DVD Collectors Online

The Evil Dead, a review by Jon

The Evil Dead
4 out of 5



A group of friends go for a break in a cabin in the woods, but little do they know it is surrounded by a demonic force waiting for an opportunity to lay siege.

This is independent film-making at its best, a true classic of the genre made for pennies. Could easily be dismissed as junk, but it has such heart, humour and real talent, it’s impossible to ignore. If you haven’t seen it, you should really look it up, even if you’ve seen the sequel/remake, Evil Dead II. That is the better film in many respects, but this is scarier and darker. Turn the lights off and the sound up, and strap up your jaw before it falls too far!

The Evil Dead is an important film for many reasons, not least because it was one of the first video hits. Released in cinemas and on video at the same time, it proved the home market was viable beyond porn. And here we are today.

It was also one of the original video nasties, but unfairly. Of course, none of those notorious titles deserve to be on such a list as we are adults and can decide for ourselves, but some are mean spirited so the average viewer is easily put off and left in ignorance. The Evil Dead hasn’t got many evil thoughts though. It’s a very graphic comic book. Ok, one of the girls gets raped by a tree, but who are we to judge?

The story is a horror staple; the lonely cabin in the woods. But as it was released in 1981 when I was 6, I can’t work out if it created the cliché or honoured it. Either way it is pretty much definitive. Like religion in The Omen, I’m a sucker for hidden worlds of demons. Where are the rules? Do demons have rules? Who knows! Much of the atmosphere is down to the very well prepared Book of the Dead prop and the tape recordings which are capable of sending a shiver down your neck. Though not as much as the cellar…

Raimi directs the hell out of this film, which is one of the things that sets it apart, even today. His enthusiasm that seems to throw everything at the screen is only matched and tempered by his talent. He really knows how to manipulate the audience. His editing and sound design is excellent, with inventive and ambitious shots. There are sound effects you wouldn’t expect, perhaps not even needed, but add to the atmosphere and the films unique identity. I particularly liked the point of view shots as the characters were being attacked. Then there’s the gore! Plenty of body parts flying around and blood everywhere and here it really shows its roots. Especially near the end with the vomit inducing time-lapsed decomposing.

The cast for the most part are pretty standard. You aren’t going to attract the best actors to something like this, but they’re good enough and good sports for all the make-up. But a key element to the whole success might just be Bruce Campbell. The man is a legend!

The Anchor Bay DVD has DTS sound put to excellent use and some worthy features, some hidden as eggs. The cover shot is from the Region 2 limited edition, made to look like the Book Of The Dead.


(From October Marathon: Horror! on October 29th, 2008)

Attack on the Iron Coast, a review by GSyren

Attack on the Iron Coast (5-037899-056394)

United Kingdom 1968 | Released 2014-11-10 on DVD from 101 Films

90 minutes | Aspect ratio Non-anamorphic 1.85:1 | Audio: English Dolby Digital Mono

Directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Lloyd Bridges, Andrew Kier, Sue Lloyd, Mark Eden, Maurice Denham

Commando Major Jamie Wilson plans an audacious Combined Operations raid on the Axis held French port of Le Clare; if destroyed the Germans would be stripped of their only dry dock capable of servicing their large battleships. Wilson's plan, code named Operation Mad Dog, is to ram a destroyer packed with tons of explosives into the outer gate of the dock. Opposed to Wilson is Royal Navy Captain Owen Franklin, whose own son was killed on Wilson s disastrous last raid on the French coast. Under pressure from Winston Churchill, Wilson's plan is given the go-ahead even though the naval craft requested for the mission are reduced to a minesweeper replacing the destroyer, no escort craft and only four motor launches.

My thoughts about Attack on the Iron Coast:

Objectively Attack on the Iron Coast is probably a rather mediocre film. But I'm rather partial to these type of "war adventure" films. And after watching Sea Hunt, I'm a fan of Lloyd Bridges. From what I gather, this film is loosely based on a real event. That makes it a little bit more interesting than if it was all fictional. The script does leave something to be desired, though. The portrayal of the German officers is rather stereotypical. Walter Gotell and George Mikell are both fine actors, but they don't get a chance to show it. They are given much better roles in The Guns of Navarone, which is, by the way, a much better film. The special effects, courtesy of Les Bowie, vary quite a bit. The shots of the ships at sea suffer from poor depth of focus, which immediately makes them look like the miniature setups that they are. But Les probably did the best he could with the budget he was given. The explosions in the German docks looked better. This is probably not a film that would suit everybody. It was just right for me, though, so I'll give it 3 1/2 stars. Be aware that this is a highly subjective rating, though. Oh yeah, the DVD is 1.85:1, non-anamorphic! On a DVD that was released 2014! WTF 101 Films?

I (still) rate this title

(From Reviews and ramblings by Gunnar on January 2nd, 2015)

Tom's Random Reviews, a review by Tom

Title: Welcome to the N.H.K.!: Collection Part One
Year: 2006
Director:
Rating: NR
Length: 300 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:


Plot:
Some people's lives get stuck in a rut and others go through a few rough patches. Sato's life, on the other hand, seems to be going to hell in a hand basket filled with cheap takeout dinners! Between dropping out of college, never going outside and living on a diet of internet porn, Sato's slowly turning into a human fungus. But what if it's not his fault? What if it's actually a dark and sinister conspiracy on the part of the television networks? And what if all those adorable images of cute anime girls are actually part of an insidious plan of brainwashing designed to turn viewers into jobless, social recluses? Can Sato overcome the horrible plot that has been hatched by the nefarious N-H-K? Will he fight for his future, get a job and even meet girls in order to counter this evil organization? The battle is on in Welcome to the N-H-K!

Extras:
Scene Access
Trailers

It started of really strange and I was not sure if I would like it, but it got better and better. Originally I had planned to only watch this first volume now and the second volume much later. But now I am really curious how it will continue, so I probably will watch the second volume soon.

#	Episode	Rating
01	Welcome to the Project!
02	Welcome to the Creator!
03	Welcome to the Beautiful Girls!
04	Welcome to the New World!
05	Welcome to Counseling!
06	Welcome to the Classroom!
07	Welcome to the Moratorium!
08	Welcome to Chinatown!
09	Welcome to a Summer Day!
10	Welcome to the Dark Side!
11	Welcome to the Conspiracy!
12	Welcome to the Off Meeting!

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 13th, 2010)