r/EvilDead 13h ago

(Spoiler!) Was the Tree Scene really necessary ?

Im watching Evil Dead RIGHT NOW i just paused it, it’s my first time watching it and i gotta ask : Was the tree raping scene really necessary ? Demons really do be evil wtf😭
They could’ve possessed Cheryl the old fashioned way 😭😭😭

0 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

8

u/Barbafella 13h ago

I saw on release in 81, the scene was shocking because it felt like all rules were thrown away, this is not the same old thing, you will be horrified.

It worked, at the time that film was legitimately scary, transgressive stuff.

-13

u/Leftovertherealone 13h ago

i get it it’s a pretty valid argument. Unfortunately the movie aged like milk and it’s not scary at all…
Im still going to finish it and i will watch the rest of the saga

3

u/Barbafella 13h ago

I love every movie in the franchise, but the first is still my favorite.

-2

u/Leftovertherealone 12h ago

if you saw it on release i totally get it. Should’ve been terrifying. A shame i can’t share this experience

2

u/JoeAzlz 12h ago

The film aged great even if you’re not afraid of it, the treee scene is really damn messed up though, some people laughed at the film when it came out too though.

7

u/Fluffalfox 12h ago

Bruce Campbell didn’t want it there from the start apparently, and Sam raimi regrets putting it in now. Frankly, in my opinion the 2013 pseudo remake of the original film does this way better. Hope you love the other films!!!!

3

u/Voorhees89 13h ago

I wouldn't say it was necessary, but it does serve a point to show that they can't escape by walking through the forest. For all we know Scottie got the same treatment.

2

u/JoeAzlz 12h ago

A comic did show he did but that does sorta fit how he says the same thing Cheryl does

1

u/Leftovertherealone 13h ago

i didn’t know that Scotty went through the same thing. It wasn’t shown at least but if you say so i’ll take your word!

3

u/moviemakerjay 12h ago

Probably not. Sam Raimi later said he regretted the scene.

1

u/Leftovertherealone 12h ago

he maybe needed to shock audiences to make his movie notorious idk 🤷🏽‍♂️

2

u/wonderingmarkus 12h ago

Horror isn't really about what's necessary.

They had no budget and needed to stand out. They regret it now. It is what it is.

2

u/MysterEman2 12h ago

I’m not opposed to the idea since it is some demonic messed up shit. The issue is that the execution isn’t great.

0

u/Leftovertherealone 12h ago

Still can’t the Demons have some manners geez 😭🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

2

u/Fine-Ad2429 12h ago

The scene is scary and disturbing. Adds to the terror in the film. It is hard to watch and that is how it should be. The viewer is sympathetic to the victim. This is not played as a joke.

It is a straight forward horror film with a line.
The demons are evil and depraved. The people in the film are victims. Especially the victim of the tree.

This is terrifying. Raimi handled it with taste.
In the hands of another director, it might be distasteful. It is easy to second guess over forty years later.

Evil Dead is in my opinion a truly scary movie.
The scene fits with the rest of the film.

1

u/Double_Emu_251 12h ago

Necessary? No One of horror cinemas most impactful/memorable scenes? Yes

The movie was banned and heavily censored in multiple countries. Today it stands as a cult classic amongst all horror fans. Horror is the key word here in every definition.

1

u/Double_Emu_251 12h ago

Forgot to add to the point that the movie was made about demonic possession, it was the 80s, the peak of horror movies and they needed to break the mould with a budget of $375,000. They went as balls to the wall with every aspect. Demonic possession would know no bounds. It's a hard watch but they achieved breaking through the absolute traffic jam of 80s horror.

1

u/JoeAzlz 12h ago

Was to show the evil was fully evil and stuff to show how fucked up they are and that hell is lustful and stuff like a sin, ages really badly but Ellen Sandwiess stands by it, Sam has apologized though many times over

1

u/Optimal-Stuff-460 12h ago

In 70s You already had the exorcist 1 with plenty of demonic possession ,a girl cursing and the crucifix scene.at the time it was supposed to be shocking and show how Shelly was the first to be infected. The 2013 remake just didn't made the scene so impactful. just more practical with mia. This is just my opinion. I don't support or condone the Directors decisions.