10/28 @ Somerville Theatre
Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is remembered in so many ways. The incredibly indie horror flick, infamously shot with a low budget and not a whole lot of prior filmmaking experience, sparks a flame for creative minds once they sit through it for the first time. The ingenuity of make-up, camera work, Bruce Campbell, and all that fucking gore does the trick every time.
An easy place to set your movie is the woods for a lot of reasons, but it takes a lot of effort to do big things with a sparse setting. The first of Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy makes woods a genuinely frightening place to be. It’s unpredictable, whether it be the fog covering every inch of the space to create mystery, or THOSE tree roots that fucked up every kid’s brain when they snuck in a late-night screening. Similar titles like Friday The 13thare comforting campfire films that don’t necessarily evoke a sense of danger. The Evil Dead is dangerous because its wild nightmare is put together with love and passion, every bit of its environment used to its maximum potential, leading viewers down unpredictable routes to hell.
The cabin itself is another great use of a low budget. Its small rooms with the moonlight bleeding onto the old wood, the chains on the basement, and all the blood splatter is utilized by Raimi and company with what appears to be joy for the craft. Nobody is trying to make it a believable movie; however, everybody is trying to make the best movie they possibly can. All the performances post-demonic possession are all fantastic. They are over the top to a ridiculous degree. After over a dozen viewings, I’m still unnerved at the high-pitched laughter and dreaded screams. Tom Sullivan’s effects are also fantastic. Visceral simplicity is how I would describe it. Every ooze of blood is sold to you immediately, never holding back. Campbell’s performance is not overstated by fans of these movies. His heroism in the face of pure insanity is matched by quick humorous expressions of confusion. There is something about his presence, movements, and delivery that helps keep the movie exciting to watch over and over again.
The recent two Evil Dead movies are very depressing to me. What were three movies made with love for horror and comedy are now being made for the love of buckets of blood. The 1981 classic is fondly remembered for much more than its blood and gore. It gave way to many copycats, sure, but it also became a massive influence on so many creators. It’s a powerful testament of a what a dream and a small budget can do, rather than the recent outings that have little aspirations and bigger budgets. Where does the series go from here? Unfortunately, to another “give me my royalty paycheck” sequel. The Evil Dead has three good movies, and I love each of them.
The Evil Dead
1981
dir. Sam Raimi
85 min.
Screens on 35mm Saturday, 10/28, 4:15pm @ Somerville Theatre
Triple feature w/ Poltergeist and Oculus
Part of the repertory series: Halloween Hullaballoo 3!
