Evil Dead
Directed by: Fede Alvarez Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci Rating: R Release Date: April 5, 2013
Trailer Score: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: While not quite as violent as the earlier red band trailer, this is still an impressive two minutes. I might even prefer the way this mostly suggests the gore as opposed to giving us a spectacularly nasty close-up of Jane Levy slicing her tongue (which, to be fair, I thought was a highlight of the first trailer). One of my favorite moments is the blurry glimpse of what looks like Levy in the shower just after Lou Taylor Pucci yells, "Oh my God, why did you do that?" It's not clear what she's doing, but Pucci let's us know it's bad. I'm certainly prepared to see these characters subjected to plenty of visceral violence. That said, I do hope the film will show a bit of restraint here and there.
Fede Alvarez looks to have a made a stylish film, so it's fitting that the trailer would get similar treatment. I love the off-kilter use of sound throughout the latter half. The way it uses screams and saws and matches to punctuate everything is a very nice touch. Another standout, and this is a repeat from the red band, is possessed Jane Levy. She still appears quite good playing terrified, but she looks terrifying when in Deadite form. The creepy singsongy stuff under the cellar door is great, and I can't wait to see how far she gets to go with it. One other plus is the presence of Jessica Lucas, who is the reason I'm one of about seven people still watching "Cult" on the CW. All things considered, these two trailers make Evil Dead one of the upcoming films I'm most interested in. Hopefully it lives up to it. I'd hate to spend the entire film wishing it would show us The Cabin in the Woods' Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford pulling the strings.