Practical effects have long beenthe crux of most horror movies that have a cult following. They either deliver unmeasurable disgust or the perfect amount of 80s cheese.The Evil Deadfrom 1981 is one of the many horror movies that receives a fair share of praise for its practical effects and make-up. The franchise has always held a sense of B-film aesthetic, and teetered the lines of horror and comedy.
However, the 2013 remake did a lot more than just drop “the” from the title. With a few changes to the story and a slightly grittier tone, 2013’sEvil Deaddidn’t disappoint fans too heavily. One of the reasons is heavily attributed to the lack of CGI in the film. According toBloody Disgusting, the 2013 remake had zero CGI used during the production of the film. Since the release of the trailer for 2023’s newest installment titledEvil Dead Rise, there has been a great deal of hype surrounding the film. With Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell at the reins of production, it is expected to be an absolute bloodbath. If the film sticks to killing the CGI, or at least keeping it to a minimum, there is no question that this newest installment will be one for the books.
Making a Deadite
Truly, one of the aspects ofThe Evil Deadthat makes the franchise stand out from the rest is the innate ability to create something that is as simplistic as it is terrifying. The original film is easily one of the most frighteninghorror movies from the 80sfor more reasons than one. When Ash (played by Campbell) returns to find that his girlfriend Linda (played by Betsy Baker) is taken over by one of the deadites, her appearance is by far one of the most memorable of the franchise. The glazed-over, white eyes and menacing grin were all done with practical effects. According toAll the Right Movies, Raimi opted to use onion in order to get the actors to cry in emotional scenes or when making Linda appear to be human again.
But what exactly makes a deadite? A deadite is a demon that seeks to possess humans in order to feast on their souls. This fact is introduced in the first film in the Necronomicon, also known as “book of the dead.” Throughout theEvil Deadfranchise, people become possessed both by open flesh wounds or by nature around them and turn into deadites rather quickly. It will be interesting to see how the new film introduces Ellie (played by Alyssa Sutherland) becomes possessed. However, one of the key factors that will play into the success of the film for long-time fans of the series, is the use of practical effects. As long as Elli’s make-up and the kills are comprised of almost entirely practical effects, the film may stick the landing.
Related:Evil Dead: The Best Moments in the Franchise, Ranked
CGI has been a component that is heavily used in horror remakes because it makes the impossible possible. However, the craftsmanship that goes into curating practical effects and camera work often outshines the efforts of CGI. The 2013 remake of the 1981 cult classic, was dubbed one of thebest horror remakesever made, and a large part of that was because of the lack of CGI. The remake was directed by Fede Alvarez, and his rendition of the film serves as a much more gory sight than the first. This may come as a shock, being that the first film is full of bloody imagery; however, the 2013 remake lifts the stakes up a notch.Evil Dead Risewill see Raimi and Campbell at the reins, and seeing as the two have a deep love for the film that kick-started their respective careers, there is no doubt that the film will stick to its practical roots.
Evil Dead Risewill have a theatrical release on July 13, 2025.
