‘The Evil Dead’ (1981) and Style…Also, Comparison to ‘War of the Worlds’ (1953)
What makes some horror films more successful than others? Is it more scares? More blood and gore? The biggest, baddest, most hulk-like villain? Sometimes those things help, but it can also be great to have a vision — or visions — to guide the film into a powerful, lasting presence. Such appears to be the case with Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead, which can still stand on its own as a classic horror film. Despite its flaws (and yes, there are some), The Evil Dead still has a way of grabbing viewers, and it no doubt has roots in Raimi and crew’s commitment to the project, and its underlying concepts and processes. The movie never takes itself that seriously, yet it is not quite as bonkers as some horror comedies (including other entries in The Evil Dead franchise).
The movie features a decent cast, featuring the now-iconic Bruce Campbell, and Ellen Sandweiss, Hal Delrich, Betsy Baker, and Theresa Tilly. However, the first movie largely delivers through its concepts, which combine for a blood-soaked, mind-bending, and surrealistic journey that transforms a cabin into hell. Although you can tell the production budget was limited, the average horror fan can easily glide past those limits and into the warped entertainment of it all.
Style Over Substance? Actually, Sometimes Style is Substance
Sam Raimi brought a distinctive style to The Evil Dead, with an obvious ability to get things done. It’s said to have been a rough film to shoot, which probably only added to the film. If you wish to see a key moment of Raimi’s style, note the burial scene where Ash throws dirt onto the camera. For a moment, Ash can be seen through part of the dirt, then he conceals his own image with the next throw. It’s such a great transition! Granted, the audio commentary reveals it to be a happy accident of sorts. Still, had no one decided to shoot the scene in a creative way, it would simply be a different movie. It would most certainly be a more boring experience.
So, basically, a good filmmaker has an eye for those little things which makes their approach different. If you look at so many other films (horror or otherwise), they often have a “by-the-numbers” feel to them. Some of those movies are still okay, or even good, but nearly all great movies have a catchy style to them. Also, let’s face it: Most good movies have some manic moments thrown it. For horror that might mean a comedy edge or even outright slapstick.
A Unique Vision Can Transcend Flaws
Another part of what makes a film great is that it captures the imagination. Horror can do that, and so can science fiction. Sometimes those domains crossover, too. In an odd way, stories about demons and spirits are still kind of like sci-fi tales. You do end up with some of the same elements, just approached differently. That’s why, at least in my mind, a movie like the 1950s War of the Worlds has some of the same moods as The Evil Dead, at least occasionally.
If you watch War of the Worlds, you’ll see the main scientist guy, Dr, Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) nearing his wit’s end, seemingly overpowered by the alien invaders. In The Evil Dead, Ash experiences a very similar mental collapse, overcome by forces he doesn’t fully understand. Both characters see their enemies defeated by dumb luck more than anything else. Additionally, both demons and aliens can bend the rules of known reality, allowing for some cartoon physics.
The two movies are also similar in that, in the end, both types of invasive forces die oddly; The aliens are killed by bacteria, the demons are thwarted by the burning of a magic book (in a classic claymation sequence). These films are obviously not identical, but they both have that sense of a visionary force behind them, almost like they had to be made.
What are your thoughts on The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi, and War of the Worlds? Let us know in the comments!
If you live in the United States, it’s time to rock the vote for real. I shared this video before in conjunction with my identity-based costume work, and I feel it’s important to revisit now, with the election coming up in just a few days. Besides which, Jack Black and Tenacious D are brilliant and given the current political climate, who doesn’t want to do the time warp? But seriously, get out and rock the vote, your life kinda does depend on it (at least insomuch as being able to make for yourself the life that you want, without the government telling you how to do so – especially if you live on the fringes of socially acceptable awkwardness like me and so many of my friends).
Besides which, this video is so good, it’s worth sharing again anyway. And again, if for some reason the video doesn’t load, you can find it here.
Art Attack
And here are some artworks I made awhile back as political commentary. The photograph was shot of the scene exactly as found, of a sign above a parking lot in a quickly gentrifying neighborhood making sure all knew that any unauthorized vehicles were unwelcome, and hung right in front of a flag that was tattered and torn from being caught on the chain link fence driving the point home. The flags were meant to be interactive, with gallerygoers waving them while singing The Star Spangled Banner in its elitist entirety. The whole really spoke to me regarding some of the political climate at the time (this was right before Trump was elected President the first time). How much has changed since then? In some ways, a lot. In other ways, I guess we shall see.
So on my recent road trip to Miami AZ USA for my menstruation art installation, we decided to detour to Roswell NM en route home. To be honest, this was one of the best decisions of my life, up there with road trippin’ from Arizona to San Francisco along CA-Highway 1, and I will go into the details of why here soon.
