While the original will always be the most compelling and terrifying,Evil Dead(2013)is an interesting remake that fans of the demonic possession franchise definitely couldn’t miss. There are five films in theEvil Deadfranchise:The Evil Dead(1981),Evil Dead II(1987),Army of Darkness(1993),Evil Dead(2013), andEvil Dead Rise(2023). Of course, like most franchises, the films are of varying quality. But they are always entertaining, at the very least.
TheEvil Deadremake from 2013 tells a similar story to the rest of the franchise with new characters who go to a cabin in the woods and find the terrifying and creepy book that sets everything into motion. What happens during this movie and how does the ending ofEvil Deadcompare to the original from 1981?
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Whenranking everyEvil Deadmovie, the first film from 1981 will always be the best. TheEvil Deadfranchise is about demonic possession and tells the story of college students in a cabin out in nature who get taken over by evil spirits. The first movie focuses on Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) figuring out how to stay alive. And as he returns for several of the sequels, he goes on a similar journey.
TheEvil Deadfranchise revolves around the bookNaturom Demontowhich causes trouble whenever it’s nearby. InEvil Dead(2013), Mia Allen (Jane Levy), her brother David Allen (Shiloh Fernandez) David’s girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) go to a cabin with Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci). Mia has been addicted to heroin and is trying to get better, and she is the first to notice that something seems off and strange here.
As fans of theEvil Deadfranchise could guess, Eric thinks that it’ll be fun to read from the book that they find. Of course, this is a dangerous idea, and Mia becomes possessed. The remake proves once again that theEvil Deadfilms are some of thebest movies about demonic possession.
TheEvil Deadremake ends with Eric and David dying when David takes a gun and shoots at a can of gasoline so he can save Mia. The next scene is visually stunning: the sky rains blood and Mia’s doppelgänger/the Abomination hurts her. When Mia tries to fight back against the Abomination, she gets stuck under David’s car. Mia cuts her left hand off and is able to stop the Abomination. Mia thinks that everything is okay now, but theNaturom Demontois still in good shape. The final scene is a brief glimpse at Ash Campbell, which is a fun nod to this iconic character.
WhileeveryEvil Deadmovie stands on its own, many horror fans feel thatEvil Dead (2013)is a great remake. And the smart and memorable ending has a lot to do with that. It proves that Mia is a strong final girl who can stand up against many other in the genre, and she never fails to protect herself, even when the going gets tough.
While it can be tough to watch a remake or reboot with all new characters,Evil Dead(2013) feels like it has enough in common with the original that it doesn’t feel out of place. Mia is an engaging character, which is important since the remake hinges on whether she is likable or captivating enough to carry a whole movie.
The ending of the originalThe Evil Deadmovie sees Cheryl Williams (Ellen Sandweiss) leaving the basement and trying to kill Ash, who then shoots her. Ash also has to fight off Scott (Richard DeManincor) as well.
Ash tries to destroy theNaturom Demontoby putting it in the fireplace. The bodies of Scott and Cheryl, who have turned into Deadites, start breaking down. The final scene sees Ash walking into the forest, thinking that he’s safe and all is clear. But then a demon comes out of nowhere and lunges for him and Ash yells.
The ending ofThe Evil Deadfrom 1981 andEvil Dead(2013) have a lot in common, and it’s interesting to compare them.Evil Dead(2013) uses thefinal girl horror tropein the third act and shows Mia fighting for her life. Even if the remake might not be quite as well-crafted as the original, it maintains the same fun campy tone.
Ash does survive and comes back for the sequel,Evil Dead II, althoughEvil Dead(2013) tells a different story with new characters.Fans wonder if Ash is inEvil Dead Rise.The actor does have a part in thefifth entryEvil Dead Rise, which was released in April 2023.The Evil Deadwas groundbreaking and fascinating because it told such a fun and unique story about demonic possession, and its legacy still lives on.
