Stars:
Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Hal Delrich, Betsy Baker, and Sarah York
Writer:
Sam Raimi
Director:
Sam Raimi
Feature
length: 85 minutes
Extras:
Feature Length Audio Commentary with Writer and Director Sam Raimi and Producer
Rob Tapert, Feature Length Audio Commentary With Star Bruce Campbell,
Behind-The-Scenes Footage and Outtakes, Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots, Still
Gallery, Talent Bios
Languages:
English DTS Digital 6.1 ES, English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, and French Dolby
Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions
Packaging:
Alpha Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 25
Sound:
DTS Digital 6.1 Discrete Surround Sound ES, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound EX,
and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1982/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Home
Video Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“The
Evil Dead” is perhaps as important a cult horror film classic as George A.
Romero’s “Night Of The Living Dead” and just as influential upon
filmmakers too. The little film that cost $375, 000 went on to earn far more
than the film’s budget and launched the careers of Writer and Director Sam
Raimi, Producer Rob Tapert, and Actor Bruce Campbell and spawned two successful
feature film sequels and even a videogame. Anchor Bay released four collectable
picture disc DVD-Videos a few years ago while Elite Entertainment released a
“Special Collector’s Edition” around the same time that features some
nifty extras that have been for the most part carried over to the new Anchor Bay
DVD release.
Having
completed releasing all three “Evil Dead” films with anamorphic widescreen
THX certified transfers to DVD-Video, Anchor Bay Entertainment has released
“The Evil Dead” to DVD in part to celebrate the film’s 20th
anniversary and though I’m merely guessing, this DVD also happens to be a
scant two months prior to Sam Raimi’s big screen adaptation of “The Amazing
Spider Man.” What a coincidence?
Well
before I go any further I have to point out that prior to receiving the film for
review I read to different DVD reviews on two highly respected and popular DVD
websites, which offered quite opposite points of view with regard to the
transfer. Having Elite Entertainment’s “The Evil Dead: Special Collector’s
Edition” in my personal library already, I decided that the best way to
determine the merits of Anchor Bay’s new release was to watch both discs back
to back and make my own decision from there.
For
Anchor Bay’s DVD release of “The Evil Dead,” the film has been digitally
remastered once again to feature a THX certified transfer complete with the
“THX Optimizer™” program for picture and sound calibration. Matted from
the original (1.33:1) aspect ratio, the new DVD presents “The Evil Dead” in
an anamorphic (1.85:1) aspect ratio, which means that picture information is
literally cut off from the top and bottom of the screen. The effect is actually
not bad though I am troubled by the fact that certain compositions look rather
chopped as a result and I am also troubled by the fact that the original
(1.33:1) version that both Anchor Bay and Elite Entertainment had made available
to consumers previously was not included since (1.33:1) viewing options were
provided on Anchor Bay’s DVD editions of “Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn” and
“Army Of Darkness.”
The
source material appears to be quite grainy and this grain is much more apparent
on the new (1.85:1) transfer than it was on the (1.33:1) transfer that appeared
on both the previous Anchor Bay and Elite Entertainment discs. In this regard,
the transfer on Elite’s version, which I watched back to back with this new
version, looks clearer. However, the colors in my opinion are richer in the new
(1.85:1) transfer Anchor Bay has released. For example, the blue button-down
shirt Ash (Bruce Campbell) wears looks more vibrant on Anchor Bay’s disc while
on the previous Elite release the shirt color appears more muted. I really think
both a widescreen and full-framed version should have been included on this new
DVD release and it is perhaps my only gripe about this new release. I mean how
would horror fans react if the recently released “Night Of The Living Dead:
Millennium Edition” from Elite Entertainment was matted into a (1.85:1)
transfer without the original 35mm (1.33:1) version available as an option as
well? My guess is that they would be pissed off.
A
new English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Soundtrack has also been included along with an
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX Soundtrack and A French Language Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. The DTS track has a more discrete soundtrack
than the Dolby Digital soundtracks found on both Anchor Bay’s and the older
Elite Entertainment DVD. So the lower sounds and high pitched effects have
greater range on the DTS soundtrack. Ironically though I found the Dolby Digital
5.1 Surround Mix on the older Elite DVD to be more aggressive. The Elite disc
also features an English Stereo 2.0 Soundtrack that the Anchor Bay release
omits. Optional English Closed Captions are also encoded on to the new Anchor
Bay DVD, which the Elite version did not include.
