The plot is a staple of horror: a band of merrymaking teenagers-cum-young adults journey to a remote cabin in the woods, only to discover something wicked awaiting them. Finding the place dilapidated and not at all romantic, the group nevertheless decides to stay the night, and it's all downhill from there. In the cabin's basement, our heroes find a taped recording by a previous occupant, telling of demons, possession and dismemberment. One by one, the characters (apart from the hero, Ash, played by Bruce Campbell) are possessed by homicidal demons.

Taken on its own, apart from its two sequels, Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead is a horror classic on par with George Romero's original Night of the Living Dead. Despite its obviously low budget, the film benefits from Raimi's gift of masterly visual storytelling, already strongly in evidence here. The demonic monstrosities with whom Campbell must contend - his possessed girlfriend, sister, etc. - are all uniquely frightening despite the obviously cheap budget used to create them. The film is another proof that big budgets are not necessary for scary movies - talent, intelligence and playfulness in storytelling are more than enough.

Since its low budget was very much a part of the original's charm, Raimi's return to his masterpiece will certainly present new challenges. How will the director of Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 revisit his humbler beginnings, this time as strictly a producer? We will allow it, if only Raimi makes good on his promise to also direct Evil Dead 4.

I don't know about that.
It's just a cheap, crap knockoff if it doesn't star Bruce Cambell.