One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!***
135. Evil Dead (2013) Directed by Fede Alvarez
The Movie: At an isolated cabin in the woods, David (Shiloh Fernandez) and his friends Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci), Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) bring his sister Mia (Jane Levy) there to help her kick her drug habit. David is not aware that Mia’s drug use has gotten out of control and she has even overdosed before. David also learns that Mia has made this pledge before, only to fall victim to her addiction time after time.
But something is amiss at the cabin. There appears to be a blood stain that goes straight into the fruit cellar. When the curious group of friends go into the cellar the discover a book, bound in plastic with barb wire wrapped around it.
Eric, decides to rip the barb wire off and read the book. Which tells him not to, but he doesn’t listen. He says words that should not be spoken, “Kunda, Astratta, Montosse, Canda.” By saying those words he unleashes unseen demons into this world.
Mia soon is tormented by an evil doppelgänger that only she can see. She begs David to take her home, David refuses. Mia steals his car and attempts to flee. When she sees the demon version of herself, she crashes the car. As she leaves the car, she is chased through the woods. Mia gets trapped by vines and one of them enters her and thus possessing her.
Mia is found and returns to the cabin. At the cabin David finds his dog beaten to death. Convinced that MIa did he barges in on her in the shower. David is horrified to see that Mia is scalding herself in the water with no reaction.
David then takes Mia from the cabin in the hopes of getting her to a hospital only to find the road is washed away. David and Mia return to the cabin.
That night Mia emerges from her bedroom, possessed, holding a shotgun. Mia screams, “You are all going to die!” Shoots David, and pukes bile all over Olivia. Eric overpowers Mia and throws her into the cellar, locking her in.
When Eric goes to check on Olivia later, he finds her sawing her face with a broken piece of mirror. Olivia turns her attention to Eric and stabs him repeatedly with a hypodermic needle. Eric kills Olivia with a toilet cover and screams. David goes to help Eric, leaving Natalie and Mia alone.
Mia is able to lure Natalie into the cellar, bites her hand and licks a box cutter, slicing her tongue in half. David returns and is able to rescue Natalie, but the damage is done.
Eric explains that according to the book, it needs five souls, when this happens “The Abomination” will be unleashed. Unbeknownst to Eric and David, Natalie’s arm is now possessed. Natalie grabs an electric carver, and cuts her arm off. But she is already possessed and attacks Eric and David with a nail gun. Natalie soon bleeds to death.
Learning that Mia must be purified by several means to escape the demons wrath, David decides that he will bury Mia alive and attempt to resurrect her after she dies. David heads into the cellar to get Mia only to be attacked by her. Eric intervenes and gets stabbed in the neck for his trouble.
David is able to sedate Mia and bury her. After she is dead, he digs her up and resuscitates her. David returns to the cabin to get the car keys and is stabbed by Eric’s reanimated corpse. Mia is locked out of the cabin, which David then shoots a gasoline can, killing himself and Eric (again) in the process.
Mia does not have time to catch her breath as blood starts to rain down from the sky, The Abomination rises from the Earth, in the form of Mia. The Abomination attacks Mia, but Mia gets off both its legs with a chainsaw. The Abomination then pushes over a Jeep onto Mia’s arm, pinning it. Mia summons all her strength with The Abomination closing in on her and rips her arm off, sticks it in the chainsaw and cuts The Abomination in half.
Why I Love Evil Dead (2013): My favorite horror series is The Evil Dead. Remakes, or in this case a reimagining of the first film was going to be a tough sell, but Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Rob Tappert, the brains behind the original trilogy were onboard so I knew it was in good hands.
Evil Dead is scary, intense and once it really gets going it can be overwhelming for the non-horror crowd. The film never lets up, never giving you a chance to catch your breath. You are stuck there, just like Mia and her friends, forced to watch in horror as they are assaulted, mutilated and killed.
But that also is what makes the movie so much fun. I was lucky enough to enjoy an early screening of this film at the University of Colorado with my friends and fellow horror lovers, Matt and Tommy. Tommy is no longer with us, and I always think of him when I watch this film, he had a heart of gold and I miss him dearly.
Hats off to Jane Levy who plays Mia. She brings vulnerability, intensity and total bad-assery to the role of Mia. She is the center point of the film and I can’t even imagine how difficult this film was to make for her.
If you are in the mood for the most intense (and fun) 92 minutes you will ever experience watching a movie, pop in Evil Dead, it’s groovy.