The Evil Dead series is one I’m always coming back to, I find that the original 1981 movie is one of those rare titles that actually gets better each time I watch it. Needless to say for anyone who follows the series, with the exception of the Evil Dead video games, it has been entirely too long since Bruce Campbell portrayed the character of Ash Williams. When Sam Rami cancelled Evil Dead 4 to work on Spider-Man, I had given up all hope of seeing Bruce pick up the role again. I figured the Evil Dead game, Regeneration, would be the closest thing to Evil Dead 4 we’d ever get.
Almost as soon as this new show starts, however, it feels like no time has passed at all. Ash is back, albeit quite a bit older. His character seems to have developed a bit since his portrayal in Army of Darkness, but obviously, still retaining his smug, smart-mouth attitude we all love.
When I first heard about this show I was concerned that Bruce Campbell may not have the energy to effectively play Ash anymore and I didn’t want the quality to suffer. The show’s trailers made me more optimistic, but almost as soon as he was on the screen I was sure that Bruce still has the talent for the role. Ash’s character now strongly resembles the role Bruce did playing as himself in the movie ‘My Name is Bruce’.
The show begins in an urban setting and shows us how the forces of the Necronomicon would operate there. There are a few over-the-top moments that would only ever work in an Evil Dead story, some of which left me really surprised. The soundtrack has a lot of classic rock and pieces that seems like they’re taken straight from Army of Darkness. The production quality is top-notch and the practical special effects are stunning. The CGI effects are used well and seems mostly reserved for things that can’t be done otherwise. Surprisingly, the CGI effects serves to occasionally capture some of the zaniness this series is know for, but not perfectly.
Ash currently has two co-stars that accompany him, named Pablo and Kelly. Another character with a lot of screen-time is Amanda, who has a terrifying encounter with the dark forces. These supporting roles aren’t very developed yet, but I’m sure the series will deliver that in the weeks to come.
Personally, I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for this show. It has an excellent atmosphere, special effects and fits in perfectly with Evil Dead 1, 2 and Army of Darkness. What more can I say? The king is back and this show is… groovy.