Friday 6 January 2012

OMFG An Evil Dead Remake

No,no,no,no,no, NO! *Jaw drops, head thunks* One of my worst nightmares has just come true. They are remaking Evil Dead and without Bruce Campbell, worse, they're even taking out the beloved character of Ash. Say it ain't so Sam Raimi! Come on, at least lie to me. This is horrible, an apocalypse for me and all Evil Dead fans everywhere. And I can't believe who they cast.

Lily Collins. That's right horror fans, the new Ash is going to be a girl and she's going to be played by Lily "Snow White" Collins. Really? Ash has a trademark panache and is sarcastic to the core. And Lily, well, isn't. Sure she's cute and all, and she's a good actress, but she is not a worthy ascendant to the iconic Ash.

Okay, maybe I am over-reacting. It could have been worse, they could have cast someone completely dreadful like Julianna Guill (Friday the 13 redux)or one of those awful Disney actresses who want to use horror to break out of the saccharine mold created for them by The Mouse. But still, Evil Dead with out Ash is like A Nightmare on Elm Street without Freddy Krueger or even Robert Englund. It's unimaginable. We all know how well Jackie Earle Haley worked out as Freddy.

Here's what I know about the rebooted story. According to Bloody Disgusting who broke the news, and MovieLine, Ash will now be Mia, a drug addict who will be detoxing in the infamous cabin in the woods with friends Olivia, Natalie, David and Eric. Mia struggles with her sobriety and starts flipping out. They find the Book of the Dead like the original crew and on comes the demons, leaving only Mia to tackle the evil forces. Sounds like they're trying to take the campy fun out of it and make it serious. As if.

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are on board to produce, which gives me a modicum of relief, but it is being directed by virtual unknown Fede Alvarez with a script co-written by Alvarez, Diablo Cody and Rodo Sayaguez. We all have to start somewhere, but this is sacred film territory to me. However, if Raimi is willing to trust, perhaps I should have a little more faith. But somehow I just can't see Lily pulling this off. I'm going to hide under my blanket now with a large container of chocolate and a bottle of wine. A giant bottle.

The Evil Dead reboot is scheduled to start filming this March and is slated to hit theaters on April 12, 2013. Maybe the Mayans are right so I won't have to witness this abomination.

What do you think? Are you as shocked by this as I am? Or am I overreacting and being a big baby? Are you meh about the whole thing and think I should just get over it?

23 comments:

Craig Edwards said...

No good will come of this. (shakes head, walks away)

Unknown said...

@Craig I know. I am just stupified. I love my Ash and all I can think is WHHHYY?

George Beremov [Nebular] said...

I kinda expected this to happen. The Evil Dead remained one of the very few classic horror movie that didn't get remade over the years. Now they're doing it. I'm curious about, even though not entirely sold on it. I hope Raimi knows what his doing, and I will miss Ash for sure.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

not a good idea... sad nothing will come from this movie, i talked with bruce over the summer and he mentioned this project. the big question would he be in it, he said he was too f'ing old... now then he winked... at me. so that might be the only plus. stop making remakes.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

What!?!?!?!?!?!?! That movie is classic. I am so disappointed...

Unknown said...

@Nebular Hon, you're absolutely right. I should have expected this remake since everything else is apparently on the reboot. It's just that it's Bruce and Ash is an indelible part of my movie loving soul. Can I cry again now? :)

Unknown said...

@iZombie I agree. Stop making remakes. There are plenty of original stories out there to be told. Bruce will never be old. LOL

Unknown said...

@Alex I know!! I am so heartbroken, I can't think straight.

Russell_LDN said...

Great post Mel!

I can just feel the anguish that you're feeling at the news of not only the reboot of the 'Evil Dead' series but of the removal of Ash!

I can just see the boardroom full of suits talking about they can make a mint by cashing in on one of the great horror stories out there and placing the IT actress at the moment and how they can guarantee and audience by playing against type.

Yeh! Whatever.

I think it's a bad idea. I don't think any good can come of it. I think that they will be making a mistake.

But then again, what do I know.

Great read though :)

Eric said...

HOLY FREAKIN' COW! For once, I completely and without reservation agree with you. How can they possibly remake this movie? Thanks for alerting us anyway. If you're planning a party with a huge wine bottle, please send me an invite LOL.

Kev D. said...

They would need to get someone older, harder, and possibly much much funnier to play a female Ash.

That girl does not appear to exude any bad assedness... I don't have any ideas really of who COULD pull it off... maybe they should just put a dress on Campbell.

Unknown said...

@Russell Thank you! The suits and the It girl, that pretty much explains this I think. They really are cutting at the core of what these films are by trying to re-invent them in a new way because this generation couldn't possibly understand these films in their original form.

Unknown said...

@Eric You will most definitely get an invite to my Evil Dead Memorial party. :) This remake just is going too far by removing the key character. Ash is Evil Dead.

Unknown said...

@Kev D Absolutely. I wish they would have at least gone with an older, wise-cracking woman. Or even recast to a different male lead. But to remove the character all together is preposterous. You're right, there is nothing badass about Lily. This was the toughest picture I found. LOL A dress on Bruce would be hilarious.

Michele (TheGirlWhoLovesHorror) said...

Diablo Cody is so WRONG for this. With her name attached, I just see this going off in a completely different direction from the original, which is not good at all.

And who goes to a cabin in the woods to detox anyway? Wouldn't a hospital be a better idea? :)

Unknown said...

@Michele I absolutely agree. Diablo does not have the sensibility for this and it probably will go off in a whole wrong direction.

And yes, what about a hospital? I guess it's supposed to be their version of Canyon Ranch or something. ;)

Jamie Gibbs said...

What?! No Ash?! No Bruce Campbell?! Say it ain't so!

Evil Dead IS Bruce Campbell. What is Sam Raimi thinking? I'm not sure how they will remake the same vibe of the original (especially THAT tree scene) but I'll keep a close eye on this one.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to pen a strongly worded letter to Mr. Raimi...

FilmMattic said...

Death to the derivative Hollywood machine (figuratively I suggest). This is an awful idea made infinitely worse by the lousiest remake formula ever conceived. Lack of creativity is a mantra Hollywood lives by with stunning resolve. For every new putrid remake idea, my expectations plummet at increasing rates of intensity.

Novroz said...

I haven't seen thismovie yet...but Hollywood really have to stop doing this!!! I am sick and tired of hearing remakes of everything *sigh*

Unknown said...

@Jamie I think I should pen a strongly worded letter too. I cannot even believe this. I agree a thousand percent, Bruce/Ash IS Evil Dead. I don't this girl could carry off that unique style.

Unknown said...

@Matt I don't know what it with all the remakes of late. I can understand a reboot/remake here and there, but it seems like Hollywood execs are just going through the vault and throwing out titles with no thought. And yet, there are so many original ideas out there. It's very frustrating.

Unknown said...

@Novroz I agree! I am sick and tired of all the remakes/reboots etc. They need to start getting some new ideas. And it's not like these remakes are even that successful.

Kaijinu said...

GASP* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!




(breathes in) OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!