The Weirdest Horror Film You’ve Never Seen Is Now Streaming on Shudder
I love surreal horror. There’s something endlessly appealing about being transported to a place where anything you can dream of might actually happen. For me, that’s the ultimate escape. For 90 minutes, the laws of logic don’t apply. Such whimsical fare may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly holds a special place in my heart.
A few months ago, I watched a surreal horror picture called Evil Dead Trap for the first time. Throughout the course of the film, director Toshiharu Ikeda takes viewers on an unhinged ride they won’t soon forget. In fact, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since my inaugural viewing.
This 1988 horror flick nods to a number of influential filmmakers. It melds different genres in a hodgepodge of surrealist scares. Those fond of Argento, Bava, or early Sam Raimi will see the influence of all three creators here. Although Evil Dead Trap never reaches the level of greatness achieved by the aforementioned creators, it’s still a silly good time guaranteed to resonate with the right audience.
What is Evil Dead Trap about?
The film follows late-night TV host Nami (Miyuki Ono) and her crew as they attempt to offset a recent ratings slump. When a viewer sends in a video that looks like it could possibly be a snuff film, Nami and company think they may have found a way to pull in a bigger audience and avoid cancellation. But when they arrive at the abandoned warehouse where the submission tape was shot, they find themselves in very real peril. If Nami and her crew can make it out alive, the footage will make for one hell of a show. But if they aren’t careful, they may just wind up starring in their own snuff film.
Ample references abound
Evil Dead Trap nods to many different cinematic influences for which I have an affinity. The core conceit of a group of young women going on a trip to an unfamiliar place where they meet with deadly consequences is a strikingly similar setup to House (1977). I don’t think that’s an accident, seeing as the similarities don’t end there. Additionally, the score has a similar cadence to the Nobuhiko Obayashi-helmed cult classic. It’s simplistic with an almost singsong quality to it. Not to mention, the narrative takes the same kind of style-over-substance approach as House, making the entire ordeal feel very much like a dream.
Aside from House, Evil Dead Trap also bears ample similarities to Sam Raimi’s breakout hit Evil Dead. And those similarities extend well beyond the film’s title. The frenetic camerawork that appears to put us in the perspective of a malevolent presence is very clearly inspired by that influential effort. Moreover, the gore is gratuitous and persistent, much like Sam Raimi’s early work.
Additionally, the eye-related violence, overall level of depravity, and surreal narrative structure each call to mind the surge of giallo films in the 1970s. This film’s references could not possibly be more within my wheelhouse. It’s like this flick was tailor-made for me.
Since I connect with the picture’s thematic references in a big way, I may be predisposed to enjoy this one more than most. But if you share my appreciation for giallo, early Sam Raimi, the Japanese horror film House, and the slasher pictures of the early ‘80s, I suspect you will have a similarly enjoyable experience with Evil Dead Trap.
Although Evil Dead Trap is delightfully unhinged, it isn’t without its share of flaws
If you don’t connect with the influences, your mileage will vary. Without an affinity for the film’s references, you may be more prone to pick up on the picture’s flaws. And there are plenty of those. But the level of enthusiasm and the creativity put into the effects and corresponding sendoffs are pretty compelling all on their own. Even the film’s staunchest critics must admit that much.
Allow me to preface the film’s collective shortcomings with the following statement: If you’re someone who can’t turn your brain off and go with the flow, you may have trouble getting into Evil Dead Trap. This isn’t the kind of film where you can find even a modicum of logic in the decisions made on-screen. Their choices are influenced more by what progresses the narrative than what’s in their best interests. Moreover, some of the deaths don’t appear to be supported by the laws of physics.
If you like fleshed-out characters, you may be underwhelmed by Evil Dead Trap. There is absolutely no character development to speak of. I had a difficult time keeping the supporting players straight in my head. They are somewhat interchangeable and we don’t know a whole lot about any of them. Hell, we barely know anything about Nami, aside from the fact that she hosts a late-night TV program and enjoys chasing down a wild story.
Also, the ending is a little bit of a stretch, which doesn’t bother me much. But some of my peers have called it out as anticlimactic and too drawn out. They aren’t wrong. But I think it’s fitting and rather on-brand. Such a bonkers film deserves an equally outlandish denouement. And this conclusion is nothing if not outlandish.
All in all:
Evil Dead Trap is more like a surreal work of art come to life than a conventional feature film. You can find plenty to pick apart about it. But you’ll likely have way more fun if you can find a way to just roll with the insanity. Although the film routinely places style over substance and stumbles in places, I think there’s plenty of merit to it. And it’s so very stylish. Sometimes substance is overrated.
If you are curious to check Evil Dead Trap out for yourself, head over to Shudder where you can do precisely that. If you dig it, they also have the film’s 1992 sequel, Evil Dead Trap 2, available.
Categorized:Editorials
