Evil Dead Review

Written by: Moviemaven   

At first glance, Sam Raimi's notorious Evil Dead may seem more campy than scary. But there is good reason that this low-budget masterpiece has delved its way into horror film history.

I don't mind telling you that when I first saw it, I laughed a lot and made fun of the hokey props and over-the-top characters. But when the lights went down that night, I changed my tune. Evil Dead actually ended up being one of the few flicks of the countless that I have viewed to actually frighten me. It's hard to explain how. All I know is that the high-pitched mocking laughter of the demon-infested girls found its way into the back of my mind. I vividly recall going over the various scenes in my mind that night as sleep was choosing to remain a stranger. Every sound made me wonder if the deadites were on their way to claim me as one of their own.

There are many classic horror elements involved with Evil Dead. We have a secluded, broken down cabin in the mountains, five friends looking for a good time over the weekend...oh yeah and the Book of the Dead.

The trip starts out as it should. These guys are going to the mountains for a little R and R along with some T and A. They had no intention of awakening evil spirits and turning into unholy creatures that can only be killed by total dismemberment. But then, the unexpected things are always the most fun when it comes to vacations, right?

The noble hero, Ash is the character that catapulted B-movie heartthrob, Bruce Campbell, to fame. His classic good looks and to-the-hilt deliverance of the cheesy lines is the reason we all love him. Every girl dreams of a hero like Ash, and every guy wants to be one. Okay, so maybe we could do without the hacking your girlfriend to pieces part (take notes here, Baby).

The effects are really not great(okay they are pretty bad) but that is part of the charm. Anyone can make a great film (one would think) when they have tons of money and all sorts of toys at their disposal. But Raimi shows us you can make a terrific movie with nothing but papier-mache' and oatmeal. Evil Dead proves its not about the budget, its about the vision. Now only if all of Hollywood could see things through the eyes of Sam Raimi.