- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Anchor Bay
- DVD Release Date: 25 Sep 2006
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000GL18J0
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 8,342 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the Autumn of 1979, Sam Raimi and his merry band headed into the woods of rural Tennessee to make a little film called The Evil Dead. They emerged with a roller coaster of a film packed with shocks, gore and wild humour, a film that remains a benchmark for the genre. Ash (cult favourite Bruce Campbell) and four friends arrive at a backwoods cabin for a vacation, where they find a tape recorder containing incantations from an ancient book of the dead. When they play the tape, evil forces are unleashed and one by one the friends are possessed. Wouldn't you know it, the only way to kill a "deadite" is by total bodily dismemberment and soon the blood starts to fly. Raimi injects tremendous energy into this simple plot, using the claustrophobic set, disorientating camera angles, and even the graininess of the film stock itself to create an atmosphere of dread, punctuated by a relentless series of jump-out-of-your-seat shocks. Much of the film's energy is supplied by the "Raimi-cam," a gliding, swooping, rushing camera that suggests a dislocated, otherworldly point of view while injecting a lively if spooky fleetness to the pace. Though it's no comedy, Raimi's dry wit and cinematic cleverness pervades the entire film. The Evil Dead lacks the more highly developed sense of the absurd that distinguish later entries in the series--Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness--but it is still much more than a gore movie: it marks the appearance of one of the most original and visually exciting directors of his generation, and it stands as a monument to the triumph of imagination over budget. --Simon Leake, Amazon.com
On the DVD: For a film made on the tiniest of budgets and shot in 16 mm, The Evil Dead looks impressive in this widescreen 1.85:1 anamorphic print, even if the picture quality is never going to rival that of 35 mm. The revelation here is the soundtrack, with optional DTS 6.1 audio mix, which showcases Sam Raimi's bizarre assembly of sound effects and Joseph LoDuca's minimalist Bernard Herrmann-inspired score. Director Raimi and Producer Robert Tapert chat amiably about making the film on the first commentary track, but the real treat is Bruce Campbell's "alternate" commentary, which is not only extremely informative but laugh-out-loud funny, too. Among other nuggets we learn that: the distinctive moving camera effects were created by strapping the camera to a plank held between two people who had to run very fast through the woods; most of the actors were so worried about appearing in a horror movie that they made up stage names for the credits; and Raimi's 73 Oldsmobile has since reappeared in almost every one of his films. A trailer and stills gallery complete the extras package. --Mark Walker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Avoid the Anchor Bay edition of this movie like the plaque. The picture quality is atrocious. I must admit that the picture has never looked brilliant for this low budget movie, but I did a side-by-side comparison of this movie between the Elite Entertainment and Anchor Bay editions.
With the Anchor Bay transfer the colours look all wrong and the picture is darker and muddy looking.
The Elite disc the colors look more crisp and the picture is clearer and brighter.
On the Anchor Bay disc the picture has been re-framed from it's original fullscreen 4.3 ratio to fill a 16:9 display. The movie was never shot in widescreen, black bars have simply been added to the top and bottom of the picture resulting in the loss of a lot of picture information and it looks terrible.
The best version and correct version to buy is the Elite Entertainment edition which was released in the U.S. several years ago. It's also region 0 so will play in any DVD player.
Don't let the fancy packaging and cheap extras tempt you into buying the dreadful Anchor Bay editions.
With the Anchor Bay transfer the colours look all wrong and the picture is darker and muddy looking.
The Elite disc the colors look more crisp and the picture is clearer and brighter.
On the Anchor Bay disc the picture has been re-framed from it's original fullscreen 4.3 ratio to fill a 16:9 display. The movie was never shot in widescreen, black bars have simply been added to the top and bottom of the picture resulting in the loss of a lot of picture information and it looks terrible.
The best version and correct version to buy is the Elite Entertainment edition which was released in the U.S. several years ago. It's also region 0 so will play in any DVD player.
