Evil Dead Rise drops terrifying new trailer. What makes Evil Dead a horror cult favourite?
Just a few months from release, the latest instalment in the Evil Dead franchise looks absolutely terrifying. We take you through all you need to know about the Sam Raimi-established horror classic.
The upcoming horror film directed by Lee Cronin serves as a sequel to the 2013 reboot and follows a new set of characters as they become trapped in a cabin and must fight off demonic entities.
Check out the frightening new trailer for the new film:
The Sam Raimi trilogy
Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise is a series of horror films that have gained a cult following over the years. The first film, titled The Evil Dead, was released in 1981 and was followed by two sequels, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness. The films made a significant impact on the horror genre and continue to be highly influential to this day.
The first film, The Evil Dead, follows a group of friends who go to a cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. While there, they accidentally awaken evil spirits after reading from a mysterious book called the Necronomicon. As the spirits possess the friends one by one, the remaining survivors must fight for their lives against the demonic forces.
The second film, Evil Dead II, serves as a sequel and a retelling of the first film. It follows a similar plot, with Ash (played by Bruce Campbell) and his girlfriend Linda travelling to the same cabin in the woods and encountering the same evil spirits. However, the film adds more comedic elements and features more over-the-top gore and violence.
The third film, Army of Darkness, takes a different direction from the previous two films. It follows Ash as he is transported back in time to Medieval England, where he must fight against an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon in order to return home. This film incorporates more fantasy elements and has a more comedic tone compared to the previous two films.
Why were the films so revolutionary?
Overall, the Evil Dead franchise is a classic in the horror genre. The first film is known for its low budget and intense gore, while the second and third films add more comedic elements and creative storytelling. The series also features strong performances from Bruce Campbell as Ash, who becomes a fan favourite due to his wit and bravery in the face of evil.
One of the many ways in which the franchise revolutionised horror was through its use of intense, over-the-top gore and special effects. The films are known for their graphic and extremely violent scenes, which set them apart from many other horror films of the time and established them as a new type of horror experience.
The films are filled with gruesome and realistic makeup and special effects, which add to the terror and make the films more immersive. The series is also known for its wildly innovative camera work, intensifying the overall atmosphere. The practical effects used to create the gruesome imagery in the films were groundbreaking and have been widely praised by fans and critics alike.
Another way in which the Evil Dead franchise transformed the genre was through its unique blend of comedy and horror. While many horror films take themselves very seriously, Raimi films have been known to embrace a more light-hearted and humorous tone, making them highly entertaining as well as really frightening. The films' use of self-aware humour and absurdity added a new dimension to the genre, and has inspired many other horror comedies in the years since.
In addition to their innovative use of gore and humour, the Evil Dead films also introduced a number of iconic characters and themes that have had a lasting impact on the genre. The film's use of ancient mythology and the supernatural also helped popularise the use of these elements in horror storytelling.
The Evil Dead franchise has left a lasting legacy on the horror genre, and its impact can still be felt today in the work of many contemporary horror filmmakers. Its use of extreme gore and special effects, blend of horror and comedy, and iconic characters and themes have all contributed to its enduring influence and place in the pantheon of horror cinema.
While the franchise may not be for everyone due to its excessive gore and violence, it is a must-see for fans of the horror genre. The films are a testament to the creativity and dedication of Sam Raimi and the rest of the crew, and they have solidified their place in horror history.
The Reboot
A few decades after Raimi’s cult horror classic first hit the big screens, the 2013 reboot of the franchise follows Mia, a young woman struggling with addiction, who is taken to a cabin in the woods by her brother and a group of friends in an attempt to help her overcome her addiction. However, things take a turn for the worst when they come across the familiar Necronomicon.
One of the standout features of the 2013 remake was how its gore-filled visuals heightened in intensity. The film does not shy away from showing the full extent of the demonic possession, with graphic scenes of self-mutilation and even some disturbing scenes of assault.
Much like its predecessors, the practical effects, makeup and prosthetics used to create the possessed characters are outstanding and really bring the film (or the dead) to life.
Evil Dead (2013) also does a great job of building over the mythology of the Necronomicon and the evil it unleashes, making it feel like a fully fleshed-out world. Jane Levy delivers a standout lead performance and manages to convey the emotional turmoil and desperation of her character, making her a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. The tension in the film is expertly crafted, with several jump scares and moments of pure terror, which make it one of the most terrifying films of the last decade, unsurprisingly.
A decade later
Carrying off the central narrative of most films in the franchise, the fifth Evil Dead film will follow road-weary Beth as she pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped apartment. The sisters' reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book (yup, you guessed it, the Necronomicon) deep in the bowels of Ellie's building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.
The film promises to bring back the intense gore and scares of the original Evil Dead franchise, while also adding a deeper level of character development and themes of personal growth. Evil Dead Rise looks to be a thrilling and terrifying addition to the franchise, which (fingers crossed) does not let longtime fans of the franchise down.
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