“Evil Dead” is a groovy gore fest

Fans of Sam Raimi’s 1981 horror flick “The Evil Dead” have undoubtedly felt apprehensive about the recent reboot of the series. However, as a devoted Deadite myself I can assure those fans, Fede Alvarez’s reimagining is well worth the hype it’s been building for the past two years.

“Evil Dead” brings us a new premise, new characters and new special effects that create a film capable of standing on its own, so viewers who haven’t seen the original needn’t be concerned. The film centers on Mia (played by Jane Levy), a recovering heroin addict who is staking out in a cabin with her friends in an attempt to quit the stuff cold turkey. The film starts with a bang and really never gives the audience a chance to breathe before plunging back into the brutal violence and endless gore that makes up the bulk of the story.

What I really enjoyed about “Evil Dead” is the fact that, although the film is heavy on blood and guts, character development is never sacrificed for gore. Every character is unique – there are no “stock characters” to be found. Shiloh Fernandez and Lou Taylor Pucci bring strong performances as Mia’s estranged brother David and her best friend Eric, respectively. There is real emotion between the characters, which is something I feel the original “Evil Dead” lacked. Also absent from this new “Evil Dead” is the humor of the original, with the filmmakers instead going for a darker version.

Overall, “Evil Dead” is an unrelenting thrill ride. There is so much to look at on screen (what you can look at without cringing away, that is) and the imagery is striking. This is a horror film that will stick with you, and it definitely lives up to its advertising tagline, “The most terrifying film you will ever experience.”