This remake is completely devoid of the charm the originals are so beloved for. In turn, it’s rather brutal toward its characters and I suppose since Bruce Campbell isn’t aging in reverse, I appreciate that they tried something different with the story. It’s still a great looking film over a decade after its release.

Fede didn’t shy away from paying his respects to the source material. I love a subtle homage, but this was not that. Maybe that’s just Fede’s thing because I felt the same about Alien: Romulus — the callbacks seem forced, rather than cleverly sprinkled in. There was a repetitiveness to all the dismembering and it was always conveniently a hand or arm. 

Jane Levy had some impressive moments expressing sheer terror and panic. The other characters, especially the men, don’t feel as well acted or written though. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting Oscar-worthy acting or character development from people who simply exist to die, but their strained relationships and the addiction/intervention aspect of the plot didn’t carry as much weight because of it.

All things considered, The Evil Dead is solid in comparison to other remakes from the 2000s. A Nightmare on Elm Street, I’m looking at you!

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