Evil Dead 2 [1987]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Writer-director Sam Raimi's extremely stylized, blood-soaked follow-up to his creepy Evil Dead isn't really a sequel; rather, it's a remake on a better budget. It also isn't really a horror film (though there are plenty of decapitations, zombies, supernatural demons, and gore) as much as it is a hilarious, sophisticated slapstick send-up of the terror genre. Raimi takes every horror convention that exists and exaggerates it with mind-blowing special effects, crossed with mocking Three Stooges humour. The plot alone is a genre cliché right out of any number of horror films. Several teens (including our hero, Ash, played by Bruce Campbell in a manic tour-de-force of physical comedy) visit a broken-down cottage in the woods--miles from civilization--find a copy of the Book of the Dead, and unleash supernatural powers that gut every character in sight. All, that is, except Ash, who takes this very personally and spends much of the of the film getting his head smashed while battling the unseen forces. Raimi uses this bare-bones story as a stage to showcase dazzling special effects and eye-popping visuals, including some of the most spectacular point-of-view Steadicam work ever (done by Peter Deming). Although it went unnoticed in the cinemas, the film has since become an influential cult-video favourite, paving the way for over-the-top comic gross-out films like Peter Jackson's Dead Alive.--Dave McCoy

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Customer reviews

review by: A New Yorker date: 2008-04-25 rating:
"Evil Dead II" is one of the most hilarious, over-the-top but.....,
..It's not nearly as good as the original in my opinion. Despite the more professional look and better pacing, I prefer the original for its lack of slapstick. The first worked so well because it was such an unrelenting and grueling experience and was the finest horror film since "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". It didn't take prisoners, and while its a bit dated it still has the power to terrify the audience. Not to mention it had some great if primitive stop motion effects. I really wish Sam Raimi would make another all out horror film again as that's what he does best.

That being said, "Evil Dead II" is still quite enjoyable on its own merits. I usually hate films that attempt to combine horror with comedy. While "Evil Dead II" is not quite scary, its often hilarious. Imagine an off the wall combination of "Friday the 13th" with the Three Stooges, and you're coming close. The sight gags are often surreal and inspired, the sequence with the hand being the finest. Also, the film is very atmospheric and still maintains a sense of unnerving creepiness, which was completely jettisoned for "Army of Darkness" which I'm a big fan of. This film has plenty of gore to still appeal to fans of the original. The gore is so over-the-top its difficult to find it even remotely offensive.

Special mention must go to Bruce Campbell. While he was a meek and unwilling hero in the first film, he is a completely over-the-top bad a.. in this one! It's a very finely tuned parody performance of action stars. While this is the role that leads him to being typecast, it also made him a cult legend. Its a shame he didn't become a bigger star. While its not as successful as the first installment, "Evil Dead II" is a lot of fun and one of the best combinations of horror and humor.

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review by: Big Ape date: 2007-11-29 rating:
Forget Citizen Kane watch Evil Dead II
The greatest film ever made. I first saw this film in 1988 and it's still the best film I've ever seen.

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review by: date: 2007-10-27 rating:
Perhaps good for posterity
I was a great fan of the original, however I was just a kid then,
and it scared the pants off me. This one is along the same lines,
but with a much more tongue-in-cheek humour aspect.

It didn't work for me, I suppose because I expected it to scare me
like the original and was not expecting the many one-liners etc.

Still, I can appreciate it's appeal, and the fact that I am quite a bit older now!

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review by: carlosnightman date: 2007-10-06 rating:
Quick Reviews!
A favourite of horror and gore fans everywhere, and virtually a remake of the first film as Ash again finds himself trapped in a house in a solitary forest which becomes overrun with zombies and deadites. It seems that the Necromonicon up to it's old tricks! Campbell again steals the show, one of the most under-used and underrated actors around. Raimi keeps the film moving at a quick pace, and some of the camera work, including the chase shots through the house as doors explode off hinges, lots of strange POV shots etc etc show his flare as a director if not as a storyteller. But the main selling point is the gore, of which there is lots, and the set-pieces involving a flying eye and a possessed hand. Again the effects are good by today's standards-with today's technology, stop motion could be very effective. This sequel is much more of a comedy than the first film, and while it does have a few scares it relies much more heavily on humour than the first film did. This does not detract from the quality of the film though, and it is a must-see for horror fans. The extras here are ok, with a good commentary and making of.


review by: date: 2007-08-26 rating:
Incredible stuff - funny and fantastic
This is an amazing horror with plenty to laugh at and some of the best chainsaw action you ever saw. Lots of zombies (or is it deadites?) having their stupid selves mashed to bits by a pissed off one handed guy with a shotgun. Buy this at once or be completely unprepared if the same thing happens to you.

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Similar products

The Evil Dead - Full Uncut Version [1982]
Army Of Darkness - Evil Dead 3 [1993]
The Evil Dead--Full Uncut Version [1982] with Special Features
Braindead [1993]
Book Of The Dead

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Similar categories

Video . Video . Categories . Horror & Suspense . General
Video . Video . Categories . Horror & Suspense . Series
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Horror . Film Series
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 18
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1980 - 1989
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS

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