| Evil Dead II (1987) |
Dir: Sam Raimi
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Danny Hicks, Kassie Wesley, Ted Raimi
Is it a remake? Is it a sequel? Whatever it may be it’s just about one of the most ridiculous horror movies you’ll ever see. Like if the Three Stooges wandered onto the set of a slasher movie, Evil Dead II might be the first of only a few films you could truly categorize as “Slapstick Horror.”
After the flop that was Crimewave, Sam Raimi and his motley crew (Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel, Robert Taper, etc) decided to return to their roots and revisit the Evil Dead franchise, but now with more money, more effects and more twisted humor. Star Bruce Campbell would take the character of Ash and propel him to cult hero status and did anybody say “chainsaw arm?”
So Evil Dead II is supposed to take place where the last one left off, Ash still being trapped at the cabin but it’s also kind of confusing. They do a flashback sequence that changes details from the first (now it was just Ash and his girlfriend who visited the cabin) I don’t know whatever, that’s not really point here is it? What is the point? How about a series of beyond bizarre set pieces that include; Ash fighting his own hand, a sideways fountain of blood, and a house of laughing furniture. It’s beyond ridiculous and is an all out laugh riot.
More or less it just took all the best ideas from the first one and kicked them up a notch… A huge notch! It basically turned the whole franchise into a comedy series and I don’t think anyone was complaining about that move. It’s become the ultimate cult movie and I’m proud to be a part of that cult. From then on it would only get wackier with Army of Darkness but I think this one found the best balance, groovy baby.