It has only been a few months since the world discovered that director Fede Alvarez and crew had pulled off the unthinkable challenge of rebooting a horror classic, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead, and doing a damn good job at it. Naysayers across the board were eating blood-soaked crow and a whole new generation was discovering that ancient evil that resides in the woods.
Mia (Jane Levy) and a group of friends head out to an old family cabin in the heart of the woods in hopes of helping Mia as she tries to kick her crippling drug habit. This is cause for a few awkward interactions, especially with Mia’s estranged brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) who, due to his absence, is completely unaware of just how bad off Mia has become. David and the rest of the group make a promise to each other that no matter what, they will keep Mia at the cabin at all costs.
Noticing a strange smell, the group inspect the long deserted cabin, a former summer home for Mia and David’s family, and discover the remains of strange rituals, animal sacrifices and a bizarre book bagged tight and bound with barbed wire, obviously intended to keep anyone from opening the book, reading its passages and revealing the dark evil the lives within the surrounding woods. Of course they open the book, unleashing hell upon Mia and themselves.
Evil Dead is Fede Alvarez’s feature length directorial debut and boy, does he come out swinging. Alvarez manages to hit a perfect stride between homage and creating his own blood-soaked universe. Using Raimi’s renowned creativity as inspiration, Alvarez felt free to attack shooting the film wherever his ideas took him, and it’s all the better for it.
Knowing that part of the long lasting appeal of the original film is its over-the-top gore, Alvarez made a commitment to not only make one of the goriest films that has ever existed, but to make as much as humanly possible be through the art of practical effects. This commitment adds another layer of realism to the proceedings and is of obvious benefit to the actors’ performances and the viewer’s overall experience. Vomit pours, tendons and bone stretch and snap, and blood literally rains by the end. The film is a gore lover’s wet dream and is sure to make even the most diehard of fans cringe a time or two.
As much as actor Bruce Campbell’s Ash,the aloof hero of the original trilogy, was the glue and true draw of the older films, Jane Levy’s unbelievable performance as Mia cements her in much the same way. She runs the gamut of emotions and performance and, as can be seen in the many behind-the-scenes segments, is game for it all. Alvarez left Levy to a lot of her own devices and intuitions with the character and it shows. Mia is a far more organic character than has been seen in modern horror in the last decade as she displays a true range that many of her fans might have not thought her capable of.
High-Def Presentation
I was quite blown away by just how beautifully shot Evil Dead ended up being. Now in the high-def format I can honestly say that the film somehow looks even better. With a startling 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encode, the transfer for Evil Dead is nothing short of phenomenal. The color palette is a bit desaturated and stark, but that doesn’t keep colors from popping with extreme radiance, especially reds, of which there are plenty. This is a film filled with varieties of detail, from clothing to the cabin to the most disgusting of open wounds and dismemberments, and all aspects shine through with striking clarity. For a film that takes place in so much darkness, it blows one’s mind just how much remains on display.
Much like the video transfer, Evil Dead’s soundscape is a triumph of the home high-def medium. With a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, Evil Dead is an onslaught, in the best way possible, on the ears from the opening scene and doesn’t quit until the very last credit rolls. Immediately the soundscape is filled with ambient noise, transporting the viewer to the wooded setting. Whispers, footsteps and all manner of sounds that instill the heebie jeebies run throughout the film. Dialogue manages to stay clear and centralized amongst the terror. This track also gives composer Roque Banos’ beautiful and haunting score a chance to shine and fill the viewer’s heart with even more terror and dread.
Beyond The Feature
Sony brings Evil Dead to the home market with a fairly decent amount of special features. The standout of them is the Audio Commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Writer Rodo Sayagues, and Actors Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci and Jessica Lucas. This commentary is done as a big group and you can tell that everyone is having a blast talking about the film. Between technical moments, background on certain scenes and anecdotes abound, this is hands down one of the most fun and informative commentaries I have heard in quite some time and an absolute must for fans of the film.
There is one bad thing about the commentary. Everyone mentions several instances of longer scenes and different shots and takes and how they might end up on an eventual “extended” edition. While this will be music to many ears, and fans of Evil Dead films are well versed in buying multiple copies of the same film, it is a bit disheartening to hear the product you just bought is already planning to be obsolete. There’s no telling when or even if this “extended” version might come along, but with a sequel already in the works it would seem like a no-brainer that some future version is lying in wait.
The following is a complete list of all included special features.
Audio Commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Writer Rodo Sayagues and Actors Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci and Jessica Lucas
Directing The Dead (HD, 7 min)
Evil Dead The Reboot (HD, 10 min)
Making Life Difficult (HD, 8 min)
Unleashing The Evil Force (HD, 5 min)
Being Mia (HD, 9 min)
Previews (HD, Various Sony Titles)
Ultraviolet Digital Copy
Evil Dead is that rare remake/reboot that is more than worthwhile, it’s crucial. This is not only a valiant effort and resurrecting of the Evil Dead franchise, but also helped breathe new life into the horror genre in general, which was sadly becoming quite complacent with its own banality. From Alvarez’s strong direction to Levy’s unbelievable performance, Evil Dead is a must own for any fan of the horror genre. The Video and Audio presentations are going to be go-to demos for high-def tech heads. Fans of the film will certainly find quite a bit of enjoyment in the included features. This is quite the package. I can’t wait for the next Evil Dead.
