The Daily Think

After watching Evil Dead Rise for the 4th time this week and being supremely impressed with Lee Cronin’s direction and Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland’s portrayals of sisters having to deal with that damn Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, it continues to resonate the fact that MAN’S (SPOILER BUT COME ON WHO HASN’T SEEN EVIL DEAD BY NOW) curiosity and messing with the power of the gods, death, and the other dimension has deadly and gory consequences! It pushed me down the path of where we originally discovered the mythos behind curiosity and consequence and it can be traced all the way back to Greek Mythology and the first appearance of Pandora’s tale in the works of both HESIOD “Works and Days” and AESCHYLUS in the play “Prometheus Bound.”

REFRESH ME ON PANDORA’S BOX, THE STORY NOT THE MUSIC SERVICE

In less than 1 minute – the tale of Pandora’s Box recounts how Zeus, the king of gods, ordered the creation of Pandora, the first woman, as a punishment to mankind. Zeus presented Pandora with a beautiful box as a wedding gift but warned her never to open it. However, Pandora’s curiosity overwhelmed her, and she eventually succumbed to temptation, opening the box and unleashing a multitude of plagues, sorrows, and evils upon the world. The box contained all the miseries that would plague humanity, including disease, pain, greed, and despair. Realizing her mistake, Pandora hastily closed the box, trapping only one thing inside: hope. The tale of Pandora’s Box serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences that can arise from curiosity, temptation, and the unforeseen perils that accompany the human experience.

COME GET SOME

Sounds Familiar if you’re a horror movie buff right? However a prerequisite to note is that Pandora’s box is not to be compared with the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden mythos. Pandora’s Box and the forbidden fruit do involve the idea of forbidden knowledge and the consequences that follow curiosity and disobedience, however they originate from different cultural and mythological traditions. Each story carries its own symbolism and moral lessons, but they are not directly related to one another. With that said, they do share curiosity and disobedience will have consequences, sometimes Chainsaw HAND consequences (See ASH, OR King Bruce Campbell.)

THE NITTY GRITTY

The Evil Dead film franchise, created by Sam Raimi and unleashed on the world in 1981, is a horror series that has captivated audiences for decades. While the franchise is primarily known for its gory and supernatural elements, there is a compelling argument to be made that it serves as a metaphorical exploration of the dangers associated with said aforementioned Box in the form of the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis or the Book of the Dead. By examining the thematic parallels between the Evil Dead universe and the myth of Pandora’s Box, we can glean valuable lessons about the consequences of succumbing to curiosity and the potential destruction that follows.

1. THE ALLURE OF FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE:
   In the myth of Pandora’s Box, Pandora, driven by curiosity, opens the forbidden box and unleashes various plagues upon humanity. Similarly, in the Evil Dead franchise, characters (Male) are often lured by their curiosity into discovering and tampering with supernatural artifacts, such as the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (Book of the Dead). This is also horror movie trope violation number 1: Do Not Invoke Spirits from the Other Side. Just enjoy a S’mores and making love at that cabin, don’t read LATIN from any book bound in HUMAN FLESH! But of course, they do, and this act of unlocking forbidden knowledge serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the inherent risks associated with delving into the unknown.

GROOVY

2. UNLEASHING UNIMAGINABLE HORRORS:
   Just as Pandora’s Box released a torrent of evils, the Evil Dead films depict the consequences of disturbing ancient evil forces. The unleashed demonic entities torment and possess the protagonists, leading to chaos and destruction. One small thing to look out for is that Demons in the Evil Dead Franchise enjoy poking us with sharp objects into our skin and Sam Raimi and Lee Cronin took it to a new level by using sharp objects to flay human skin, yeah, it’s kind of cool from a scary movie fan’s perspective! But back to Pandora and Evil Dead, this parallel suggests that once the proverbial Pandora’s Box is opened (or the words Klaatu, Barada, Nikto) it becomes nearly impossible to control the malevolent forces that are unleashed, leading to dire consequences for those involved…and lots of white corn syrup with red dye, MOVIE BLOOD!

I’LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!!

3. THE INEVITABILITY OF HUMAN CONSEQUENCE:
   Both the Pandora’s Box myth and the Evil Dead franchise acknowledge the inevitability of human curiosity. Despite the foreboding warnings and knowledge of the potential dangers, characters succumb to their desire for knowledge and power. This reflection of human nature underscores the timeless theme that curiosity can often overpower reason and caution, leading individuals down a treacherous path. If they didn’t we wouldn’t have a movie, am I right folks?
4. LESSONS IN SELF-CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY:
   The myth of Pandora’s Box reminds us of the importance of self-control and responsibility in the face of temptation. Similarly, the Evil Dead franchise demonstrates the disastrous consequences that arise when characters fail to exercise restraint and disregard the potential repercussions of their actions. By avoiding the opening of Pandora’s Box, whether metaphorically or literally, we learn the significance of personal accountability and the impact it can have on ourselves and others.

DEAD BY DAWN!!!

JUST DON’T GO IN THE BASEMENT WHEN VACATIONING IN A CABIN IN THE WOODS
The Evil Dead franchise, with its portrayal of unleashed horrors and the consequences of curiosity, serves as a modern-day exploration of the Pandora’s Box myth. Through the themes of forbidden knowledge, the unleashing of evils, and the inevitability of human curiosity, the franchise offers valuable lessons about the importance of self-control, responsibility, and the perils of delving into the unknown. By understanding and heeding these lessons, we can AVOID OPENING OUR OWN metaphorical Pandora’s Boxes or reading from the Necronomicon and mitigate the potential destruction that may follow and end up covering us in Demon stink and dismembered companions.