A remake of the infamous horror film “The Evil Dead,” known for its extreme violence and subsequent ban in several countries, has made its way onto Netflix. The original film, released in 1981, stirred significant controversy and conversation due to its graphic content. However, the 2013 remake pushed the boundaries even further, taking advantage of more relaxed censorship laws at the time to include an unprecedented level of gore.
The plot of the 2013 version centers around Mia, portrayed by Jane Levy, a drug addict looking to kick her addiction. She is joined by her brother David, played by Shiloh Fernandez, his girlfriend Natalie, depicted by Elizabeth Blackmore, and friends Olivia and Eric, played by Jessica Lucas and Lou Taylor Pucci, respectively. The group retreats to a secluded forest cabin owned by their family, where they stumble upon the “Book of the Dead,” inadvertently summoning demons from the surrounding woods, as detailed on its IMDb page.
Despite receiving a modest 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film was praised by critics, with some hailing it as the “best remake in the franchise.” Shawn Van Horn of Collider lauded the film for surpassing the original trilogy, stating, “The original ‘Evil Dead’ trilogy is made up of horror classics, but the 2013 reboot is somehow even better.” He admired the remake’s ambition to deliver a genuinely terrifying horror experience that leaves a lasting impression on its audience.
Chris Nashawaty from Entertainment Weekly commended the film for its homage to the 1981 classic, describing it as “the bloodiest, goriest, slapstickiest horror movie since, well, The Evil Dead.” Similarly, The New York Daily News praised the director’s focus on increasing the film’s body count in gruesomely imaginative ways, noting his success in maintaining a relentless pace and incorporating nods to the franchise’s fans.
