The Evil Dead has personality. Its writing is simple but streamlined. Tropey characters have adequate emotional development. There's efficient setup and payoff. The deadpan humor synergizes with the tension, landing the precise comedy-horror tone better than any other franchise. The ending is bitter and it's the quintessential incarnation of the cabin-in-the-woods subgenre. Meanwhile, its sometimes corny, forced, and dull performances are decently harnessed into the campy style. Plus, the actors offer convincing distress, demonic possessions, comedy, and physicality (even doing their own stunts). Overall, The Evil Dead offers enough concise drama to give itself weight and remain charming.
Technically, The Evil Dead replaces polish with ingenuity. Its obvious effects work because they're varied, tangible, and committed. The clumsy dubbing is outweighed by proactive stings, split cuts, diegetics, synchronizing, distortions, violence, risers, and exaggeration. Its energetic editing adds intercuts, cross cuts, pacing, timing, smash cuts, inserts, action, and a tight runtime. The casting and production design optimize the small scale (providing Campbell and the Necronomicon). Its music is memorable, ominous, and juxtaposing. The dynamic imagery uses diverse angles, powerful movement, framing, lighting, composition, and motivated POVs. Ultimately, The Evil Dead is passionate.
Writing: 6/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.2/10
Commentaires