Das Boot is a 1981 mini-series about a German Submarine in the 2nd World War. Ash Vs the Evil Dead is an American Horror Comedy series created as a follow up to the Evil Dead franchise of Film. Why am I comparing these two series? Firstly they are both currently being shown on Cab TV, secondly I thinking comparing them shows how TV and Film making has evolved in the last 40 years and would be an interesting thing to talk about.

Firstly let’s look at intent. Why were these two Series made?

Das Boot as an adaptation of the 1973 Novel of the same name. So in my view this meant they had a solid story to tell and something to say. Ash Vs the Evil Dead is a follow up Series to a 30 year old Franchise resurrected for some reason. By watching the first couple of episodes of the Evil Dead series it’s clear they don’t have a clear story to tell and things happen each week just to fill up the episodes run time.

Secondly style choices.

Das Boot is a slow moving atmospheric Drama, peppered with moments of action. The use of lighting and soundtrack and camera work really helps to bring the viewer into the events. It gives you the feeling you are living with the crew of the Submarine. The practical effects give the series weight and add a really lived in effect.

The Evil Dead series takes the easy route, CGI nonsense happening for no reason. Under developed side characters that are forgettable. A central character that is charmless and unrecognisable from the source material, even though they have Recast Bruce Campbell in the same role. Music choices that are uninspired and don’t fit the action. The series has not direction or weight at any point.

So why do these two series feel so different?

Das Boot feels worthy and the scope of the production adds to some jaw dropping visuals. It’s something which is very difficult to recreate with computers, which is a major reason that the Evil Dead series doesn’t feel like the Evil Dead films. Modern Cameras and Colour tints can make everything feel stock, and quite frankly the acting isn’t very good. In Das Boot the Actors are invested and you see them physically go on a journey through out the production. Evil Dead looks like an easy pay check.

So In summary Das Boot is a lot more weighty than Ash Vs the Evil Dead. It’s a remarkable moment in Film making History, the Evil Dead series is a by the numbers schedule filler with little ambition, resurrecting Sam Rami’s past glories without an idea of new he wanted to say about it. It didn’t need to be made and isn’t very interesting to watch.