Gore hounds - strap in; everyone else - feel free to log off. Alvarez's version - Remake? Homage? Sequel? - of the now classic Sam Raimi film ups the bloodletting and sheen, but forgets to include the wry humour that defined the original. The result, whilst competent and visceral, using mostly practical effects to dry-heaving effect, feels a little insubstantial. In its quest for realism, many of the original more supernatural concepts sit uneasily against naturalism, and there's precious little character development to chivvy attachment to the players once they begin slicing and dicing themselves and each other. Not too long ago we used to laugh at the idea of reboots and remakes and their ever increasing frequency of production; Evil Dead turns that chuckle into a thousand-yard stare.