The
two feature length commentary tracks on the new Anchor Bay DVD are the exact
same ones on the Elite disc, which is fine since both compliment each other
quite well and are screen specific as well as humorous to listen to. The same
theatrical trailer found on the Elite disc is included on the Anchor Bay disc as
well, but the Anchor Bay version has the trailer matted in a (1.85:1) aspect
ratio to match the feature film’s presentation on the DVD. The same 18-minutes
of filmed outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from the Elite Entertainment
DVD is also included on the new Anchor Bay release.
Exclusive
to Anchor Bay’s DVD release of “The Evil Dead” are four 30-second regional
TV spots, and a broader still gallery of black and white and color lobby cards,
advertising materials, storyboards, sketches, production photos, and more.
Talent Bios for Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell wrap up the extra
features included on the standard Anchor Bay DVD release. Exclusive to the
standard DVD release of “The Evil Dead” from Anchor Bay is a 24-page insert
entitled “Ladies Of The Evil Dead,” which features retrospective interviews
with the three actresses from the first film and focuses on how the film has
impacted on their professional and personal lives and what they have done since
appearing in “The Evil Dead.” This booklet is only available within the
standard Anchor Bay DVD release and is not included in Anchor Bay
Entertainment’s “The Evil Dead: Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition” DVD set
that was released day and date with the standard release. The short liner notes
by Bruce Campbell that appeared on the insert within Elite Entertainment’s DVD
release was not reprinted in either of the Anchor Bay “Evil Dead” DVD
releases.
Being
a collector and a fan I bought Anchor Bay Entertainment’s “The Evil Dead:
The Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition” DVD set out of my own pocket. Besides
the obvious packaging differences with the reproduction of “The Book Of The
Dead” for the DVD release, the disc within the book has red artwork of Bruce
Campbell as “Ash” instead of blue version of the same artwork on the surface
of the disc within the standard DVD release. Additional extra features not on
the standard DVD release from Anchor Bay and exclusive to “The Evil Dead: The
Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition” DVD set are “Fanalyis,” a 26-minute
documentary by Bruce Campbell and “Discovering Evil Dead,” a featurette
detailing the film’s history. A 24-page booklet entitled “Bringing The Dead
Home For Dinner: A History Of The Evil Dead In Your Home” by Michael Felsher
is also exclusive to “The Evil Dead: The Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition”
DVD set along with some Easter eggs hidden within the menus of the limited
edition DVD too.
The
menus for both Anchor Bay DVD releases feature animated transitions with images
from the film and look better than the interactive menus found on the Elite
Entertainment release.
So
what do you buy if you are an “Evil Dead” fan? The decision depends largely
on how much of a fan of the film(s) you are. If you already have either the
Elite or early Anchor Bay DVD releases featuring the (1.33:1) transfer, I say go
for “The Evil Dead: The Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition” DVD set because
yet get more and it makes for a great collector’s item. If you are a fan, but
not a huge fan, either the Elite or standard Anchor Bay DVD release should be
fine. The Anchor Bay DVD has more extra features too though the Elite DVD does
have the generally clearer transfer and is about five to ten dollars cheaper. If you are a huge fan, than you probably have every
incarnation of all of the “Evil Dead” films on DVD already. Personally, as a
fan of the films, but not a fanatic of the films, I am keeping both Elite
Entertainment’s and Anchor Bay’s standard DVD releases because of the
different transfers and options and they also match the other Anchor Bay DVD
releases of “Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn: Special Edition” and the “Army Of
Darkness: Two-Disc Limited Collector’s Edition” on my DVD library bookcases
and on top of the cases on a book display easel I keep “The Evil Dead: The
Book Of The Dead: Limited Edition” because it looks nicer and like many fans
of the films, I could not pass up on buying a copy of the limited edition set
for my library.
Anchor
Bay Entertainment’s “The Evil Dead” and “The Evil Dead: The Book Of The
Dead: Limited Edition” DVD set are both available for sale at retailers on and
offline now.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.