Evil Dead: El despertar

Good cast, fine movie. Juvenile, not scary, unnecessary for the horror movie adult. If your looking for a good bloody movie to watch with your pre teen it's probably perfect. The script is okay, the setting is fine, the lighting is dim. I'm not sure why this movie was made. The last evil dead remake was scary and true to the genre and the original story. I know this one isn't a remake, but then who asked for that again.

Just a note to leave you with, should be common knowledge to all of us by now, never read from the weird books bound in flesh, and never take the elevators after an earthquake.

Evil dead 2013 absolutely shocked me to the core when I saw it opening day in theaters. I wasn't a huge fan of the original 2, but that one struck me to where I watched it multiple times in the theater. Needless to say I was very intrigued at what this decade later film could offer. Luckily I was able to attend an advanced screening in my city.

The gruesome brutality is clearly what people flock to see in this franchise. Maybe somewhat of the wacky dark comedy a bit as well. This film takes a classic franchise and tries to brand it to the younger generation and it can be to a fault somewhat . At times it meanders within the rather plain story that we've seen in other possession films. All the while still providing shocking and disgusting sequences.

A great blend of CGI and practical effects still being utilized really holds the film up imo. The SFX work is also top notch . Unfortunately I cannot say that I enjoyed the cast and the way their characters are written. Sometimes it felt like more of a Netflix horror film based on the mediocre acting as well as the cliche writing. There are some moments that I cannot believe we're even put in an evil dead film . This is where a few times I was displeased. I get trying to relate to a newer generation but it was overkill.

Overall this film brings the blood and the scares and at the end of the day that's what people are there to see. I just can't help but think it's a dramatic downturn in quality from the 2013 film. If you're a fan of the franchise it's definitely a must see but I think there will be some mixed reactions.

**Mom gets possessed by demon**

**Entire family and room full of neighbors standing there watching**

**Spine contorts to impossible shape**

"Mom? You okay?"

**Crab-walks up the side of a wall and onto the ceiling**

"Mom? Is everything alright, Mom?"

**Projectile-vomits twenty gallons of blood**

"Are you okay, Mom?"

**Speaks ancient language in hideous demonic voice, eyes rolling around in their sockets**

"Mom, it's me. What's wrong, Mom?"

**Grabs shard of broken glass, proceeds to dig it into arms and face**

"Mom, listen. I hope you're okay. You're starting to worry me."

**"I WILL MASSACRE ALL OF YOU AND FEAST ON YOUR GUTS. NO ONE WILL SURVIVE THE NIGHT. YOU ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!"**

"Mom, are you feeling okay? It seems like something might be wrong."

**Bites through neighbor's jugular vein, cackles maniacally while covered in the arterial spray**

"Guys, I think something might be wrong with Mom. I don't know, she's acting weird. What should we do?"

I haven't seen any of the previous Evil Dead movies. I judged this solely on its own merits. It's well made in many ways. It starts with a really cool opening scene that had my jaw dropped. And an epic opening title shot that reminded me of Fury Road's.

The entire movie is so loud and bombastic. You could say the same about the violence. It's brutal. I love that they take full advantage of the R-rating. It doesn't hold back. I liked all of the kill scenes and carnage.

So why didn't I like this more? I have no idea. I was having a decent time. But I wasn't fully engaged or attached. My mind wandered a couple times. I didn't care about the wellbeing of the characters. It doesn't feel like something I will revisit. There are a few dumb moments but nothing too egregious. I just wasn't that into it.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday UltraScreen 4/20/2023)

I really liked Evil Dead 1 and the 2013 version. The acts/sections were good, overall they were solid, and had scary moments especially the 2013 one. I was expecting this to be the same level or near it, but it was not. It's okay on its own, but just break-even compared to the films in the franchise I watched.

Maybe I just expected much. Some of the kills/gore were good but it isn't really a big criteria to films that aren't slashers, and to me personally. Some of the acting were wanting, too, and the main characters weren't presented in a way where you'll really root for them. The kid was cute and I wanted the lead to survive because of her baby but there was just something missing with these characters. I think I cared for the neighbors more, actually.

The setting also was kinda weird. Cabins and the woods just match seamlessly with these types of stories. How and where they discovered the book and recordings were questionable, too, but that was something a viewer can let slide. Like the other reviewers here, there was just something missing for me, or maybe it was just insufficient in a lot of areas.

It's not bad. It may even be good for someone whose first film in the franchise is this. It was just pulled down by high expectations.