Spooky Season 2022: The Evil Dead Review

Creepy, cheesy and sensationally gory, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is a horror experience like no other. Sure, this 1981 horror may be a sign of the times and look a little dated in comparison to other films from that decade, but its low-budget, vintage feel adds a level of fun, authenticity and a feeling of nostalgia that viewers are unlikely to find anywhere else.

The story sees Ashley “Ash” Williams (Campbell), his girlfriend, and three friends travel deep into the woods to an old run-down cabin for a fun night away. There, they discover a book called the Necronomicon or the book of damned which can reawaken the dead. Unbeknownst to them, they awaken this evil and must fight for their lives or risk joining the evil dead. Ash is forced to watch as his friends become possessed and is forced to make a horrific decision to save either his friends or himself.

Undoubtedly, The Evil Dead is an incredibly fun ride. Delivering off-the-wall insanity and silliness to the max, its in these moments where the film shines brightest. It doesn’t take its self too seriously and the moments where it goes completely of the rails feel earned and highly appreciated. Meanwhile, it is also short and sweet, boasting an excitingly fast pace thus giving the film a frenetic energy adding to the fun.

For the most part, The Evil Dead is utterly bonkers in the best way. Raimi does a great job at making grounded character moments feel authentic and genuine, bringing it down to some remanence of reality. Similarly, whilst the rest of characters come off as a little annoying as they are nothing more than fodder, there is no denying that Ash is a brilliantly layered and awesome horror protagonist.

Yes, the film is first and foremost a zany over the top horror flick without taking itself too seriously but it is also quite creepy. From the nightmarish designs of the deadites, to their haunting cackles and screams as well as the heart-pounding music to go along with some brilliant cinematography. This film is also brutally gory, and for a low-budget horror, the blood and gore look quite believable even for today’s standards. Characters get splattered with blood, limbs and heads are severed, there is no end to the violence and gore, adding to the film’s over-the-top nature.

The deadites are terrifying. From their ghoulish design, invulnerability, ghastly screams and haunting voices, they are an evil that no one wants to run into. They may not be the most serious or deadly creatures in cinema, but its their unpredictable, fun and unhinged nature that make them much more iconic and horrifying.

Although simple, no one to this day has delivered a film quite like The Evil Dead but some have tried to replicate it to some degree. However, none have managed to come close to capturing that magic. Whilst the film may not be a masterpiece, it is still an incredibly fun and wild ride incomparable to anything else in cinema.

The Evil Dead is over-the-top, zany, creepy, gory, campy and an all round uniquely entertaining experience that can’t be had anywhere else, and one that is certainly deserving of its pop culture status.

*still courtesy of New Line Cinema*

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Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.