We already reported our exclusive on Sam Raimi’s opinion of Fede Alvarez’s EVIL DEAD remake. Now in a set of new interviews the former fake Shemp has came out with more details on the film and his future in the genre.
Regarding the the film’s gore score (to use a Chas Balun-ism), Raimi reports “It’s really bloody. It’s so bloody, it will make your head spin. I’ve seen almost all the dailies and they’re really going for it. It’s gonna be grisly and intense and non-stop.” When asked about a rating, Raimi speculated “Definitely R. Maybe worse.”
Well that’s a relief. I don’t think any of us were imagining we’d get a PG-13 EVIL DEAD out of this whole reboot venture, but its good to know Ghosthouse Pictures is going all-out with the red stuff.
But that’s not all, kiddies. When asked his opinion of horror film audiences, Raimi had some choice words of praise: “They’re very savvy to film technique. The horror audience is the most original audience out there. They don’t want sequels, they don’t want what most of the audience wants. Most of the time audiences want to see versions of what they’ve seen before. Horror audiences are like, ‘no. Show me something I’ve never seen before! I want to be freaked out!’ My hat’s off to them. They’re a really original audience. Even more than the art film crowd they’re the ones who break new ground and accept new techniques from filmmakers on the cutting edge. Not the indie guys, but those guys. The low-budget horror fans.”
In another interview, Raimi professed his own love for the genre and announced a more hands-on return to it: “I’m thrilled to be able to make bigger budget pictures… but I’m really excited about making another horror movie. I’m writing one with my brother right now and I’m really looking forward to it. I love that crowd… It’s great when you can do something they like, there’s nothing as rewarding as that. Being in the audience when a bunch of horror fans really seem like the movie is so much fun. It’s the greatest high in the world.”
There you have it– Raimi will be making a scary movie comeback. Though many of us spurned his 2008 effort, DRAG ME TO HELL, I myself am eager to welcome him back to the horror movie fold. As for EVIL DEAD, I may have been a bit cynical about some of things Bruce Campbell said earlier this week praising the remake, but Raimi’s encouraging words about the genre and its fans seem right on the mark. I suppose that gives credence to the notion that the remake could be steering down the right path. Until our asses are planted in the movie theater April 12, we can only speculate.