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Introduction
The Evil Dead is a really weird film series. The first film is one of the greatest low budget horror films ever produced. The second is part remake, part sequel, and a whole lot of comedy. And Army of Darkness? I don't even know how to explain it. And somehow this also spawned a really terrific tv series that managed to mesh the best elements of the movies while avoiding the weaker aspects.
A key feature of the franchise is the Necronomicon or Book of the Dead. Well known to Lovecraft readers, this fabled tome was altered a bit for the franchise. It has actual magical properties and incantations within, and can be used to summon things best left alone.
Trick or Treat Studios has released their replica, perfect for your bookshelf or coffee table. You can expect to pay around $90 for it, along with
your immortal soul.
Packaging - ***
The box is sturdy, and the big window shows off the cover nicely. It's collector friendly, although I don't think you'll ever want to put it back in
the box. Or maybe you should never take it out.
Sculpting - ****
The exterior of this book, also called the Natorum Demonto, is supposedly human skin. They've replicated this with a soft rubber, creepy to touch
and feel. It's sculpted with great detail, and the front cover replicates the screaming face nicely. The book is about 1 3/4" thick at the binding,
and 8 1/2" x 10/1/2" overall. It's a decent size, and looks realistic on the shelf.
Paint - ***1/2
Of course, the majority of the 'paint' is on the cover, where they mimicked the fleshy appearance with a nice paint application. The variation in
color looks best on the cover, which is where it should. The back isn't quite as nice, looking a little less natural, but overall I'm very happy.
The interior is where it really shines. There are 18 heavy stock pages, with artwork and writing on both sides. The illustrations are great, and while you can't read the words, it's probably best.
I do wish the interior pages showed more damage and age though. The edges are rough and there's a little foxing, but I think a bit more staining would have really helped create the proper mood.
Value - **
This is the nicest replica of the book I've seen, but $90 is still a pretty hefty price tag. Readers know an average value here is **1/2, so I'm
only docking them slightly. You do have to recognize that while the pages inside might not be particularly expensive to produce, the cover itself
is.
Things to Watch Out For -
I'd avoid using it to summon anything. Otherwise you should be good to go.
Overall - ***1/2
This is the first thing I've picked up from Trick or Treat Studios, but it won't be the last. While the price is a bit high, the quality is solid,
and it was a nice add to the book shelf. They are also doing the Kandarian Dagger, which I have on pre-order. They are also doing several
sixth scale Michael Myers figures, and if they decide to do a character I don't already have plenty of, I'll check them out.
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2
Where to Buy
Online options include these site sponsors:
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
If you're a fan of the Evil Dead series, check out the excellent sixth scale figure of Ash
by Sideshow. If you're looking for something a bit smaller, there's another terrific Ash,
this time in the Mezco One:12 series. Smaller yet is the 4" series by Palisades, and I checked out series 1 and series 2.
You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.
Discussion:
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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos and text by Michael Crawford.
