Evil Dead II, 1987.
Directed by Sam Raimi.
Starring Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva, Ted Raimi, Denise Bixler and Richard Domeier.
SYNOPSIS:
A young couple accidentally unleash an evil force when they discover the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis in an isolated cabin in the woods. After being forced to kill his possessed girlfriend, Ash (Bruce Campbell) holds up in the cabin with a group of strangers and attempts to repel the demonic spirits.
It’s a very tricky thing, dealing with expectation. Many things inevitably don’t reach the high standards placed on them beforehand. Inextricably linked to this I feel is reputation. You can only hear so much about something before your opinion and thoughts are tainted, even if you haven’t experienced it yourself. Then add to that hearing it over many years. Could seeing a film many years after it was released prevent it from reaching those same levels of awesomeness as it does for everyone else?
So when the chance to review a film that has been frequently described as “one of the best sequels ever” and “a horror classic” came along, I had to jump on it.
Was I impressed or disappointed? Turns out a bit of both.
Evil Dead II is an odd film, as it essentially remakes its predecessor in the first 20 minutes or so, and then moves on to what happens next. Before anyone starts, yes I know there is debate about it being a sequel or a remake, but that’s how I viewed it. The story finds our hero Ash venturing to a remote cabin for a getaway with girlfriend Linda. When they arrive they find a tape player, which of course they play. Nosey people. Maybe they get what they deserved when an evil…something…attacks them, possessing Linda and attacking Ash. Can Ash stop the evil that is hell bent on him being dead by dawn?
Before I go into anything else, I have to address one aspect of this film. Bruce Campbell. I have known of him for a long time, since he’s an icon and has always been regarded as a legend when others have spoken of him. After watching this film (and I’ve since gone on to watch the other two), I get it. The delivery, the timing, the……chin. It all comes together to make a great character. He is by far the best bit of the film and is rightly a massive part of why people love this series so much. Groovy.
Not to be too harsh, but everyone else is just fine, from a human perspective at least. I didn’t find myself caring about anyone bar Ash really, but then I feel the whole film has you pretty much rooting for him, with the others as deadite fodder. Sam Raimi’s brother Ted gets special mention as the possessed Henrietta. He’s a right creepy bastard, perhaps more so as it’s a man playing a woman.
The effects and makeup is very much of its time. I was only two years old when it was released and things have moved on quite a bit. However, there are still some pretty grotesque moments, such as an eyeball flying through the air and being swallowed. No doubt good for protein.
The biggest problem I had with the film is the clash of humour and horror. I didn’t know it was going to be full of slapstick, so it was quite jarring to see Ash being thrown around. It did take me a while to get into the swing of things, so maybe a second viewing is in order. That’s not to say it isn’t done well, it’s just not what I was expecting. For a horror film I didn’t think there was that much gore; the most obvious example was not seeing Ash actually cut off his possessed hand. Maybe blood on his cackling face is enough.
Scoring this is damn tricky. As I watched the film I was confused and not all that impressed. It finished and I was left wondering what the fuss was about. But, the more I’ve thought about it, written about it, and now having seen the other two (in the wrong order but it doesn’t seem to really matter) I think I quite like it. Yes seeing the other films has changed what I think about this one, but it’s given me more appreciation for what Raimi was going for.
Maybe I missed the boat when it comes to these films. Without years of nostalgia to back them up they will be always just be quotable oddball films, though of course Bruce / Ash is now a hero in my eyes. But, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t suggest them. Just go in with an open mind.
Evil Dead II Special Edition is out now on Blu-ray.
Flickering Myth Rating: Film ★ ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★ ★
Chris Cooper
