Witch Project also followed this technique, although The Evil Dead surpasses that film by a country mile. The artistic merits of Blair Witch are quite doubtful, whereas The Evil Dead is a benchmark in its genre.

For those who have never encountered Raimi's classic flick, it is a film that horror buffs simply must check out at some stage. It has a simple, almost non-existent plot...but it's very suitable and predominantly influential.
It is a straightforward tale of five college friends who travel to an isolated, abandoned old wood cabin for a weekend getaway. Upon arrival, they're fairly discontented due to how run-down and ancient the structure is. Shortly after arriving, they discover a tape recording and a creepy old book. This book is known as the "Necronomicon", a.k.a. "The Book of the Dead". The recording warns the friends that reading the book could awaken evil Candarian demons. These spirits become awoken from their "ancient slumber" (as a demon so tenderly describes it), and begin possessing the friends one-by-one. Ash (Campbell) is a coward who can't help but watch as his friends are helplessly transformed into grotesque demons. The only way to kill a possessed victim is through the act of bodily dismemberment. As the night progresses, Ash's friends are turned into demonic Deadites (that is, zombies). Now it's up to Ash to survive the night and battle the Evil Dead.

In a nutshell: The Evil Dead is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. It warranted the NC-17 rating from the MPAA with good reasoning. Several sequences cross the line profoundly. The gore and violence is slow to begin, however for the final 40 minutes it's virtually non-stop. The fake blood nonchalantly covers every inch of the set, all the prosthetics, and even the costumes. At one stage Bruce Campbell's shirt was so soaked in blood (i.e. corn syrup and food colouring) that after dying it by the fire it solidified before crumbling into pieces when Campbell attempted to put it back on again! But fear not: everything looks very fake and it's the point! However, unlike the customary modern gore-fests such as Hostel, the film is so fantastic and it succeeds because of the extreme gore. Without it, we wouldn't love it as much. The ideal concoction of over-the-top gore, black humour, and the use of bizarre and eerie sound effects creates one of the most brutal yet entertaining horror movies ever made! It also gives new meaning to the word "gore". The make-up department efficiently use every cent of the budget to ensure the film is as gory as possible. By golly, their objective was completed!

The Evil Dead was never meant to be a masterpiece. In fact its modest aspirations are what make it a masterpiece. The opening shot is enough to inform the audience of its humble aspirations. For said opening shot the camera zooms through the forest floor. This shot is of course what the "evil" is seeing. The camera was attached to a plank of wood and carried across the forest floor to create the point-of-view shots for the demonic force. Throughout the rest of the film, Raimi injects marvellous energy into the straightforward plot. The claustrophobic set is used to his advantage as the audience feels trapped in a restricted space in an isolated setting. The film was shot on 16mm cameras, similar to Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The grainy film generates an incredibly effective atmosphere of dread, permeated with jump-out-of-your-seat shocks and laugh-out-loud moments. The exceptional music adds to this. The music is effective whenever it's utilised. The shaky handheld camera is employed very efficiently as well.

Despite being filmed on a minuscule budget, The Evil Dead convincingly surpasses all similar films. The unusual camera angles and masterful editing prove that it's by far and away ahead of its time. The infamous tree raping scene, during which roots and branches from a tree violate a woman, flaunts some highly impressive special effects despite the ultra low budget. This proves that Raimi is capable of pulling off impressive feats that would even prove difficult in a multi-million dollar movie. There are countless moments in the film that can frighten viewers. There are also moments that will repulse others. Raimi masterfully merges the ability to develop tension with moments of either horror or humour. In the long run, this sets The Evil Dead apart from any other film of its era and genre. The only film I've seen that matches the fun and shameless camp of the film is its own sequel-come-remake. It's been decades since the release of this film and its sequel, but not even modern filmmakers on a high budget can top it. It's outrageously stylish, enjoyably disgusting and just plain fun!

The Evil Dead is not for all tastes. Some will absolutely abhor it, others will love it for what it is. Director Sam Raimi has crafted a benchmark movie that added innovative elements of cinematic elegance and subtle humour to the pale horror genre. Raimi saw this genre as the easiest and quickest way into the industry. With visual classiness such as this being featured, any genre could have guaranteed the talented individual a lucrative Hollywood career. The Evil Dead is campy, silly and at times very laughable. It's shamelessly what the film aspired to be. It's also excruciatingly dated and awfully fake at times. Once again, it's exactly what the film wanted to be. The acting is second-rate at times as well. But this is a horror film made by precocious young people, some with very little experience in acting, so it can be overlooked.

This is a genre classic that deserves every accolade it has been handed. Sam Raimi's tribute to Night of the Living Dead, The Exorcist, and tonnes of additional horror flicks is an example of the genre done correctly. The film has its tongue firmly in its cheek, it never takes itself seriously, and for the first time in years an audience could mix emphatic laughter with their screams. Watch it on its own terms, and you'll definitely enjoy it! Followed by a sequel/remake entitled Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn.

Trivia fact: Joel Coen is credited as being an assistant editor. Yes, it's the same guy that went on to make Fargo and No Country for Old Men among others. Another trivia fact: actors Theresa Tilly and Richard DeManincor appeared under fake names as they were scared of what could happen to their career by starring in the film.

8.2/10