Evil Dead* (2012) 9, 8.5, 10, 27

I would like to begin by welcoming myself back to my blog. I have been on the road for a while and I didn't see very many movies and I didn't review the ones I did see.
For my comeback, I'll be reviewing a gem that my nephew, Isaiah, insisted I watch. I wanted to watch it, but the right time hadn't presented itself. I am a fan of the Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell original. This is not that. I was skeptical, because I am not very familiar with the previous work of the director, Fede Alvarez. He co-wrote and directed this, only his fifth directed film and second English language film. This one is so good that I want to watch his others.
The biggest difference between this and the original is where the original is somewhere between horror and comedy, this is between horror and drama. There is something lost in this, but also something gained. But let's break it down.
The writing is good. The dialogue makes some quality callbacks to the original but is overall its own film. The pacing is good enough to recognize an underutilized character and make a play on it.
The acting is surprising as well. The main two characters, a brother and sister played by Shiloh Fernandez and Jane Levy, are really good. I knew Shiloh from a little indie movie that came out a few years ago called Happiness Runs. It was a decent movie, but I now remember Shiloh as the stand out. His work here is comparable. He's the emotional crux of the film for most of it. He does a great job conveying horror, fear, revulsion and resolution. Jane Levy is nearly unknown to me. I always saw the end of Suburgatory when I recorded Modern Family. It seems stupid. But Jane impressed me. She did well the junkie, the fighter, and the possessed. All of it works.
The best though is Lou Taylor Pucci. He's had small parts in movies I've liked like Beginners, but I don't remember him. In this, he gets perfectly the kind of jerk who just won't leave it alone. He really plays the classic jerk so well.
Wisdom is an 8.5 because the message is ambiguous at best. Like the classic, the basic message is don't mess with witchcraft. Maybe also don't scoff at witchcraft. Either way, not the most profound of lessons. Maybe a light anti-heroin message, but that's hardly as groundbreaking as it was when Frank did The Man with the Golden Arm. Alogether, I might be being generous, but it isn't really about a message, but about enjoyment. This is a little shallow.
Wonder is the key. This film is awesome in its depiction of violence. Whether it's raining blood or someone is stabbing someone else in the eye, this film is creepy and well-made.
One last thing that I don't know where to put. There are some very unrealistic moments in the violence. I won't ruin anything, but some limbs are torn off a little too easily.
If you are squeamish about violence, do not watch this. Also, the demon-possessed girl says some foul things. This should be understood, because demons are bad. I cannot object to the realistic depiction of demons, though I can imagine why one wouldn't want young people to see it.
Enjoy friends!