WITHIN THE WOODS REVIEW FROM EARLY 2011

Within the Woods 1978
Director- Sam Raimi
Stars- Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandwiess , Scott Spiegel , and Mary Valenti
Not Rated
Violence , Gore , Creepy Ass Music , and Creepy Ass Sound Effects
45 minutes approx.
Movie rating- 3 of 10
Demo rating- 10/10



“you're only cursed by the evil spirits if you violate the graves of the dead"


Isn’t that a forewarning if I ever heard of one ! This - the mighty “demo” for the Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 is just that - a demo! Filmed all in Super 8 as was Evil Dead and several of the scenes were used in Evil Dead and in Evil Dead 2.

Well needless to say- innocently Bruce digs a fire pit and while doing so unearths a cross and an Indian ceremonial dagger. That is what I call “violated”- at least by Evil Dead standards. This is where it all gets interesting- the music , the sound effects, the very creepy things that really help make Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 classics.

To move ahead a bit- Bruce winds up being possessed- and goes on rampage with all the demonic sounds and gargled noises- and at one point screams in a demonic voice , which is pretty creepy, “join us” !The gore and blood is pretty cool- chopped off hands , people impaled on crosses and dismemberment.

This pretty much sums this short ‘demo” up- it runs a short 30-45 minutes , made via minimal funds , and it shows. As we all know, demos while in music- tend to be very rough loose “ideas” of the songs wanted to record- well this is a very loose scrappy short that grabs attention- grabs and puts you in frame of mind to want more or to see a full length with some money in it! So- would I buy or rent-? I would buy purely for the collecting sense for the beginnings of Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and the Evil Dead. It would be more suitable for a extra bit on a deluxe edition of Evil Dead then a “solo” shot release.

The camera work- jerky and handheld just like Evil Dead- and scrappy film look- the sound is creepy even though cheaply done. This was made in the way Evil Dead was- and in the way we have come to love the film Evil Dead -the quality and the “cheap”factor , the indie horror look and feel !Just remember- it’s a ‘demo”- it was made to convince ‘someone” that a full length needed to be made! This also shows the greatness that Sam Raimi is in directing and how witty Bruce Campbell can be- even way back in 1978.

I rated this as a demo and movie- if this was an actual movie- it had a little potential and possibility- so a 3 and as a demo- great job on a idea to shop around so a 10 !