The Evil Dead
April 4th 2011 08:05
Director: Sam Raimi
Screenplay: Sam Raimi (based on his short film Within the Woods)
Production: USA
Year: 1981
Sub-genre tags: demonic possession, low-budget, independent
Tagline: The ultimate experience in grueling terror
Logline: Five friends travel to an isolated cabin in the woods, where they unwittingly unleash a demonic force that eventually possesses every one of them.
Core cast: Bruce Campbell (Ash), Ellen Sandweiss (Cheryl), Hal Delrich (Scott), Betsy Baker (Linda), Sarah York (Shelly)
Memorable moment: Upon arrival at the cabin they students explore the cellar and find a reel-to-reel tape recorder. [voice on tape recorder] “I believe I have made a significant find in the Kandarian ruins, a volume of ancient Sumarian burial practices and funerary incantations. It is entitled "Naturum De Montum", roughly translated: Book of the Dead. The book is bound in human flesh and inked in human blood. It deals with demons and demon resurrection and those forces which roam the forest and dark bowers of Man's domain. The first few pages warn that these enduring creatures may lie dormant but are never truly dead. They may be recalled to active life through the incantations presented in this book. It is through the recitation of these passages that the demons are given license to possess the living … I know now that my wife has become host to a Kandarian demon. I fear that the only way to stop those possessed by the spirits of the book is through the act of... bodily dismemberment.”
Curious Fact: After completing principal photography on 16mm in the winter of 1979-1980, most of the actors left the production. However, there was still much of the film to be completed. Most of the second half of the film features Bruce Campbell and various stand-ins (or “fake shemps” as they’re credited) to replace the actors who left.
Intensity levels:
Blood & gore: high
Fear factor and/or frights: high
Likelihood of bad dreams (disturbing content): low
Horrorphile’s two cents: It’s one of those almost perfect Saturday late night beer, hooter, and popcorn flicks with a few aficionado mates … a riotous and relentlessly entertaining horror flick for the horror fans, and a crash course in Horror 101 for any newbie.
Click here for Horrorphile's movie review.
TRAILER:
Promo still from Within the Woods (1978)
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Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
The original scared the crap out of me as a kid; not sure I've ever grown up then because it still has a certain effect!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile