Evil Dead 2 (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  My new favorite in the Evil Dead trilogy, this film bridges the awkward gap between the first and the third, which are as different as night and day. While the first is a low budget, tangible horror film with a sick, twisted sense of humor and truly gory effects, the third is a… More
  My new favorite in the Evil Dead trilogy, this film bridges the awkward gap between the first and the third, which are as different as night and day. While the first is a low budget, tangible horror film with a sick, twisted sense of humor and truly gory effects, the third is a ridiculous, blundering film set in a different century and barely containing a horrific characteristic. This film has both the irregular humor and broad idiocy of the third while trying to stay true to the original storyline and keeping the concept true, including the curse that spawned the entire series. The best thing about Evil Dead is that the films are all goofy and yet morbidly horrific. They all have gruesome special effects, ghouls that double as possessed souls, and multiple instances of grotesque horror, including the ghouls changing back to their previous owner's forms and pulling on loved ones heart strings. That sickness is heightened by the effects, which are at times explosively rapid, using camera angles and wide lens shots which have been described as "splatstick gore" which I find to be appropriately accurate. The entire thing works perfectly because of the performance of the trilogy's singular hero Ash, played by the always insanely good Bruce Campbell. Campbell, who is the only person to star in every one of the Evil Dead films, is always manic, ruthless, and hell-bent on survival. Compared to the first film, where he's a frightened horror victim, here he's a crazed survivalist who is just trying to escape the woods and make it back to humanity. The ending sets up the third part of the trilogy and is the only thing tying it all together. A particularly different brand of gross out humor and horror, this is certainly the best of the genre, and a good example of balance within it.

• Dan S

  
  A hilariously over-the-top film all the way through, concerning a couple who escape to the woods for the weekend only to encounter the wrath of the dead. Without a sense of humor, this film would be nothing more than a forgettable slasher flick with no reason to exist. However, thanks… More
  A hilariously over-the-top film all the way through, concerning a couple who escape to the woods for the weekend only to encounter the wrath of the dead. Without a sense of humor, this film would be nothing more than a forgettable slasher flick with no reason to exist. However, thanks to Sam Raimi's self-aware meter being on an all-time high, this film is ridiculously funny, badly acted on purpose, and definitely worth it if you love B-grade horror films. Bruce Campbell's hysterically bug-eyed performance is perfect for the film's direction, and the film's pace could not be better. I didn't love it as much as a lot of others do (it is a huge cult classic), but I still very much enjoyed it, despite the film's tendency to sometimes pat itself on the back for being so outlandish and ridiculous. Just as solid as the first 'Evil Dead', and definitely worth a view.

• Tim S

  
  Remember the good old days of movie watching? Remember when you could go to your local video store and pick up a bunch of VHS tapes for about $5 and watch a bunch of stuff you hadn't ever seen before? Well that's what I used to do, and Evil Dead II was one of those rentals -… More
  Remember the good old days of movie watching? Remember when you could go to your local video store and pick up a bunch of VHS tapes for about $5 and watch a bunch of stuff you hadn't ever seen before? Well that's what I used to do, and Evil Dead II was one of those rentals - forever changing my film appetite. It's one of the most amazing horror comedies out there, and makes the original Evil Dead, the masterpiece that it is, look like a mild skirmish. You'll instaneously laugh and be scared all at once at with this goofy but brilliant horror film that continues to entertain generations of horror fans. Absolutely and positively one of the best horror films ever made.

• xGary X

  
  A group of strangers are trapped with a malevolent demonic force in an isolated cabin in the woods. Evil Dead 2 is more of a bigger budget remake of Evil Dead than a sequel and its where Sam Raimi perfected his trademark comic strip style. It's obviously still made on a… More
  A group of strangers are trapped with a malevolent demonic force in an isolated cabin in the woods. Evil Dead 2 is more of a bigger budget remake of Evil Dead than a sequel and its where Sam Raimi perfected his trademark comic strip style. It's obviously still made on a shoestring by today's standards but the hysterical over-acting and amusingly ropey effects actually add to the madcap vibe of the film that's a bit like a ride on a ghost train through a fun house. It's actually far too silly to be considered scary, relying more on sight gags and slapstick than atmosphere or tension; a lot of the humour is straight out of old school Vaudeville, Raimi including an homage to the Marx Brothers' mirror gag and the plate sequence is straight out of the Three Stooges. There's little in the way of characterisation or even plot, the opening film basically consisting of "this is Ash, this is his girlfriend...oops he's beheaded her" and when the cast are not laughing hysterically, they're screaming hysterically. But what it is, is wildly inventive and breakneck in its pace which may not be the work of genius I was convinced it was when I was a teenager but is sure as hell still worth a beer'n'buddies night every Halloween. A cult classic.

