The Evil Dead (1981) review

Michigan State University students Ash (Bruce Campbell), Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss), Scott (Richard DeManincor), Linda (Betsy Baker) and Shelly (Theresa Tilly) stop at a rundown shack to spend the night, discover a strange book in the basement and play an audio recording from a researcher that summons numerous unfriendly spirits who proceed to possess them (and make a huge mess).  This influential indie - which is the feature debut of high school pals Raimi and Campbell - is proof that you don't need a massive budget, only plenty of creativity and drive (not to mention several fog machines and gallons of Karo syrup), to construct a memorable (if understandably crude) horror film, with the camera itself representing the P.O.V. of some unseen but virtually unstoppable spectral entity that lurks in the woods.  I first saw this when I was in the 8th grade (the cover art on the VHS box of a half-naked woman having her throat grabbed by a corpse got my attention) and remember liking it but being annoyed by the constant cackling, although now - over forty years after its initial release - I'm even more impressed by Raimi's confidence as a filmmaker still in his early twenties.  Hey kiddos: you already create videos for social media, why not try to put together something like this?  Max out your parents' credit cards, don't bother applying for permits, steal what you can't afford ... just do it.