Despite much old-school splatter, it's seldom frightening and oddly unfunny. Nigel Floyd-Time Out
An effectively relentless gore-fest. Bruce Diones-New Yorker
Five years from now, will you want to watch this bloody $14 million extravaganza or Raimi's shoestring original, which was Amateur Hour elevated to pop art? Evil Dead just bleeds money. David Edelstein-Vulture
A stylish and worthy homage: inventive even as it is derivative, never quite jokey but never taking itself too seriously, and clocking in at an entirely appropriate 91 minutes. Any longer would be unmerciful; any shorter, ungenerous. Christopher Orr-The Atlantic
Though it never channels the raw DIY energy of the original Evil Dead series -- what big-budget version could? -- this polished, clever remake remains true to the spirit of the original, which was at once viscerally terrifying and weirdly lighthearted. Dana Stevens-Slate
A gore fest that's just effective enough to whet fans' appetite for a sequel, even as it kills everyone else's appetite for dinner. Michael O'Sullivan-Washington Post
... not for people prone to nightmares. It's highly effective as causing involuntary chills and hand movements (as in, up to eyes to block the bloody chaos onscreen). ... a cut above just about any other modern horror/slasher remake Matt Kelemen-AspectRatio.us
If Hollywood is having trouble with deciding who its 'war and terror' enemies are, that's nothing compared with its crisis in horror. Graham Young-Birmingham Mail
All the requisite blood and gits but not much else to offer by way of entertainment. Jackie K. Cooper-jackiekcooper.com
The result is something less than the sum of its parts; in other words, the diametric opposite of that beloved original. Ed Whitfield-The Ooh Tray
There's more slickness than imagination on display. Philip French-Observer [UK]
Using the very latest Cern-tested atom interferometry, we can reveal that Evil Dead is precisely, exactly - in the coldest atomic terms -the film that you were expecting. Tara Brady-Irish Times
Remaking an iconic classic is dangerous business, even if the original filmmakers are on board as producers, but at least Uruguayan writer-director Alvarez has a few clever ideas up his sleeve. Rich Cline-Contactmusic.com
Happy days for those who love this sort of thing. But Raimi's effort, perhaps because we hadn't seen the plot before, was infinitely more scary. Derek Malcolm-This is London
This could easily have been the best demon possession film released in decades. Instead it is just a very effective, still-terrifying, evil retread. Matt Looker-TheShiznit.co.uk
There's no suspense, and it isn't scary. Christopher Tookey-Daily Mail [UK]
The characters are forgettable but the horror they suffer lingers in the memory, for good or ill. Henry Fitzherbert-Daily Express
A decent, gory horror treat for those who've never watched an Evil Dead movie - while at the same time exhibiting discreet respect for the 1980s incarnations, with plenty of low-key nods to the original for fans. Catherine Bray-Film4
A full-bloodedly grisly and macabre film that zaps over a few scares. Peter Bradshaw-Guardian [UK]
Anonymous, forgettable and doesn't hold a candle to the brilliant original. David Jenkins-Little White Lies
I was left clamping my hand to my open jaw, not so much in terror, more in shocked hilarity at how grand the guignol was willing to go. Tim Robey-Daily Telegraph
Well made and delivers buckets of the red stuff, but it's hampered by poorly developed characters, a lack of humour and a tendency to substitute gore for actual scares. Matthew Turner-ViewLondon
Sam Raimi's horror classic gets a terrifying and intense rebirth for the 21st century. Lewis Bazley-Sky Movies
An undemandingly fun and instantly forgettable update that provides the required amounts of blood, gore and demonic possession, although no real scares or re-invention. Virginie Sélavy-Electric Sheep
Will not inspire endless repeat viewings like the original, mostly because there's no Bruce Campbell. Kelly Vance-East Bay Express
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