Evil Dead

Maybe it's because I haven't seen many 2013 movies yet this year. Or maybe it's because those that I have seen were a bit underwhelming / disappointing. Either way, Evil Dead is the first solidly good movie of the year, and the best I've seen so far.

Evil Dead is more a reimagining or continuence, even, than it is a remake. The fact that Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell produced this go around was very encouraging. Evil Dead was their baby, the movie that put them on the map. And if they are approving this version, then it gave me hope. Much like the first film, this version features the book of the dead, the same flesh covered book filled with potions and maybe witchcraft, as the first film. Also like the first film, it follows five friends who get together at a creepy abandoned cabin in the woods. However, this time around, they are not there for a booze and party filled weekend. Refreshingly, they are at the cabin to help Mia (Jane Levy) overcome her drug addiction. With the help of her hometown friends Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), as well as her old brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) who left home and abandoned her with a sick mother as soon as possible. Also there? David's bland blonde girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore), who barely has any dialogue at all and doesn't even speak until about halfway into the movie. So, of course, the group finds the book of the dead. Of course, the brainy teacher Eric is entrigued by it and accidentally says a few words which awakens the evil. And of course, gory, scary craziness ensues. And it's all so damn fun.

I'm not saying Evil Dead is a perfect movie experience. There was one main thing I didn't love about the movie. But there also were quite a few things I really loved about it. First of all, I loved the concept. I thoroughly enjoyed the reason the group was at the cabin. It was a change of pace from every other horror movie where a bunch of hot kids just want to drink and hook up and party the weekend away. You immediately get the sense that these characters are people you should root for. After all, they aren't here to get drunk and high, they are here to help their friend, who is struggling to overcome her dependence to drugs (which they hint may stem from the fact that she watched her mother go through things her brother can only imagine). The second thing I loved about Evil Dead was the fact that they cast a group of actors who were actually good actors. Blackmore was the weakest link but also had the weakest character, someone we knew nothing about. Lucas and Fernandez were solid with Fernandez getting better and better as the movie went along. But the MVP's, for sure, were Levy and Pucci. Pucci was great as the character you thought might be the biggest coward, but who managed to be the hero of the story. And Levy gave a truly great horror movie performance, one of the best I've seen recently. The third thing I loved about the movie was the fact that it was A HORROR MOVIE. None of this PG-13 crap. None of this "Oh, your house is being haunted by a ghost" crap. Evil Dead is a balls to the wall, bad ass, gory, greusome, disgusting, terrifying, bad ass horror movie. And I loved nearly every deranged gross minute.

Of course, like I said, the movie isn't perfect. In fact, the major problem I had was with the ending. In general terms, I think there were at least two better places where the film could have ended, and in specific terms, without giving too much away, I didn't love the treatment given to Pucci's Eric in the final moments, but maybe that was only because he was my favorite character. I think there was definiely a better ending than the one we were given, but overall, Evil Dead is a fun, gory old school horror film. It's the kind of movie I grew up watching and the kind of horror movie I absolutely love.

Grade: B

End of Summer Mini Updates!

Quick updates on movies I've seen lately...

The Beaver - Listen, I don't like Mel Gibson - as a person, as an actor, whatever. So, his involvement may have tarnished this movie a bit for me. It's kind of a weirdly clever idea: a man gets kicked out by his wife, tries to kill himself, finds a beaver hand puppet and decides to speak through the puppet only in an attempt to make good with his family. Too bad, it just falls short. I could care less about Gibson. Foster, as his wife, is perfectly fine, if not slightly boring. Instead, it's too young stars who steal the show: Anton Yelchin as Gibson and Foster's angsty son and Jennifer Lawrence as his troubled love interest are delightful. They have fantastic chemistry and energy. If you must watch it, watch it for Yelchin and Lawrence.
Grade: C

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark - I was excited to see this movie because it was supposedly rated R for being so damn scary. There was no nudity, no gore, no bad language, none of the stuff that warrants a typical R rating. It was just supposed to be too scary for kids. I disagree. That's not to say the story isn't interesting. It's a great haunted house tale that mixes intensity and folk lore into a decent little film. However, still not scary. Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce are just fine as the couple living in an old gorgeous house with his young daughter. Then monsters begin to terrorize the daughter. And not just any monsters, tiny little monsters that are maybe a foot high and are more annoying than scary. Decent flick, but doesn't succeed at what it sets out to do.
Grade: C-

Skateland - Skateland was a welcome relief after watching two such mediocre movies. Shiloh Fernandez stars as a man in his early 20s who is living in Texas and working at the local skating rink in the early 80s. He enjoys flirting with his best friends sister (Ashley Green) and getting drunk with his friends (Taylor Handley). Then, his world begins to fall apart - Skateland decides to close, his parents get a divorce. Skateland is a great coming of age movie about coming to terms with your mortality and making huge changes in your life even if you are terrified of doing so. Everyone can relate because everyone has had that moment. Plus, Skateland has a hot, young cast and a great soundtrack. Definitely worth checking out!
Grade: B

