Movie news
Remaking “The Evil Dead”: A conversation
With an unknown director at the helm and Diablo Cody doing the rewrites, there's no way this could go well, right?
Does "The Evil Dead" need an update? Sam Raimi and original producing partners Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (who also starred in the original franchise) are gearing up to remake their cult sensation THE EVIL DEAD through their long standing Ghost House Pictures partnership. Raimi and Tapert were such instant fans of Fede Alvarez’s short film “Panic Attack” that they set up a blind deal with the filmmaker and through that process have attached Fede Alvarez to write and direct the film. Alvarez wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody is currently doing revisions on the draft.
The three producing partners commented, “We are committed to making this movie and are inspired by the enduring popularity and enthusiasm for the ‘Evil Dead’ series. We can’t wait to scare a new generation of moviegoers using filmmaking techniques that were not available to us thirty years ago as well as Fede bringing a fresh eye to the film’s original elements.”
Yikes? Or possibly yay? I think we can all agree that the phrase “blind deal” when it comes to remaking a cult classic is never a good sign (especially with a first-time feature director), but considering the low-budget appeal of “The Evil Dead,” maybe a reworking with some fresh blood wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world? My sister and I discussed it over breakfast this morning.
Drew: If I remember correctly, “The Evil Dead” wasn’t that amazing. It was kind of shlocky and campy.
Hannah: Exactly. So why remake them?
Drew: Well, because Diablo Cody can actually write pretty decent horror movie dialogue. “Jennifer’s Body” had a very tongue-in-cheek, female-Sam Raimi element to it.
Hannah: If she’s a good writer, she can go write her own original script. There’s no need to have such an influx of remakes. It’s sad to see that people can’t come up with their own ideas.
Drew: You just have a problem with remakes in general then?
Hannah: I’m just saying, where have all the original horror films gone? Why did we need a new “Halloween” or “Nightmare on Elm Street”?
Drew: The difference is that those two films were horror movie staples. They were classics, and remaking them … nothing could have been added to make them better. Who needed Michael Meyers’ back story? “The Evil Dead” was a cult films, but not necessarily a great film. It could have used a rewrite. The first half of “Evil Dead 2″ was basically just a remake of “Evil Dead” anyway. Essentially the same plot, with Bruce Campbell going into the cabin and discovering a Book of the Dead. Either he had terrible amnesia, or the sequel was a remake for people who hadn’t seen the first film.
Hannah: Fine. You can argue that point.
Drew: Although, if we were going to remake every cult film that could use polishing — “Pink Flamingos” or “Eraserhead” — I’d be pretty pissed off too. And in terms of horror movies, I agree that getting music video directors to sexify them up is dumb. But Zac Snyder’s remake of “Dawn of the Dead” was arguably … not horrible? Maybe there is room for a decent rewrite?
Hannah: OK, I’m done here.
Drew: But I think its silly to say this will introduce a whole new generation of fans to “The Evil Dead,” because the coda to that should be “… and piss off all the people who liked the movie in the first place.”
Hannah: …
Drew: I’m just glad this deal doesn’t include “Army of Darkness.” Diablo wouldn’t be able to make that script better.
So what do you think of the beginning of a new “Evil Dead” franchise? Love it or loathe it?
Drew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
Sean Penn owns it in “This Must Be the Place”
A tale of an aging glam rock Nazi-hunter looks surprisingly touching
Penn is nonplussed. One time I met Sean Penn. It was outside an event for the Huffington Post 100 (I was not one of them … surprised?) and he asked to bum a cigarette. I think I asked him something about Cuba? Anyway, this was the face he made the entire time we were talking. He did not look happy. I just had to face (ha?) facts: I’m no Scarlett Johansson. (Though I’m pretty sure he made that face hanging out with her too.)
Continue Reading CloseDrew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
Today’s must-see viral videos
Watch: Tom Green and Richard Simmons plank, Kathy Lee talks dog poop DNA, and Anderson Cooper still hates Snooki
Sherlock Holmes, on the run in "A Game of Shadows." 1. Tom Green was planking before planking was cool
Though the sheer fact that Tom Green started the planking thing would be further evidence of its not being cool, right?
2. Planking to the oldies
Continue Reading CloseDrew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
Copyright concerns for “Wizard of Oz” prequel
Surprisingly, even a James Franco project isn't immune to legal battles over "iconic" images
"The Wizard of Oz." When you think about Dorothy’s slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” are they silver or ruby? How about the Wicked Witch … what color is she? What kind of dog is Toto?
Your answers to these questions are probably based on the 1939 MGM (now Warner Bros.) classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” and not the 1900 fairy tale “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” And unfortunately, this could mean trouble for Sam Raimi and James Franco’s new star-studded project, “Oz, the Great and Powerful,” according to a new ruling set by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Continue Reading CloseDrew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
Spike Lee to direct “Oldboy” remake?
Rumors of adapting the cult manga/revenge film for American audiences still include Will Smith
Choi Min-sik in "Oldboy." Warning: This article contains a major plot spoiler for the film “Oldboy.”
Since Park Chan-wook’s South Korean revenge flick “Oldboy” won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, producers have been trying to find a way to bastardize the project into a more American-friendly version. Steven Spielberg and Will Smith have both been attached to the title since 2008 (after director Justin Lin and Nic Cage dropped out of the running), though rumors have been swirling that the project has been dead in the water for at least a year.
Continue Reading CloseDrew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
Five pop culture items we missed
Today's catch includes art-splatter tattoos, Tobey Maguire's illegal card ring, and Jim from "The Office" singing
Permanent art: the watercolor tattoos of a Lower East Side artist. 1. Tattoos of the day: Amanda Wachob’s ink has been all over the Internet lately. Which is awesome, because her tattoos really are works of art. And also I have one.
2. Poker game of the day: Tobey Maguire was busted for illegal underground gambling in a card ring that included Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Leonardo DiCaprio! Now they’ll have to go to celebrity jail!
Continue Reading CloseDrew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew. More Drew Grant.
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