How To Revive A Franchise — The Everlasting Terror Of ‘Evil Dead’ (2013)

When the name Sam Raimi comes to mind, many think of his iconic contributions to the superhero genre, with most of his Spider-Man films being regarded as the best comic book films out there. If that’s not someone’s first thought, the others are usually of his also iconic contributions to the horror genre. Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy of films (The Evil Dead (1981)¹, Evil Dead II (1987)² and Army of Darkness (1991)³) are regarded as some of the most significant cult-classic horror films of the genre, blending horrific imagery with increasing amounts of comedy and absurd humor as the series progresses.

In July of 2011, confirmation was given that Sam Raimi’s iconic franchise was getting the remake treatment. At the time, this seemed unheard of. As films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974; Tobe Hooper) and Friday The 13th (1980; Sean S. Cunningham) had recently gotten poorly received remakes themselves in 2003 and 2009 respectively, fans were reasonably nervous that one of the biggest American horror franchises would be disgraced by a boring, uninspired remake with little to offer beyond one or two fun moments.⁴

When Evil Dead (2013; Fede Álvarez)⁵ hit theaters worldwide, fans were pleased to learn that their expectations had been shattered. Evil Dead takes the bare bones of the original’s plot and rounds out the story to be infinitely more compelling. On top of that, the film’s cinematography and tone take center stage, providing a far more sinister and serious tone compared to the original series. What makes this even more impressive was that this is Álvarez’s first feature film, exhibiting the prowess as a horror director that would get him a position directing an Alien film ten years later.⁶

Evil Dead takes the best of the existing franchise and adds compelling plot points to give the story greater thematic meaning while employing a completely different visual identity. Álvarez challenges audience expectations by providing audiences with a determined final girl in the form of the lead, Mia (Jane Levy). In a world full of horror remakes that are devoid of meaning and style, Evil Dead is a prime example of how to resurrect a franchise correctly. Álvarez’s debut feature maintains the original spirit of Sam Raimi’s innovative horror franchise while telling a fresh, engaging story at the same time.

A New Necronomicon — The Metamorphosis of Evil Dead

What sets Evil Dead apart from the original 1981 film is its willingness to employ a completely different visual identity. The original film was shot for an estimated $375,000⁷, which is clear in regards to the effects and shot choices. Despite this low budget, it is one of the film’s greatest strengths and makes it raw and campy. In contrast, the remake was made for $17 million⁸, which is still not high for a blockbuster horror film like this. Despite the remake’s low budget, audiences are treated to a film on a completely different level from the original, one that is visceral and relentless.

Evil Dead uses the Necronomicon, a deadly book bound in human flesh and capable of conjuring powerful flesh-possessing demons, to explore terrifying visuals as well as themes that resonate with audiences. This fleshes the film out and thus improves upon the original while maintaining an original story.

The Visceral Visuals Of Evil Dead

Evil Dead uses uncomfortable close-ups to exhibit the terror in the characters’ eyes as they are faced with an unspeakable evil. Furthermore, the film is intentionally desaturated without feeling dim or hard to see, contrasting the original film’s far cheesier-looking visual identity.

This desaturation begins to be contrasted with the bright red of blood as it begins to spill upon the demon’s awakening. As the characters are possessed one by one, the red grows more and more prominent in each shot until it takes over in a violent climax.

A key component of the production that allowed the film to succeed is the exhibition of practical effects over CGI. A vast majority of the film’s effects were done practically instead of utilizing CGI, something Álvarez said was done in order to stay true to the original film’s production.⁹

His commitment to practical effects gives the film a higher sense of authenticity than other remakes due to the realism that is achieved. An iconic scene from the film in which a character takes her own demon-infected arm off with an electric carving knife is brutal due to these practical effects, crafting imagery that simply cannot be achieved with CGI.

Evil Dead‘s Fleshed-Out Themes

The film’s thematic underpinnings are as relevant as its practical effects and explore the horror of addiction and recovery. Unlike the original film, Evil Dead gives the characters a significant reason (and a reason period) for staying in a secluded cabin in the middle of the woods: the main character and subject of most of the possession in the film, Mia, is a recovering drug addict.

As the other characters begin to doubt her and blame her very real concerns about noises and smells on withdrawal, the film explores the weight of addiction and how it can alter even the closest of relationships.

By the end of the film, Mia is the last one standing against the physical manifestation of the demon that has plagued her and her friends. We see her battle the monster of addiction very literally, overcoming the trauma of the film’s events and her addiction at the same time.

Mia thus perseveres in the face of both literal and metaphorical demons. A thematic climax such as this has not yet been seen in an Evil Dead film and speaks to the talent of the writers and director. The centrality of Mia is integral to the departures Evil Dead takes from the original, providing a different kind of final girl in a franchise so heavily dominated by male identity.

Reinventing Evil Dead Through A Final Girl Lens

There’s no question that a major draw of the first three Evil Dead films is the character of Ash Williams. Made famous by actor Bruce Campbell, it is hard to separate the character of Ash from these films or fail to acknowledge him in some way. In an ambitious and brave surprise for audiences, the reboot of Evil Dead would change the male-dominated narrative of the franchise by exploring how a female lead would navigate the horrors of the Necronomicon.

Portrayed impeccably by Jane Levy, the character of Mia Allen in Evil Dead is a significant addition to the endless list of final girls in horror. Mia is a recovering drug addict who is brought to the cabin with her friends in order to detox her and put her on the right track.

