The Geek Address

During the production of Evil Dead, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell were given a little advice one of their friends: “Fellas, no matter what you do, keep the blood running down the screen.” Fortunately, they did just that.

The bloodstained tale of five people stuck in a remote cabin besieged by flesh-possessing demons, Evil Dead doesn’t disappoint when it comes to gratuitous gore. Shortly after arriving at the cabin, they discover an ancient tome bound in human flesh. The Book of the Dead. Listening to a recording of the book’s incantations resurrects some pretty nasty demons, demons so nasty they don’t have any compunction about biting off their own hands. Dispatching the so-called deadites is loads of gory fun. Dismemberment is the only way to stop these suckers. Even so, they keep twitching long after they’ve been reduced to bloody giblets.

Evil Dead, which was made in the late seventies on a shoestring budget, stands testament to the ingenuity and creativity of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. There are a number of scenes that remain eerie and disturbing despite the passage of time, most notably when the professor reads passages from The Book of the Dead. You’ll also feel a noticeable chill down your spine when Ash explores the basement. Although the sequels were memorable because they parody the conventions of horror, the original is remarkable because it’s damn scary. The first deadite always manages to freak me out, especially when it stabs one of the characters in the ankle with a pencil. The makeup effects of Tom Sullivan are definitely extraordinary - when you see a milk-like substance exploding from one of the dismembered deadites and the hideous creature that tries to emerge from the basement, you’ll know what I’m talking about. 

Evil Dead reads like a text book of things you shouldn’t do if stuck in a horror movie. If something mysterious is making a racket in the basement, make sure you get the hell out of there. Don’t bother going to investigate. You’ll save yourself and your friends a whole world of heartache. In fact, why don’t you just get the hell out of there as soon as your friend slips into a trance and starts scribbling demonic pictures?

Evil Dead is Sam Raimi at his most innovative. Given the constraints, he produced a remarkable work of horror that stands the test of time.

Best line: “Thank you…I don’t know what I would have done if I’d remained on those hot coals burning my pretty flesh. You have pretty skin - give it to us!!”