Don't let the fancy packaging and cheap extras tempt you into buying the dreadful Anchor Bay editions.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Evil Dead, this film has absolutely everything that a great horror film should have, the gore is repulsive and flowing freely, the script and acting are of a good quality but never too high so it never loses the ever important cheese factor, the camera work is legendary, this film could not be filmed better and the background score is a big part of how scary this is.
This DVD package is pretty much perfect, it shows this cult classic totally un-cut in it's tree raping, eye gouging, leg slicing, pencil tearing glory and now it even looks and sounds better, the picture is clearer and the sound is freakier than ever before.
Features include:
Commentary from Sam Raimi/Rob Tapert
Commentary from Bruce Campbell
Talent biographies
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Fan anaylisis documentary
Discovering Evil Dead featurette
Outtakes
2 Deleted Scenes
Photo Gallery
2 Easter Eggs
There is only one film that has bettered The Evil Dead (Rocky Horror Picture Show) and there is no film scarier.
I have watched this film about 11 times, it gets no less interesting and it gets no less horrific.
This is definatly the best movie in the series, although both sequels "Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn" and "Army of Darkness" and the 'prequel' "Within The Woods" are all excellent movies.
Buy this movie, you will not regret it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
First of all the last point ...... IT'S UNCUT . This is really good as it's been banned for 20yrs and it's now available as the director intended .
Secondly , it's low-budget 80's horror so don't look for any grade A* acting , That is one of the best things about it though it's cheesy and spooky at the same time . The stars are all relatively unknown . Now The film itself........
Secondly , it's low-budget 80's horror so don't look for any grade A* acting , That is one of the best things about it though it's cheesy and spooky at the same time . The stars are all relatively unknown . Now The film itself........
The picture is fantastic and the sound is amazing. The extras are great too , there is....
:The original USA Evil Dead trailer,
:A Gallery of stills from the film,
:Commentert feat Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert,
:Commentery feat Bruce Campbell (this is ... hillarious and informative.).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Uncut?
If this film is "UNCUT", why don't they state the running time in the description?
I saw it in 1982, so when was it banned?
I saw it in 1982, so when was it banned?
Published 1 month ago by Shadowblade
One of the best horror movies ever made
I dont know why people say that Evil dead 1 is funny, I agree that Number 2 is really a joke than horror but number 1 is really horror and one of the best horror movies is ever... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Persian Cat
OMG!!!!!!!! What is it??????
OMG this has to be the WORST film of all time. What is it about??? Does anybody know???? Bruce Cambell is fab but how on earth did he go from this pap to comic genius in Army of... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2009 by J. S. Brighton
The Evil Dead
I wasn't really expecting much more than a midnless gore-fest when i brought this, but luckily I was pleasently suprised to find that (behind the extreme violence and gore and... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2009 by dosn't matter who I am
We're gonna get you...
An utter favourite of mine for such a long time. I am a total Bruce Campbell lover and Sam Raimi will always have the benefit of the doubt with me because of this movie. Read more
Published on 21 May 2009 by R. Nicolson
The beginning of a horribly "good" "trilogy"
You either love or hate Evil Dead.
The perfect examble of bad effects making a movie better.
Do you like Bad Taste? Then you'll like this one. Read more
The perfect examble of bad effects making a movie better.
Do you like Bad Taste? Then you'll like this one. Read more
Published on 20 April 2009 by Sigurd K. Johannsen
evil dead
I just got this move because i was looking for a good move film from the 80s.
If you whant a good scary move to watch then why not get this one it is very good and i did... Read more
If you whant a good scary move to watch then why not get this one it is very good and i did... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2008 by Mr. Lr Mcgregor
The Evil Dead
Quite good given its age, one of the classic horror movies in my opinion. They try to go way ahead of themselves with the visual effects and given the time i think they pulled it... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2008 by Yellow-Sn0W
A work of pure genius
This film truly is what gripping horror is all about. When I first saw it my reaction was the same as when I saw the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2008 by Mr
Great
It was great to be taken back to the days of when i used to hide away from the screen whilst watching this movie. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2008 by S. Mckay
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