Dog’s Movie House: “Evil Dead Rise” And “The Covenant” Arriving For Your Moviegoing Pleasure!

“The Covenant” tells the tale of Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) a soldier in Afghanistan who has hired Ahmed (Salim) as an interpreter for their missions against the Taliban. After an ambush kills his entire unit, Kinley is hauled to safety and hidden by Ahmed. Traumatized with memory loss by the event, Kinley returns home frustrated by his lack of recall. As the memories return he finds out Ahmed is being hunted by the Taliban and the American government won’t be doing a thing to get him out, a common problem with native interpreters. Kinley then undertakes a harrowing, off-the-books attempt to rescue his friend and savior against rather overwhelming odds.

The usually hyperkinetic Ritchie proves to be quite good as a serious filmmaker. Aside from the bawdy banter between the soldiers, “The Covenant” remains grounded and engaging throughout, helped greatly by the outstanding work from Gyllenhaal and Salim. The relationship and obligations real genuine and they are helped by a smart script from Ritchie and Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. As usual Ritchie films with a great sense of hyperkinetic energy that really fits the various action scenes, this time infusing the film with dramatic urgency rather than his usual whimsy! If you’re looking for a solid action drama with serious themes and compelling performances, go see “The Covenant” this weekend. You won’t regret it! 4 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer!

On the other side of the spectrum we have “Evil Dead Rise” a fun and tense thrill ride that features a copious amount of blood and gore along with an appropriate sense of gallows humor that has infused Raimi’s classic trilogy. The first act features sister Beth (Lily Sullivan) and Elle (Alyssa Sutherland), the former reuniting with her older sister when she finds out she’s pregnant. Elle has problems of her own: raising three children on her own in an apartment building about to be condemned, her husband has recently walked on her and the kids. When the eldest of the children Danny (Morgan Davies) finds a spooky book and some equally spooky records in a abandoned bank vault under the apartment (Said vault is opened by a pesky earthquake) things go to hell in a hurry. You see, the book is one of the legendary Books of the Dead, encased in human skin and inked in blood. Danny plays the records and the incantations from the book release the demons into this world, one of whom possessed poor Elle. Demon Elle now wants to slaughter her entire family and it’s a fight for survival against the ultimate evil.

Director Cronin makes great use of the cramped and dark old apartment, using shadows to ratchet up the suspense to great effect. Though the characters aren’t given a great deal of backstory, the idea of a mother turning on her own family is enough to hook us into the plight of the protaganists. Sutherland is terrific as both incarnations of Elle, especially as the elastic, yellow-eyed demon. Her physical performance and mannerisms are garuanteed to give you a shudder or two. Sullivan is equally good as the younger sister, forced to grow up and become a protector as a crash course for becoming a fit mother for her unborn child. The kids are fine, with Gabrielle Echols doing fine work as the older sister.

Of course it wouldn’t be an Evil Dead movie without the gore and “Evil Dead Rise” has it in creative spades. If you are weak of stomach: beware. This film feature buckets of blood and other bodily fluids and some truly inventive kills. The demons in “Evil Dead Rise” are nothing if not creative. I confess to never seeing an assault with a cheese grater before, so there’s that. Overall, “Evil Dead Rise” is one of the best horror films of the year and a great addtion to the franchise. 4 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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