Evil Dead (1981)

Evil Dead (1981)

Written and Directed by Sam Raimi and starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Evil Dead is a highly successful and influencial low-budget horror film described by IMDB as "Five friends are spending the weekend in a remote cabin in the woods. Whilst investigating the cellar they discover a tape and a decaying old book full of strange incantations. The tape is played and it unleashes powerful evil force from the forrest, determined to destory every last one of them."

Evil Dead is a different kind of horror film, completely a genre in and of itself. Really, there is nothing like Evil Dead (and its sequels: Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness) and it is due to the combination of Sam Raimi's kinetic direction and Bruce Campbell's unique comic flair. And then there's the effects.

In the age where special effect were gain glory for how impressive, imaginative and realistic they could be, Evil Dead's effects are cheesy, amatuerish and low-grade ... and delightfully so. It's part of it's charm and appeal really. The whole thing is so over the top, the state of the effects only enhance the overall effect. It's remarkable and pure spectacle.

Luckily the trailer is allowed to show off what makes this movie so special without giving it all away ... which may be hard to believe. The sequel, Evil Dead 2, would allow Bruce Campbell to shine and steal the spotlight from the effects; and, Army of the Dead would balance the effects and the star to perfection.

So here it is ... Evil Dead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s1Cd3SNRgg