The 2013 Evil Dead remake from now-acclaimed genre filmmaker Fede lvarez is one of the most overlooked horror classics of the previous decade. For its 10th anniversary next year, Shout! The factory has revealed a new 4K version of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead world, which will be released on September 27, 2022, as part of the company’s extremely horrifying autumn lineup. I couldn’t believe someone would try to recreate Evil Dead at the time. Although the original was revered, lvarez managed to breathe new life into the series by creating a picture that not only paid homage to it but also felt completely different. Before films like It Follows or The Witch made highbrow horror flicks hip, there was Evil Dead. It was the first of its sort.
The film made brilliant use of the original’s grotesque visuals, while also taking it very seriously and weaving in some really disturbing real-world issues. Mia’s status as a heroin addict made the original plot much more personal and relatable to a new generation. In contrast to the original, this is a nightmarish predicament that is exacerbated by the strange noises in the night. Even by today’s high genre standards, this story’s drug addict–withdrawal subplot sets it apart.
Having one of the finest performances in horror history in Jane Levy’s role as Mia certainly doesn’t hurt either. Aside from her aggressiveness, Levy’s facial expressions alone are enough to scare anyone. Levy has since starred in Don’t Breathe and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, but her performance in this adaptation is one that will be remembered for a long time. It’s hard to believe that a picture about the struggle to overcome addiction also manages to be one of the darkest and deadliest in cinematic history, including the undead and the fabled Necronomicon.
Those who pre-order Shout! Factory’s upcoming 4K version of The Evil Dead will receive a special poster depicting the film’s original theatrical artwork. In contrast to the other 4K Shout! Factory releases like Halloween, this one does not include a Blu-ray disc. This film deserves its indie release, so it’s excellent that it’s receiving one. From now until September 27th, 2022, you may pre-order Shout! Factory’s future edition of Evil Dead in 4K Ultra HD.