Premiering October 31st, Evil Dead returns to our screens in this revived film series, now turned television series. Ash has spent the last 30 years hiding, avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead until a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind and he becomes their only hope.
Ash unleashes the Evil Dead when he tries to impress a hooker by reading from the book of the dead - she loves poetry. He later realizes his mistake when he picks up a woman at a bar and she sends a warning to him after turning 'evil' for a few brief seconds.
Ash wants to run away and flee town instead of helping to stop the plague, but his two co-workers Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo) manage to persuade him to help after all three of them end up in a compromising position fending off from the ‘dead’. The three of them already have great chemistry, and there is a real sense of direction in where the story is headed with them after the pilot.
Also on the cast is Lucy Lawless, who plays Ruby. She is a mysterious woman who meets with Amanda Fisher (Jill Marie Jones) at a Diner. She is only in a brief scene, but that scene left me eager to find out who exactly she is. Jill Marie Jones plays a key part this episode, and will most likely be Ash's connection to law enforcement. She finds herself in a horrifying position and ends up questioning her own sanity.
Bruce Campbell really shines as Ash, and this show is worth watching just for him. It carries the same tone as the films, blending horror with a comedy aspect. There are a few jump scares mixed into it all as well, and the series adds a lot of gore, more than any other show on the network - which even for Starz is a lot - but overall, it was a very enjoyable pilot.
A lot more happens, but that's all I'm going to give you as I don't watch to spoil anything. Below though are a few dialogue teasers.
"Are you really going to use your fucking lizard to get out of work again"
"Let me ask you something, do you believe in the existence of evil"
"I was kind of expecting a shit-show"
"Groovy"
"I was the only one to escape, for the past thirty years I've been hiding out"
Summary
Ash vs. Evil Dead is a goofy, scary and hilarious show that works well as a half-hour flick. There is enough time each episode to push the story forward without making you lose interest with it dragging on too long. The characters are interesting and blend well with Ash. Bruce literally picks up where he left off from the last film and it felt like Ash or he have never been away. He was excellent as always, and even if you don't like any of the characters he should be enough to make you tune in. He can carry the show if he has to. Overall, if you don't like gory or scary things then this won't be for you, but those who do or fans of the films will love this revival. 8/10
