With the release of "Evil Dead" just two weeks away, I thought I'd give you guys a quick refresher on the films that began it all. This isn't really going to be a review, just a little bit of film history and a cultural lesson that maybe will get some people to not only see the "remake" (which seems vastly different, but I'll get to that later), but also to either see the originals for the first time or revisit them.
First off, though, if you say you are a "Horror Movie Buff" and have never seen these movies, then immediately stop calling yourself that. You're not. Simple as that. I know they're "old" and "outdated looking", but they are, without question, some of the greatest horror movies ever made (well, I & II are for sure, Army is good just not really Horror per se).
These were the start for a young filmmaker named Sam Raimi who went on to make the Spider-Man Trilogy and "Oz the Great and Powerful". He cut his teeth on these movies and learned from mistakes he made. He also built up his trademarks here (especially with the gallows humor of II) and made Bruce Campbell a "star" (at least an underground one).
For those of you that are casual movie goers and the like, lemme give you a quick run down of the movies:
The Evil Dead
Though not necessarily the first isolated cabin in the woods style horror movie, it is probably the defining film of the sub-genre. Made on the super cheap, it was more inventive and downright creepy than anything before it. No longer was it a slasher, it was actual demons possessing the young 'uns one by one. This meant that there was more of an emotional element to it. These people are having to deal with their friends, relatives, and lovers trying to mutilate and kill them via some unseen force. And tree rape...LOL.
This one is a straight-forward horror flick with very little humor and is done with entirely in-camera effects. If you've never seen it before, it can look a little dated in certain areas, but there's no CGI here. This is old-school makeup and prop effects.
Oh and here's where Joel Coen of Coen brother's fame got his start as an assistant editor. Cool huh!
Evil Dead II
Funny thing is, the film opening April 5th isn't the first remake of "The Evil Dead", "Evil Dead II" is. Not a sequel, but a re-telling of the first film, but with way more humor and gore. It also features a different set of characters except for Bruce Campbell's Ashley (or Ash) who was the central character in the first one. When most people think of Evil Dead, this one is the one that comes to mind. It's more polished and a little more flashy, even though it is WAY gorier. Here's where Bruce Campbell shows why he's the king of the witty one liners (and really amps it up for Army). Raimi had a bigger budget and a better handle on the film-making process and it shows. It still features no CGI, but definitely doesn't feel quite as dated as the first one, save a little Ray Harryhausen moment (look him up).
This began Raimi's most memorable style. Dark, twisted humor interspersed with gross-out gore. I was so glad to see it return in the very under-appreciated "Drag Me to Hell".
Army Of Darkness
This is the one that will often lose people. It picks up directly after the events of II. I don't want to give too much away if you haven't seen it, but it has mostly to do with the effects of a modern man with some modern tools in medieval times dealing with the same forces from the cabin. It becomes more of a slapstick comedy with funny as hell one liners throughout. It's fairly short, but in this case I think that's good because it could have gotten boring with the silliness. It's an intelligent silliness, but silliness none the less. There are a few little CGI moments, but again, it is mostly in-camera effects and a very loving homage to Harryhausen (seriously, look him up if you don't know who he is) in the 3rd act. A good ending to the "trilogy", just not as intriguing culturally and historically.
So what do these mean for current audiences? Well, first off, if you liked "The Cabin In the Woods," then thank these movies. Sure there were loads of elements from other movies, but the most glaring homages and nods were to "The Evil Dead" and there were LOTS of them.
What about the remake? I'll be there day one. From what I see and hear, it isn't a direct remake, so I plan on watching the trilogy once again leading up to seeing the movie on day one. That way I can see all the references and where they changed it. I just hope it is different enough without veering off the tone of the originals. Otherwise, why call it "Evil Dead" in the first place? I don't think that will be the case with Sam Raimi involved as a producer. Besides, look at these two pictures:
...and tell me they didn't nail it for a modern audience? BTW, the top picture is from the original LOL.
So go curl up on the couch and watch the old classics before seeing the new one so you can once again call yourself a "Horror Movie Buff" or "Junkie" or "Geek" or whatever...
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