Evil Dead 2013 Blu-ray Review
It has only been a few months since the world discovered that director Fede Alvarez and crew had pulled off the unthinkable challenge of rebooting a horror classic, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead, and doing a damn good job at it. Naysayers across the board were eating blood-soaked crow and a whole new generation was discovering that ancient evil that resides in the woods.
Side note: For anyone interested in a more in-depth analysis of Evil Dead itself, read my original theatrical review from Evil Dead’s premiere at SXSW. For everyone else already here, I’ll cover the nuts and bolts.
Mia (Jane Levy) and a group of friends head out to an old family cabin in the heart of the woods in hopes of helping Mia as she tries to kick her crippling drug habit. This is cause for a few awkward interactions, especially with Mia’s estranged brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) who, due to his absence, is completely unaware of just how bad off Mia has become. David and the rest of the group make a promise to each other that no matter what, they will keep Mia at the cabin at all costs.
Evil Dead is Fede Alvarez’s feature length directorial debut and boy, does he come out swinging. Alvarez manages to hit a perfect stride between homage and creating his own blood-soaked universe. Using Raimi’s renowned creativity as inspiration, Alvarez felt free to attack shooting the film wherever his ideas took him, and it’s all the better for it.
Knowing that part of the long lasting appeal of the original film is its over-the-top gore, Alvarez made a commitment to not only make one of the goriest films that has ever existed, but to make as much as humanly possible be through the art of practical effects. This commitment adds another layer of realism to the proceedings and is of obvious benefit to the actors’ performances and the viewer’s overall experience. Vomit pours, tendons and bone stretch and snap, and blood literally rains by the end. The film is a gore lover’s wet dream and is sure to make even the most diehard of fans cringe a time or two.
As much as actor Bruce Campbell’s Ash,the aloof hero of the original trilogy, was the glue and true draw of the older films, Jane Levy’s unbelievable performance as Mia cements her in much the same way. She runs the gamut of emotions and performance and, as can be seen in the many behind-the-scenes segments, is game for it all. Alvarez left Levy to a lot of her own devices and intuitions with the character and it shows. Mia is a far more organic character than has been seen in modern horror in the last decade as she displays a true range that many of her fans might have not thought her capable of.
I was quite blown away by just how beautifully shot Evil Dead ended up being. Now in the high-def format I can honestly say that the film somehow looks even better. With a startling 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encode, the transfer for Evil Dead is nothing short of phenomenal. The color palette is a bit desaturated and stark, but that doesn’t keep colors from popping with extreme radiance, especially reds, of which there are plenty. This is a film filled with varieties of detail, from clothing to the cabin to the most disgusting of open wounds and dismemberments, and all aspects shine through with striking clarity. For a film that takes place in so much darkness, it blows one’s mind just how much remains on display.
Much like the video transfer, Evil Dead’s soundscape is a triumph of the home high-def medium. With a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, Evil Dead is an onslaught, in the best way possible, on the ears from the opening scene and doesn’t quit until the very last credit rolls. Immediately the soundscape is filled with ambient noise, transporting the viewer to the wooded setting. Whispers, footsteps and all manner of sounds that instill the heebie jeebies run throughout the film. Dialogue manages to stay clear and centralized amongst the terror. This track also gives composer Roque Banos’ beautiful and haunting score a chance to shine and fill the viewer’s heart with even more terror and dread.
Beyond The Feature
Sony brings Evil Dead to the home market with a fairly decent amount of special features. The standout of them is the Audio Commentary with Director Fede Alvarez, Writer Rodo Sayagues, and Actors Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci and Jessica Lucas. This commentary is done as a big group and you can tell that everyone is having a blast talking about the film. Between technical moments, background on certain scenes and anecdotes abound, this is hands down one of the most fun and informative commentaries I have heard in quite some time and an absolute must for fans of the film.
There is one bad thing about the commentary. Everyone mentions several instances of longer scenes and different shots and takes and how they might end up on an eventual “extended” edition. While this will be music to many ears, and fans of Evil Dead films are well versed in buying multiple copies of the same film, it is a bit disheartening to hear the product you just bought is already planning to be obsolete. There’s no telling when or even if this “extended” version might come along, but with a sequel already in the works it would seem like a no-brainer that some future version is lying in wait.
Evil Dead is that rare remake/reboot that is more than worthwhile, it’s crucial. This is not only a valiant effort and resurrecting of the Evil Dead franchise, but also helped breathe new life into the horror genre in general, which was sadly becoming quite complacent with its own banality. From Alvarez’s strong direction to Levy’s unbelievable performance, Evil Dead is a must own for any fan of the horror genre. The Video and Audio presentations are going to be go-to demos for high-def tech heads. Fans of the film will certainly find quite a bit of enjoyment in the included features. This is quite the package. I can’t wait for the next Evil Dead.
Shop for Evil Dead on Blu-ray for a discounted price at Amazon.com (July 16, 2013 release date).
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