The Evil Dead (1981 film)

What’s most surprising about “The Evil Dead”, beyond the reputation that precedes it that’s bolstered by its infamous production, is that it still works in the year of our lord 2019. The seams show with various inconsistencies and a relatively-weak concluding third, but it is otherwise shot and conveyed with such power that you’d never know this was made for less than half a million dollars in 1979 money. Its sequels would lean hard on camp, but this first entry outclasses most modern big-budget horror films in terms of frights and establishing a gloomy atmosphere. It’s almost TOO oppressive, actually.

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