Evil Dead

The recent Evil Dead, directed by Fede Alvarez, follows the story of five friends retreating to a cabin in the woods to cure the main character, Mia, of a heroin addiction. Simultaneously, one of the other friends, Eric, ends up finding a book in the basement along with many mummified cats and evidence of witchcraft. After reading the book aloud, Mia becomes haunted by a demon. Because of the nature of why they are at the cabin, the friends refuse to drive the frightened Mia back to town, thinking that she just wants to get out of her rehabilitation. The demons claim the friends one by one, each one having a more gruesome death than the last.

While the story and characters may not be written to their fullest potential, the film really shines in its production design. The constructed cabin was effective in appearing old and untouched for many years. The film employs little to no CGI. Instead, in its place are highly effective and gruesome make up designs and practical special effects, giving the possessions a very realistic feel. The Naturom Demonto’s fleshy design spells out a deep history of its creation as a tool for demonic possession, and like most of the film’s props, hint towards further backstory to be explored.

For such an inexperienced director, Fede Alvarez utilizes this aspect of the film to his advantage and creates one that relies heavily on its violence and gore effects, but does so beautifully. The effects don’t bog down the film to simple gore porn, but effectively communicate the horror of the character’s situation. Additionally the set itself, the forest and cabin, creates for a very chilling and immersive setting that draws you into the film’s lore. Overall, in large part of its production, the film can be seen as a welcome addition to the legacy of the Evil Dead series.