Writer/Director Sam Raimi’s relentless, gore-spattered debut is a landmark in horror cinema, a no-holds-barred onslaught of gruesome terror and nightmarish effects which has earned its rightful status as a legendary cult classic. Five college students travel to a remote cabin in the woods and unwittingly unleash a monstrous evil force hellbent on their total destruction.

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Video Quality

The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook of The Evil Dead celebrates the 45th anniversary of the film with an ideal visual presentation suited to its origins. Sony presents it with a magnificent 2160p transfer in its original, uncropped 1.33 aspect ratio, which improves upon the included Blu-Ray. The film was already released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray back in 2018 by Lionsgate, which I have and used to compare to this newer release. The introduction of Dolby Vision versus the strictly HDR10 of the previous release yields some incremental improvements, even if the more noticeable benefits may be elsewhere on this disc.

The level of detail and clarity is exquisite with all of the natural film grain intact. The thick grain resolves favorably with only some minor fluctuations due to the original photography. The texture on display in the increasingly tattered outfits and within the cabin is a revelation. Even the special effects details present with impressive clarity, which makes his work all the more stomach-churning. This transfer does not yield anything in the way of egregious print damage. This presentation is respectful of the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances.

It should come as no surprise that this is not the most colorful film to ever exist, but that does not lessen the impact of the Dolby Vision presentation. The new release features some colors in the effects that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. It might not be candy colored, but it reaches an accuracy not possible on a lesser format. Lighting is an essential part of ratcheting up the terror of this film, and this disc handles every slight environmental change with ease. The black levels are strong with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are solid as a rock with no evidence of serious blooming. While this is not the most visually lush film, this presentation is the ultimate representation thanks to the folks at Sony.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track, which delivers an impressive listening experience despite neither track representing the original theatrical mono. Of the two, the 2.0 track approximates the original mono track the most closely with a full-bodied sound that suits the chaos of the film well. Those who choose to utilize more speakers with the 5.1 track will have a blast as you get more enveloped in everything.

Dialogue is clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. Atmospheric sound effects are precisely rendered within the mix so that sounds emerge from the appropriate direction. The low-end effects from the subwoofer are appropriately intense when things get particularly vicious. And, while the video portion of the disc is not tremendously different from the previous Lionsgate 4K UHD, these audio tracks correct an issue from that disc where the audio was slightly pitched down. This improvement alone will be enough to upgrade for those sensitive to such variances. Sony has treated this one well. Optional English, English SDH, and a plethora of other subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Sony has provided The Evil Dead with a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is truly lovely in person. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review.

Audio Commentary: Director Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell

Picture-in-Picture – Join Us! The Undying Legacy of The Evil Dead: An option to watch the film with a picture-in-picture screen that pops up every so often with horror filmmakers discussing the legacy and impact of The Evil Dead on the genre. I had issues getting the sound to play correctly on my Panasonic 4K UHD player.

One by One We Will Take You – The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead: A 54-minute archival documentary that looks at the production and legacy of the film, the creation of the special effects, the direction of Sam Raimi, and more.

Treasures from the Cutting Room Floor: An hour-long collection of raw footage, alternate takes, and other glimpses from the production of the film.

At the Drive-In: A 12-minute look at the performers at a convention from 2005 giving away copies of the DVD release.

Discovering Evil Dead: A 13-minute featurette that explores how The Evil Dead became a cult favorite.

Make-Up Test: A minute-long test of some make-up effects.

Trailer and TV Spots (4:00): A trailer and four TV spots are included.

Final Thoughts

The Evil Dead is an absolute horror classic for the visceral gut punch it delivers on such a small budget. Sam Raimi has been dazzling us and grossing us out for decades now, and it is always a blast to return to where it all started. The mixture of horror and dark comedy is deftly balanced to please hardcore horror fans while delivering something slightly more broadly appealing. The series has evolved in interesting ways over the years, but there is something special about this original outing. Sony Pictures has released a sterling new Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook featuring a wonderful A/V presentation as well as a welcome assortment of special features. Recommended

The Evil Dead is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

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