Roswell NM USA has totally embraced its alien history of the UFO crash in the late 1940s and subsequent government cover up. The whole town is alien-happy with beautiful hand carved wood totems, murals and statues everywhere celebrating otherworldly denizens of all types, though predominantly the gray aliens of the crash (and their green counterparts). Even the city logo features a flying saucer as the center of the letter “R”. It really is kind of incredible.
One of the biggest draws is the International UFO Museum and Research Center, housed in the wonderful old theater building. This museum details the crash history as well as celebrating aliens in movies and media and examining newer alien sightings and abductions. It is very thorough and includes maquettes, statues, written accounts and an extensive research library, as well as an interesting art collection of various items.
And there are TONS of fun alien themed curiosity shops. I will give a shout out to the newer Invasion Station north on Main Street where there had once been an old car dealership. I love the quirky nature of this particular store as well as their strong desire to promote local artists. Most of their wares are hand-painted in NM and feature designs by prominent local artists including one of the lead muralists in town (I bought a magnet of his). They also feature really alternative kitsch like KISS and Ace Frehley alien bobbleheads, marijuana and anal references, and such. All in all, our own Haunted MTL’s kinda folks…
And the city is a huge tourist draw internationally, so you can meet some amazing and interesting folks from all walks of life who have caught the alien bug or at least want to check out all the hype. As a result of the tourism, the residents seem really laid back and accommodating (kind of like Hawaii but not quite as much) and there is a thriving art scene. And it’s totally my kind of art – weird and a little creepy. Anyway, I feel like I’ve finally found my peeps and am eager to return someday.
If you’re feeling a bit extraterrestrial, I invite you to also check out some of my alien-themed stories here on Haunted MTL: LTD UFOs among us; my Drive-By short story; and LTD Abducted.
Killer Queens, I wasn’t expecting to be back so soon with American Horror Story info. But yesterday we were blessed with a teaser for the intro of Season 12, which we believe will be titled Delicate.
We are looking at a Summer release for season twelve, but won’t know for sure until June, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Here’s what we know right now.
First, yes Kim Kardashian is starring alongside Emma Roberts in a role that was written specifically for her.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that AHS favorites will also be involved. According to IMBD, Charlie Carver, Rebecca Dayan, Cody Fern, Leslie Grossman, Billie Lourd, and Denis O’Hare will be included this season.
AHS Delicate is different from other seasons in many other ways. It’s the first season to ever be written by just one writer, Halley Feiffer. This isn’t a writer most of us as horror fans will be familiar with. She’s written episodes of shows like Kidding, SMILF, and American Crime Story. The last one can at least be seen as a sister show to AHS.
As far as I have found, Feiffer has never written horror content. She is now the sole writer for an entire season of the most popular horror show in America. I’m not saying this is a bad thing. It’s just not what I would have expected. Most AHS writers are staff writers, actors from the show, or at least people I’ve heard of. So as we don’t have any former work to look at, we can only wait to see how she does.
We also know what the source material is for this season. It’s a book called Delicate Condition, by Danielle Valentine. This book will be released in August of this year. Which also seemed strange to me. Normally a book would be, you know, published before it inspires additional work.
Even so, Delicate Condition seems like a fascinating story. According to Goodreads, it’s the story of a woman named Anna. Anna is trying to get pregnant but starts to believe that something dark is working against her. Her doctors don’t believe her. Her husband doesn’t believe her. Is she losing her mind?
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t deeply interested in this book. And I have to assume that Feiffer and Murphy already have hands on it, to jump to this sort of decision.
By the way, Valentine at least is not an untested writer. Her first novel, How To Survive Your Murder, also made it right on my TBR pile. With a rating of 3.7 out of 4 on Goodreads, I think we can assume Valentine knows what she’s doing with the written word.
This is all that we know about American Horror Story Delicate so far. What follows are my thoughts and opinions only.
My first thought is that this season is going to be dealing heavily with women’s reproductive rights. This is a topic a lot of us are concerned about right now, as it feels like every day women lose more and more rights to our bodies.
(By the way, if you want to help fight the good fight for body autonomy and get some spooky stories, we have an anthology for that. I have a story in it, as does the horrifyingly talented Jennifer Weigel. All proceeds go to support organizations that help women make their own health decisions.)
American Horror Story has handled important political issues before. Last season, AHS NYC discussed the AIDs epidemic that went largely ignored in the 80s and killed hundreds of young gay men. They did this in the best way possible, in what this critic believes to be the only way fiction should handle heavy topics. They rooted the issue in a good story. A story that was pure fiction, but also true.
However, this season has a lot of red flags. Never before have I seen the guest star be the main focus so early. Never have I seen any franchise bank so much faith in an all but untested writer, basing work on a book that isn’t even published. And frankly, I’ve never been much of a fan of Kim K, or anyone else who’s famous seemingly just for being famous.
I’m not rooting for this season to fail just because I don’t like the guest star. If Kardashian is good at this, I’ll be thrilled. I’ll be the first one singing her praises. But when everything we know so far is added up, I’m a lot more concerned about AHS Delicate than I am excited.
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