Evil Dead talk: It’s “not funny” according to Jane Levy; Bruce says it’s “damn scary”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

THE EVIL DEAD remake is moving full speed ahead, and we can do nothing to stop it. Those of us who are dismayed at the idea can only look on with something approaching tentative curiosity. If nothing else, it should be interesting to see what they do with it and what it will ultimately look like, right?

If we want a tiny hint, The Insider was lucky enough to catch up with two of the EVIL DEAD’s main players and snatched up some minor intel.

First up, Bruce Campbell, who has been a supporter of the remake from the beginning (of course, he’s one of the producers). “You can expect to have a damn scary horror movie. There’s no Ash character — The Evil Book is going to torment a new set of kids, so it’s a remake, or a re-imagining or … a re-whatever word you want to use. It’s going to be re-scary.”

A question about the potential of villainous trees (you’ll recall how naughty they are in the original), spawned this comment from Bruce: “They’re not terribly well-behaved this time either.”

I’ll be shocked if they’re such pervy molesters this time around, but who knows..?

Additionally, The Insider caught up with star Jane Levy, who recently took on the lead female role after Lily Collins dropped out. Levy had her own thoughts on the tone this film is going for:

“I’m so excited. I’m a big fan of the original. To me it’s the scariest movie, ever. But this one is really different. They’ve changed it a lot, but it’s still a pretty gory movie. My mom probably can’t see it.”

We shouldn’t expect any silly shenanigans in the new version, either. “I think the humor in the first one came from the special effects of the time. I don’t know that they meant it to be funny … this one is not funny. It’s definitely dark.”

I’ll argue that Raimi intended for the original to be – if not funny – amusing (as well as ghastly and grotesque); that movie tickles the funny bone in a unique way. That said, I think it’s clear what Levy is getting at. Don’t go in expecting any Three Stooges shtick.

We’ll find out just how dark and not funny THE EVIL DEAD is in April of 2013.

Jane Levy