Movies
Here’s Exactly What to Expect From the Unrated ‘Evil Dead’ Remake
The “Unrated Edition” of Evil Dead arrives on digital platforms October 25th. But what is it?
We broke the exclusive news yesterday about the upcoming release, and today we wanted to bring a bit more clarity to this whole thing. For starters, the “Unrated Edition” is the very same version of the film that has aired on television over in the UK, which you may have heard about at some point in the past three years. Director Fede Alvarez refers to this not as an unrated edition or a director’s cut, but rather an extended version; long story short, the “Unrated Edition” is the longest cut of the film, the one that was eventually edited by Alvarez into the version we’ve seen.
Alvarez recently explained all to Blumhouse podcast Shock Waves:
Yes. There is (a longer version) but it’s not a director’s cut. Usually what I do, like most directors, is you do a first cut, look at it, and it’s usually too long. So I made the decision, and I really cut it to the bone to make sure that’s the sharpest piece of storytelling I can tell. I try to take it to a very effective machine of storytelling if I can.
The extended version is just that longer version of the movie we had at the beginning which I didn’t think was the best version of the film. And that movie, it’s funny – it got leaked! It was an error – Sony shipped the wrong version to the UK, so the one that’s airing in the UK is the extended version.
So what can you expect from the “Unrated Edition” of the Evil Dead remake? Fans who are hungry for way more of the 2013 gore-fest will be happy to hear that it includes just under FIVE MINUTES of footage not seen in the theatrical/home video version, including scenes that were in the trailer but strangely absent from the film itself. As outlined by Movie Censorship (be sure to head over there for literally everything you need to know about this cut), the newly-branded “Unrated Edition” has both additional plot scenes and more violence.
The site notes 27 major and minor differences between the “Unrated Edition” and the theatrical cut, and the additional gore scenes include extended shots of Mia’s tongue slice and Natalie’s self-inflicted arm removal; two of the more gruesome sequences in the film. Perhaps most notably, the scene of David chopping up Natalie’s body with a chainsaw has been restored, which was glimpsed in the trailer but eventually cut by Alvarez.
Additionally, the new version includes a brand new scene during the end credits, which sees Mia being picked up on the side of the road by a kind stranger; contrary to internet rumor, the old man in this scene is not played by Bruce Campbell.
So there you have it. More gore. More action. Should be a fun little Halloween treat!
In the wake of Backrooms and Obsession, everyone is prowling YouTube for horror shorts to adapt and horror filmmakers to scoop up, so don’t be surprised to see a whole bunch of upcoming articles about YouTube success stories crossing over into theaters. One horror short that’s already been picked up for expansion is Dolly director Rod Blackhurst’s Alone Time.
The 12-minute short was uploaded in 2014 and has amassed nearly 2 million views at the time of this article being written, and Deadline reports that it’s getting a feature adaptation.
Witchcraft Motion Picture Company & Fever Dream will turn the viral short into a feature film.
Alone Time follows Ann Saunders, a young NY professional whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel following a devastating personal loss. “Seeking refuge from a collapsing relationship, a deteriorating family situation, and mounting emotional trauma, Ann reluctantly joins her closest friend on a remote camping trip deep in the Adirondack wilderness.”
The synopsis continues, “When her friend mysteriously disappears, Ann becomes convinced that an unseen figure is stalking her through the forest. What begins as a survival nightmare slowly transforms into something far more disturbing as fractured memories, conflicting realities, and hidden truths force Ann to confront the possibility that the greatest threat may not be lurking in the woods at all, but buried deep within her own psych.”
“Alone Time has quietly followed me for over a decade,” director Rod Blackhurst said in a statement. “What began as a short film about isolation and the weight of life now feels more relevant than ever. The original short found its audience organically online long before that was considered a legitimate path for filmmakers. Bringing it to life as a feature allows us to explore those themes on a much larger and more psychologically unsettling canvas.”
Blackhurst is directing the feature length expansion.
You can watch the original Alone Time short film below.
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