Rusty’s Movie Reviews - The Evil Dead II
Last week I told you about the greatness that is The Evil Dead. This week, I’ll tell you all about its sequel: The Evil Dead II. Most sequels never live up to the greatness that was the original movie, but Evil Dead IIis one of the few that can. Raimi again directs, while Bruce Campbell returns as Ash.
Due to legal reasons, Raimi could not use any footage from the original film for a recap to explain the events that lead to Evil Dead II. So he had to re-shoot some key scenes from the first, but with a simplified plot. One major change is Ash and his girlfriend going to the cabin, instead a group of friends. Around the seven minute mark, the recap ends the movie begins.
At the end of The Evil Dead Ash is about to be hit by a demon, which is where this film picks up (albeit after a 7 minute recap). Ash is now possessed, however once daylight breaks the Demon leaves him and he is back to normal. Ash’s streak of bad luck isn’t over however, when he discovers the bridge leading away from the cabin has been destroyed. Soon after this, one of my favorite scenes occurs. Ash’s hand becomes possessed and he is forced to remove it (with a chainsaw).
While all this is going on, we are introduced to Annie (the professors daughter) who has found more pages from the “Book of the Dead” and is going to give them to her father (who was at the cabin). Along with Ed (the research partner) Annie heads off towards the cabin. They too find the bridge destroyed and they enlist the help of Jake and Bobby Joe to show them a side trail to the cabin. They eventually find Ash, who is being driven crazy by the evil spirits. Ed is the first to go, of the new people. He is possessed and Ash is forced to kill him.
Evil Dead IIisn’t straight horror. It is more of a mix between horror/action/comedy. Much of the comedy in the film is slapstick. The best example of this would be the fight between Ash and his possessed hand. The film also has some visual jokes that you might not pick up the first time. For instance when Ash has finally defeated his hand, he buries it under a pile of books. The book on top of that file is A Farewell to Arms. Sam Raimi’s camera work is great in this film, we see the first person chase perspective again. One good moment occurs when the chaser breaks through the back window of a car and goes through the front. Bruce Campbell does another brilliant performance as Ash. He becomes more badass in this film and also has to play the insane card for much of it.
I highly suggest you go and buy this movie. It’s one of my top ten movies, and most people will enjoy it. Again, I have to warn you that it is rather bloody, but unless you have a weak stomach its a fun film.
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