Review: The Evil Dead 2 (1987)

Stars: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Betty

Budget: 3.6 million

Directed By: Sam Raimi

Sequel to one of the most influential horror films of all times. This takes a slight retread at the beginning giving us a sort of recap/retelling of the first film.

It was also the first evil dead to include more of a comedic vibe and make use of Campbell's amazing slapstick abilities. You'll usually find that this will be the first entry most people watched, then went back and watched the first film.
At least that's the way I've experienced it and a lot of people I've spoken to have also. Although as with a lot of films I do recall attempting to watch the first film at a very early age.
A poor VHS copy in the UK when i was about 7 or 8 years old, it did not scare me I just think I didn't get it nor watch all of it at that time.
It was only years later about 11 or 12 after watching this one did i re-venture and watch the first one with renewed vigor and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Some people don't the comedy line the series took, luckily they are in the minority. It took a long time between each film to get a sequel out, around six years per film. Unlike today's sequels where they are popped out on a conveyor belt though these were worth the wait.

So we get a 30 minute or so recap/redo/parody of the first film, except only Ash and Linda venture to the deserted cabin this time. Finding Knowby's tape player once more Ash unleashes the forces evil upon him and his hapless girlfriend. Linda of course gets taken and possessed by the forest spirits and attempts to try and kill Ash a number of times.
That is until Ash manages to kill her by decapitation and then he buries her body. Ash is then taken on a joy ride throughout the forest by the demonic spirit, finally smashing into a tree he falls face first into a deep puddle. Raising from the dirty pool of water we see Ash himself has been possessed by the spirit of the forest. Though the sun comes out and quickly dispels it's effects over him.

Though his respite is short as the evil powers move the day along at an accelerated speed. Ash quickly gets in his car and speeds towards the bridge out of the forest.
Unfortunately it's nothing more than a twisted load of hand shaped metal when he reaches it. Chased once more by the speeding demon he manages to drive back to the cabin and get inside and hide before it gets him this time.

We then see proffesor Knowbie's daughter Annie and he fiance arrive back via aeroplane where it seems they have found some extra pages of the necronomicon. Arriving at the bridge they meet a hillbilly Jake and his girlfriend Bobby Jo, they explain the bridge is out and Annie fools Jake into carrying her heavy luggage and alternate route through the forest to her father's cabin.
Mean while Ashley has been going mad in the cabin seeing weird things and gotten his hand possessed and then chainsawed off.

The other group spook him out arriving at the cabin and he ends up shooting but only hurting Bobby Jo. Entering and seeing all the blood and gore splattered around Annie and the others think Ashley has killed her father and mother, not helped by the fact he shot bobby Jo either they lock him in the cellar.
Playing the recordings further they begin to realise Ashley might be telling the truth about his ordeal. This is backed up when Annie's mother erupts from the cellar floor and tries to kill Ash.
They free him though one by one the others are either killed or possessed. This is until Annie realises there's a spell to end it all in the new pages. Ash dons dons his trademark chainsaw hand to retrieve the pages from Annie's mother.

I won't spoil anymore because this film needs to watched, not many liked the first film this is where the slapstick took off in the series too making it a fan favourite.
It certainly is one of mine THN awards evil dead 2 a full 5/5 stars with recommendation to watch.