Evil Dead
TriStar Pictures | Release Date: April 5, 2013 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
57
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews
Positive:
18
Mixed:
17
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
St. Louis Post-DispatchKevin C. JohnsonApr 4, 2013
It’s ultimately everything a modern horror movie should be. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubScott TobiasApr 3, 2013
While Raimi’s Stooges aesthetic — which was really more prominently displayed in the sequels than in 1981’s The Evil Dead — isn’t played up here, there’s enough outrageous unreality to make the brutality go down a little easier. It isn’t quite a cartoon, but it’s close enough. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyApr 3, 2013
The new Evil Dead's delirious gross-out scenes spoke to me, and they go further than any mainstream picture I can think of. Read full review
80
Village VoiceChuck WilsonApr 3, 2013
The plotting as a whole feels fresh, as does the emphasis on women strong enough to defend themselves. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerTirdad DerakhshaniApr 4, 2013
Alvarez triumphs because he made one crucial decision: Avoid digital animation and use only practical in-camera special effects. He uses every trick from classic Hollywood and invents a few of his own. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianStephen WhittyApr 4, 2013
Be warned that this is a movie literally awash in blood and graphic violence. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineJohn SemleyApr 4, 2013
The setup and geography are consistent with the original, though the film never makes the mistake of trying to rebottle the lightning that electrified Sam Raimi's movie. Read full review
75
Film.comWilliam GossMar 10, 2013
The downright gnarliest mainstream horror release in recent memory, Evil Dead is certainly a considerable and occasionally commendable dose of the ol’ ultra-violence, but Fede Alvarez’ Raimi-sanctioned update of 1981’s cult favorite only really has that demented determination going for it. Read full review
70
SlateDana StevensApr 7, 2013
Though it never channels the raw DIY energy of the original Evil Dead series — what big-budget version could? — this polished, clever remake remains true to the spirit of the original, which was at once viscerally terrifying and weirdly lighthearted. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesMark OlsenApr 4, 2013
It's unlikely the movie will gain the same ardent following as Raimi's debut, but it offers enough good-time gore, goofiness, scares and screams to leave an audience feeling a certain elated exhaustion. Read full review
70
NPRIan BuckwalterApr 4, 2013
Effective scares, respectful nods to its inspiration and a few new twists make the question of whether this new Evil Dead succeeds in matching its inspiration superfluous. This is one remake that succeeds on its own blood-soaked terms. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeMar 11, 2013
A gore-for-broke affair that strips the flesh off Sam Raimi's cult-beloved comic-horror franchise and exposes the demons at its core. Read full review
70
VarietyJoe LeydonMar 10, 2013
Boasts way better production values than the penny-pinching 1981 original and conceivably could delight genre fans who have never seen the first version or its previous remakes/sequels. But it’s bound to play best with those who catch Alvarez’s many wink-wink allusions to Raimi’s picture. Read full review
67
Tampa Bay TimesSteve PersallApr 4, 2013
I learned a total of two things from watching Evil Dead: No camping kit is complete without duct tape, and sometimes end credits are worth sitting through for a movie's best gag. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenApr 3, 2013
Evil Dead, however, accomplishes what it sets out to do: Scare viewers silly and uphold a tradition. Read full review
67
IndieWireEric KohnMar 10, 2013
An ode to the strength of onscreen horror even in its less inspired state, the new Evil Dead primarily succeeds at illustrating how the originals have managed to stand the test of time. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam LaceyApr 4, 2013
So long as you grit your teeth and keep your eyes on the screen, it’s an enjoyable, if almost academic, exercise in bad taste. Read full review
63
McClatchy-Tribune News ServiceRoger MooreApr 3, 2013
Is this Evil Dead (no “The”) any good? Yes and no. It several genuinely hair-raising moments and presents, for your edification and enjoyment, some of the most graphic horror violence ever presented on the screen. Read full review
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