As withdrawals kick in and the other characters meddle with a certain evil book, Mia’s recovery becomes the least of her problems. Already, we see the traditional depictions of final girls subverted by Álvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues, with a pure, innocent young woman replaced by one who begins the film in an already tough patch in her life.

As the first person to be possessed by a demon due to being the most physically vulnerable, Mia is put through the wringer for the majority of the film, spending it locked in the basement of the cabin and subject to torture at the hands of the demon that has taken over her body.

Along with literally losing her agency to a demon, the audience sees the way in which the demon of addiction has taken over her body and subjected her to torture of her own doing.

What makes Mia so special and different in comparison to Ash is that the writers did not attempt to recreate Ash beat for beat. While the film sets her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) up as the hero for most of the film, none of the characters in the film resemble Ash.

Even as Mia uses the iconic chainsaw at the end of the film to kill the demon’s physical form, she does so in her own way and independent of the scream king that came before her. This independence from the original series gives Evil Dead a level of accessibility for audiences, allowing for a new way to get interested in the franchise.

Mia is one of the most memorable final girls in modern horror and the Evil Dead franchise because of her determination not just in the face of demons, but in her own personal struggles. As Mia defeats the Abomination in a shower of blood after it rises from hell, the audience sees Mia defeat her addictive traits and move forward with a new lease of life (and a slight fear of strange books).

Legacy/Longevity — How Evil Dead Future-Proofed The Franchise

Despite being the lowest-rated film in the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes¹⁰, Evil Dead is regarded as one of the best horror remakes of the 21st century. The film recaptures the chaotic, guerilla nature of the original film while updating the story and visuals to be more compatible with modern moviegoers.

Fans and critics alike praise Evil Dead‘s relentless terror and its unwillingness to pull punches in terms of shocking imagery. Chris Tilly of IGN says about the film upon its release:

“[A] vicious assault on the senses that is every bit as good as the originals, and one that will trigger a whole new set of nightmares for those who like their horror both unrelenting and unforgiving.”¹¹

What allows Evil Dead to work so well as both an homage to the original franchise as well as a film that stands firmly on its own is the way it approaches its storytelling.

Casting a new Ash and retelling the original’s plot beat for beat would have been perceived as redundant and uninspired. Using the basic structure of the original but with new, original characters allows audiences to discover something new within their favorite horror franchise.

With the influx of films similar to the sequel to Halloween (2018; David Gordon Green)¹² that emphasize legacy characters and nostalgia, as well as their declining reception, audiences are noticeably tired of seeing the same characters experience the same horror every few years.

Evil Dead broke the mold before it was created, managing to maintain relevance in pop culture as other franchises have fizzled out. The Evil Dead franchise has maintained relevance to this very day, with a standalone sequel releasing in 2023.

This film, Evil Dead Rise (2023; Lee Cronin),¹³ features multiple female leads and continues the tradition of employing up-and-coming horror directors to propel the franchise.

Another sequel¹⁴ as well as a spin-off film¹⁵ is in development, both with unknown directors helming the projects. This emphasis on unknown directors further captures the essence of the original films, with the first film being what put Raimi on the map over 40 years ago. Using his privilege as horror royalty to uplift new voices is what keeps the franchise so fresh and relevant.

Due to the willingness to uplift new talent and take massive risks with each entry, the Evil Dead franchise has maintained audiences’ attention and put the franchise in the spotlight.

If the 2013 remake had played it safe and recreated the original, it would not have had nearly the same amount of staying power in pop culture as it does. Álvarez pays homage to the original franchise in just the right places but crafts a brand new story with the Necronomicon, undoubtedly creating one of the most well-received horror remakes of the 21st century.

Footnotes

1. Raimi, Sam, director. The Evil Dead, New Line Cinema, 1981. ↩︎
2. Raimi, Sam, director. Evil Dead II, Rosebud Releasing Corporation, 1987. ↩︎
3. Raimi, Sam, director. Army of Darkness, Universal Pictures, 1991. ↩︎
4. McIntyre, Gina. “‘Evil Dead’ remake: Diablo Cody polishing script for first-time director.” Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2011. Accessed 14 April 2025. ↩︎
5. Álvarez, Fede, director. Evil Dead, Sony Pictures Releasing, 2013. ↩︎
6. Álvarez, Fede, director. Alien: Romulus, 20th Century Studios, 2024. ↩︎
7. “Sam Raimi “Darkman” 8/4/90 – Bobbie Wygant Archive.” YouTube, uploaded by The Bobbie Wygant Archive, 18 Sept. 2020. Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎
8. “Evil Dead.” Box Office Mojo. Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎
9. “Evil Dead (2013) Behind the Scenes Inside Look.” YouTube, uploaded by aj, 6 April 2013. Accessed 14 April 2025. ↩︎
10. “Evil Dead (2013).” Rotten Tomatoes, Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎
11. Tilly, Chris. “Evil Dead Review.” IGN, 19 Mar. 2013. Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎
12. Gordon Green, David, director. Halloween, Universal Pictures, 2018. ↩︎
13. Cronin, Lee, director. Evil Dead Rise, Warner Bros. Discovery, 2023. ↩︎
14. Grobar, Matt. “Francis Galluppi Tapped To Write & Direct New ‘Evil Dead’ Movie.” Deadline, 26 April 2024. Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎
15. Hamman, Cody. “Evil Dead: Sébastien Vaniček has creative control on the next film, will give it a French twist.” JoBlo, 9 Feb. 2024. Accessed 17 April 2025. ↩︎