I Am Number Four - Okay. I know. This is typical of me, sure. I sure do love movies aimed at 14 year old girls. But, look, I Am Number Four was just fine! I was expecting it to be TERRIBLE but it was actually pretty compelling, if not stupid. Alex Pettyfer (who is really too pretty to be a real person) stars as an alien on the run from a bunch of other creepier, and uglier, aliens. He and his guardian (Timothy Olyphant) move to Ohio where he is supposed to blend in so he can hide, but he instead falls for the ex girlfriend (Glee's Dianna Agron) of the troublemaker quarterback of the football team. Needless to say, his scary alien foes find him. As does Number Six, a totally bad ass Theresa Palmer. Really, I promise. It's not as bad as you think!
Grade: C

The Help - Emma Stone stars as Skeeter, a woman who just graduated from Ole Miss in the 1960s and returns home aching to be a novelist. She decides to write a book about The Help, the maids who raise white children but are eventually treated like crap by the very children they raised when they become adults. It's a great story, riveting, heartwarming and interesting. Plus, the actors are simply phenomenal. From lead performances by the ever-charming Stone and the incendiary Viola Davis to all the amazing supporting actresses: the bubbly and adorable Jessica Chastain, the cruel and vicious Bryce Dallas Howard, the quiet scene stealer Allison Janney, and the sassy lightning rod Octavia Spencer. All around, a great movie that shouldn't be missed!
Grade: B+

Red Riding Hood

My major problem with any negative reaction to this film by the audience is the following: "Well, it's just like Twilight." No, actually it isn't and if you are going to use that as your argument, then it's an invalid argument with me. Why is it just like Twilight? Because of the sweeping nature-focued cinematography? That's because it was directed by the same person who directed Twilight (Catherine Hardwicke) and she was doing that way before Twilight. So, if anything, Twilight is the way it is because she directed it, not the other way around. Is it because there is a love triangle, or a teenage centric story? Well, guess what? Teenagers spend money, so of course people are going to make movies aimed at them. And the love triangle is as old as movies themselves. Is it because it's about werewolves? So was Teen Wolf but no one is saying that's "like Twilight."
No, if you have a problem with Red Riding Hood, make sure you use a viable argument such as, the hokey dialogue, the unbelievable chemistry, or the lack of any real love triangle in a love triangle plot. There are problems with Red Riding Hood, for sure, but the least of them is appearing too much like Twilight. However, as far as guilty pleasure movies go, Red Riding Hood isn't so bad, especially when you approach it in two ways: 1) It's not going to be the best movie of 2011, okay? So, just have fun. 2) Think of it as a murder mystery / whodunit.
Red Riding Hood is a reimagining of the classic fairy tale but the "Little" part is dropped because our protagonist (Amanda Seyfried as Valerie) is all grown up. The story takes place long ago and far away in a little village where a werewolf is terrorizing the people on every full moon. However, the beast left them in peace for ten years. Now he's back on a blood moon, which means one bite from the werewolf will turn the victim into a wolf as well. Our lovely blonde, big eyed Valerie is caught in a love triangle... or at least, that's what the movie wants you to think. She's in love with Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), an orphaned wood cutter who is a little bit of a bad boy, but is being forced to marry Henry (Max Irons) who she doesn't care about at all. No offense to the screenwriter but a love triangle only exists if there is a push-and-pull between two different lovers. Valerie wants nothing to do with Henry and that doesn't lead to a whole lot of drama. Sure, she loves Peter but you could at least play around with the possibility of her falling for a nice guy like Henry. Not to mention, there is absolutely no chemistry between Seyfried and either of her handsome leading men.
Although the younger cast members have no chemistry, the cast is not something anyone can complain about really. It's quite impressive. Seyfried is perfectly cast as the damsel in distress. Fernandez and Irons are both good enough, and easy on the eyes, which certainly helps make up for any talent they may or may not lack. Virginia Madsen and Billy Burke play Valerie's worrisome parents and Julie Christie gives the whole movie a bit of class by playing the iconic grandmother. Lukas Haas is the town priest who is in so over his head that he calls in a legendary werewolf fighting preist - Father Solomon, who is played with particular zest and haminess by Gary Oldman. Look, at least he's having fun! Oldman struts into this movie with all kinds of swag. He's funny and a little bad ass, and a little crazy but it totally works and he definitely is the best actor in this movie (or at least, he gets the juiciest role). He's aware of what this movie is - not some kind of self-serious movie that will a ton of awards. But, at the very least, it's a fun ride and a decent way to spend two hours on a cold and dreary winter's afternoon.
Grade: C-