Before commencing on this review, this writer has a confession to make: he has never seen any of the previous “Evil Dead” films.
Gasp all you will; regardless, the cultural impact of the franchise is hard to miss. Most people would have seen clips or GIFs of a blood-spattered Bruce Campbell having the time of his life, chainsaw and all.
Other than being among the American actor’s most iconic work, the “Evil Dead” series is also what shot then fledgling director Sam Raimi to fame.
The original 1981 film, “The Evil Dead”, was infamous for its gruesome scenes and disturbing imagery, much to the reported delight of one Stephen King. And it has since spawned at least three sequel films, as well as a more recent television series, “Ash vs the Evil Dead”, starring the aforementioned Campbell.
In any case, films that are part of a series are stronger if they are able to stand on their own without requiring audiences to have watched the previous instalments.
In this regard, “Evil Dead Rise” succeeds, while making references to its predecessors and Easter-egg winks at other horror franchises.
Written and directed by Lee Cronin, and executive produced by Raimi and Campbell, the supernatural horror this time around takes place not in an isolated cabin in the woods, but in a dingy low-cost apartment.
Meet Beth (Lily Sullivan), an artist who pays her estranged older sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her children a visit on a dark and stormy night. The family reunion is cut short, however, when a seemingly supernatural earthquake strikes, cutting the power and revealing a hidden vault in the basement (of course).
Ellie’s son Danny (Morgan Davies) becomes the unwitting instigator of doom when he crawls into the vault and retrieves a nefarious book. It turns out to be the Necronomicon, the evil grimoire responsible for the horrors of the previous films.
Afterwards, everything goes to hell, quite literally, as one by one, the family gets possessed by murderous evil beings known as Deadites. Jeng jeng jeng.
Gore in full glory
In a time when the genre is being oversaturated with sloppy products, it’s nice to see a new iteration of a classic showing just how good horror can be.
For those who are looking forward to the spillage of blood, good news: there is plenty of it here, litres and litres of the stuff. The depictions of body horror are likely to leave a surgeon queasy and squirming in their seat.
To its credit, the film depends a lot on practical effects as opposed to CGI; it’s easier to be terrified when you know something physical is lurking.
Fans of the franchise may miss Campbell’s hammy performances, which would be ill-fitting with the tone of “Evil Dead Rise”. Fortunately, the primary cast plays their roles well, even if some of the characters – namely the kids – often act in ways that make you want to slap yourself (or them) in frustration.
For instance, why on earth would Kassie (Nell Fisher) unlock the door just because her mother on the other side cajoles her with sweet talk? Child, it wasn’t that long ago that you saw Mommy dearest covered in blood and grinning horribly – all potential signs that maybe, just maybe, she’s not herself! #facepalm
So, is “Evil Dead Rise” worth your while? For fans of the franchise, or of the macabre and grotesque, absolutely.
That said, the true horror here, perhaps, is not so much in the ghoulish Deadites or visceral visuals of decapitations and dismemberment as it is in the thought of an innocent family being tormented.
Indeed, the notion of one’s loved ones being subjected to evil incarnate in the span of a single night – thanks to a simple, foolhardy act involving an ancient tome – is the thing that will truly send chills down your spine.
‘Evil Dead Rise’ opens in cinemas nationwide on Thursday.