Ash and four friends on vacation travel to a remote cabin. Things quickly go to Hell, when they discover a ‘Book of The Dead’, and listen to the tape-recordings of a former occupant of the site.
By modern horror movie standards this venerable old classic starts off pretty slowly. But it builds nicely. A lost art, perhaps?
Sam Raimi already has some chops – this is his directorial debut! – visually speaking, with only Into The Woods as warm up. Tricks like the wobbly low-to-the-ground camera , scooting over the rather squalid terrain…
Bruce Campbell, and co. are great. Cheryl, his kid sister, is the first victim. In a highly controversial scene she is violated, by the evil spirits of the woods!
From hereon in the pace picks up. And very soon, with Shelley – Scotty’s gal – taken, chaotic carnage ensues…
Ash and Scotty are the last; all three gals get possessed first. But not long after Scotty’s failed solo escape bid, it’s just Ash… As Scotty fades, and the gore revs up, the movie switches into a more overtly absurd and even morbidly comic mode…
It’s alternately jaw-droppingly amazing, and utterly preposterous. Scary, then silly. But there are some terrific passages. A favourite for me is the several minutes of Ash’s apparent descent into madness. The camera angles and lighting are, at times, terrific.
And then there’s the whole epic lo-fi gore meltdown, which is extraordinary. Porridge? Plasticine? God knows…
Bonkers, and epic… and the very end? Brilliant.