The Evil Dead: Ultimate Edition

Let’s get one things straight: I don't believe you, Anchor Bay. By no means do I believe that this is the “ultimate” edition of Sam Raimi’s splatter classic The Evil Dead. The word ultimate implies last, final, or conclusive. I’ve got at least 5 different version of the film sitting on my shelf, suggesting that if Anchor Bay keeps putting these things out, at least one person will keep buying them, and I’ve no doubt next year will see yet another edition of the film, with additional footage or Bruce Campbell’s shopping list or a child bride or something packaged within. Still, I love the film, and since The Evil Dead: The Latest Edition doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, all is forgiven.

That said, this is a great DVD, though it doesn’t have that awesome fake human skin binding found on the last disc. As for the film itself, well, if you haven’t seen it, I’d prefer you stopped reading now and fix that, before we both say something we’ll regret. I have a powerful passion for Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy, and firmly believe at least two screenings of the film are necessary for boys to turn into men, girls to women, and grade-school children into the kind of kids who set fires and nail frogs to things, because this movie is bloody as hell. Incredibly gory, the film ushered in a new age of energetic splatter films, hacking off limbs and splashing fluids around like a wave pool full of blood and liver bile. Cult icon Bruce Campbell makes his first film appearance in The Evil Dead, as a young man whose trip to a cabin in the woods with several friends goes rapidly south with the discovery of the Necronomicon, a book of spells that possessed people with demons and Three Stooges routines. The film spawned two sequels, each better than the last, a musical, several videogames, and a host of merchandise, as well as launching the career of Spider-Man director Raimi. Yes, it’s cheesy, and no, it’s probably not on purpose, but the film is a viewing experience like no other, and necessary for all those who would make claim to any knowledge of horror film history.

And this DVD presents The Evil Dead as no other has. It features several of the features found on previous releases, as well as a disc of brand-new material focusing on the female cast, who’ve been oft-neglected in the shadow of B-movie hero Campbell. The first two discs present the film in both the full frame version and a widescreen edition (somewhat unnecessary considering the film was shot in full-frame 16mm on an Arriflex), complete with a commentary by Raimi and producer Rob Tapert on the first, and Bruce Campbell on the second. The commentaries are from previous versions of the DVD, but are funny enough to be worth revisiting. There are also new documentaries, trailers, and never-before-scene outtakes, though some of the cut footage is indistinguishable from the silent clips found on other, less Ultimate versions of the film. Every scrap of it, however, is worth watching over and over again. While I don’t believe this is the last edition of The Evil Dead I’ll ever see, it’s certainly the best so far.

Rating: 10 on 10

alkratina@comicbookbin.com