The Evil Dead films had ended with the third and seemingly final film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy back in 1992. But it had ended in shambolic fashion with studio interference and a variety of versions and Evil Dead 3 or Army of Darkness as it was actually titled instead of the far better Medieval Dead that Raimi had wanted. Fast forward 30 years and Raimi’s Spiderman trilogy which ironically also had a disappointing third film in the trilogy had made Raimi something of a player and a short film titled ‘Panic Attack!’ from Uruguay director Fede Alvarez had caught his attention. A meeting was set up as producer Robert Tapert along with Raimi himself thought that their original 1981 was suited to an updated remake with Campbell later coming in on the deal having been persuaded that Evil Dead (2013) would include a new set of characters but would not include him having to reprise his role as Ash.
Slightly tweaking the story of the 1981 original it saw Mia (Jane Levy), a recovering drug addict, ask her brother and their friends to accompany her to a remote forest cabin to help her through withdrawal. When one of her friends, Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), finds the Book of the Dead and when he reads aloud from it, he awakens an ancient demon that possesses Mia and unleashes hell
Despite Alvarez use of CGI in his short film he rightly decided that in the best tradition of the original films this would be practical effect driven and off the crew went to New Zealand to shoot a faithful and blood soaked reboot with hugely impressive prosthetic work courtesy of Roger Murray. Almost inevitably the censors did make their trims although the notorious tree rape that was excised from the original film re-appeared in this rebooted version.
Somewhat hopefully the film was released with the tag line ‘the most terrifying film you will ever experience’ it was instead a brutal, unnerving experience that didn’t spare on the unpleasantness that saw characters cut their own tongues in half and a bathroom mirror used to wince inducing effect. And audiences lapped it up. Costing a meagre $17m it made $97m at the box office and now gets terrific release in 4K UHD with an excellent array of bonus features
Evil Dead (2013) bonus features:
- NEW Beyond the Blood: Chris Tilly on Evil Dead (2013)
Commentary featuring Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, director Fede Álvarez and Writer Rodo Sayagues
Making Life Difficult
Directing the Dead
Being Mia
Evil Dead: The Reboot
Unleashing The Evil Force
Interview with director Fede Álvarez
Interview with Jane Levy
Interview with Bruce Campbell
Q&A at The Ritzy Cinema plus art prints, a poster and a 64 page collectors booklet
All of the extras are well worth a look and Beyond the Blood is especially good. What makes this box set even better is the Unrated Cut with five minutes of scenes that in some cases are difficult to understand why they were excised from the 2013 theatrical release. Remakes / reboots are hit and, more often than not, miss affairs but Alvarez got the tone right although some were put off by the lack of humour that had been a major part of Evil Dead II. Bit this 4K UHD box set is a testament to just how good a reboot can be.
related feature : ‘Alien Romulus’ director Fede Alvarez talks about making the film, practical effects and Ridley Scott
related feature : Evil Dead Burn – 4K UHD | BLU-RAY disc review
Here’s the trailer……
 was a reboot that would include a new set of characters but would not include Bruce Campbell having to reprise his role ...){kind=link}