Evil Dead II (1987)

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 humor. 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 theaters, the film has since become an influential cult-video favorite, paving the way for over-the-top comic gross-out films like Peter Jackson's Dead Alive. --Dave McCoy Amazon.com

EvIL DeAd: II Stands tall even in 2009

This is actually one of my top 10 favourite horror movies of all time.
My top 10 horror movies are movies or even movie sequels i have selected which i consider to be better then the original's, evil dead 2 : dead by dawn is one of them. Not only is it better then the original 1981 film, but it uses a bigger budget more technology and special effects.

1987's Evil dead 2: dead by dawn in my opinion is a remake/sequel, remake because it starts off by ash and linda driving up to the cabin. QUESTION "Where are the college freinds from part 1?" anyway linda gets killed off a second time and the sequel then starts when ash is thrown in the air by the forces of the forest. Displayed after that is a good continuation of a movie i have ever seen! (TIP: i normally watch evil dead part 1 - then go straight to the scene where ash is thrown around in the air, in evil dead part 2, and there you have an even greater evil dead movie experience, it avoids the confusion the begining of part 2 had when you dont see the college students. I don't want to give to much away with the story, but expect to be entertained in a surreal kind of way. This movie also has a tendency to make you laugh and blood and gore fans wont be dissapointed.

I can't understand why they are making or have already made the remake to evil dead which will be out this year. Re makes tend to give viewer's a diiferent frame of mind towards the series. And remember there is only one "ash j. williams" who was played well by bruce campbell. "Groovy!......" January 4, 2009

2.5 stars out of 4

The Bottom Line:

A sequel-cum-remake to the original Evil Dead, EDII strives for a combination of slapstick and horror that, while amusing, cannot match the raw horror of the original. December 20, 2008

bloody funny

Sort of a sequel but more of a remake or even a satire of the original, Evil Dead 2 benefits from a better budget, a more streamline plot, and the good graces not to take itself seriously in the slightest bit. Because this is sort of a sequel, there's not a great deal of exposition on the Book of The Dead, and not a great deal of set up for the circumstances. It assumes you've seen the first movie and don't need to have that part repeated. We get a smaller cast, but the same cabin, the same woods, the same 15-feet-of-American-Steel car, and of course Bruce Campbell returning for the role of Ash.
While I enjoyed the first Evil Dead, I loved this one. Bruce Campbell is spectacular in his intentionally over the top portrayal of Ash. I couldn't help but wonder what the possibilities could have been if he and Ed Wood had gotten to work together. The other members of the cast are good, but are primarily there for zombie-fodder. There's buckets of blood in assorted colors, claymation special effects, and the best use of a chainsaw since...well maybe the Texa Chainsaw Masacre.
Though be warned, If you're expecting to be scared by this movie, you will be disappointed, this is a complete shlockfest; expect to laugh. December 7, 2008

Evil dead II wax fest.

I did a blind buy on the Blue ray version, and its a good thing that I'm a fan of the movie (but then who else would buy this in any format) because the DNR makes the faces smooth and washes out most of the detail, its so clean it looks unnatural. This should be a $10 catalog buy. November 30, 2008

Fun and Gory

Loved this movie when it came out in the 80's. It's not scary as much as gory. Crazy chaotic evil fun. What the devil can happen to this guy next? Good for making the date squirm in her seat. There is something somewhere that will gross out just about anyone. The FX are old school but the story is a fun rollercoaster ride of demented evil. Enjoy! November 23, 2008

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