• Christopher H

  
  It's more of the same, but Raimi puts the films bigger budget to great use. Their is more gore, more horror, more slapstick, and more insanity. Bruce Campbell is still awesome as ever playing Ash.

• KJ P

  
  The original "Evil Dead" film represents classic terror in it's finest hour, and while this film does not disappoint in that area, it does come off as a weird twist to the entire series. For the first half hour of the film, we are left alone with Bruce Campbell in a… More
  The original "Evil Dead" film represents classic terror in it's finest hour, and while this film does not disappoint in that area, it does come off as a weird twist to the entire series. For the first half hour of the film, we are left alone with Bruce Campbell in a much similar home to the first, but with very strange happenings, it does not live up to the true-to-life horror that the first provided. This one is a bit over-the-top when it comes to gore and creatures. It may have the classic hollywood horror cheese like the first, but I was terrified for days after I watched the original, and this instalment just left me shrieking throughout, but I found no difficulty in shrugging my shoulders and forgetting about it once it is over. Although, I must admit that the whole story does redeem itself into a very clever plot once other characters are present in the film. With everything being said, the illusion of the film is hard to get into, but the cinematography makes the film all-the-more horrifying, the acting has the same level of corniness that I loved in the first, and when it's get's scary, it's really terrifying. This is in no way as much of a classic as the original is and the ending is very random. Still, it's a great horror film that, since I am a fan of the first, I will never forget!

• Graham J

  
  Horror/comedy classic. I showed this to my wife, who is not a horror fan, I thought she was going to jump through the roof when shit starts popping out at you.

• Cory T

  
  Sam Raimi is an acquired taste and if one has an affinity for derisive campiness, they will absolutely adore his 'Evil Dead' series. I, on the other hand, have a limit on how much cartoonish gore and a lack of a cohesive plot I can take. Thankfully, the direction is… More
  Sam Raimi is an acquired taste and if one has an affinity for derisive campiness, they will absolutely adore his 'Evil Dead' series. I, on the other hand, have a limit on how much cartoonish gore and a lack of a cohesive plot I can take. Thankfully, the direction is energetically delirious enough that it didn't completely revolt me. The film is all anarchic goofiness and Campbell is the hammy lead who is abused relentlessly in Jerry Lewis slapstick. A few of the set pieces are exceptionally nonpareil (from the cackling montage of the lamp, deer head and books to Campbell spinning over the tree canopies). Overall, I admire this reboot more than I unabashedly enjoy it.

• Mike S

  
  Freaky splatter-fest with all kinds of ghosts, ghouls, demons and dark entities. Pretty much a repeat of the original, except with more monsters and different victims. Doesn't quite live up to its popular acclaim, but it's good fun nevertheless. Major kudos to the… More
  Freaky splatter-fest with all kinds of ghosts, ghouls, demons and dark entities. Pretty much a repeat of the original, except with more monsters and different victims. Doesn't quite live up to its popular acclaim, but it's good fun nevertheless. Major kudos to the stop-motion and make-up department; given the budget and the time it was made, their work is quite brilliant. A shame though that the same word can't be applied to the rest of the film as well.

• Dean M

  
  This <i>Evil Dead</i> sequel is getting impressive than the first series as one of finest, most imaginative comedy-horror films ever made. Director Sam Raimi does an excellent job of keeping us scared in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, with the dead surrounding us. The… More
  This <i>Evil Dead</i> sequel is getting impressive than the first series as one of finest, most imaginative comedy-horror films ever made. Director Sam Raimi does an excellent job of keeping us scared in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, with the dead surrounding us. The script is inventive, highly original, and funny as all hell. It's a mix of horror, laughs, and gore. The camera work and sound effects are pulsating, and the timing is perfection. And Bruce Campbell gives an exceptional performance as Ash Williams, a supermarket attendant who suddenly finds himself thrown into the unusual situation of having to defend himself against, zombies, evil spirits and even his own possessed hand, just in order to survive the night. I laughed and gasped when I watched the totally outrageous scenes.

• Lewis C

  
  "We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound 'fine'?" Did you like The Evil Dead? Then my friend, you are in luck! Evil Dead 2 is a bigger, better sequel in every way. After a quick re-cap/revision of the events of the first movie, Evil Dead 2… More
  "We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound 'fine'?" Did you like The Evil Dead? Then my friend, you are in luck! Evil Dead 2 is a bigger, better sequel in every way. After a quick re-cap/revision of the events of the first movie, Evil Dead 2 is off and running, and it never slows down. The movie picks up immediately after the original ended, with Ash shaken, alone, and still under attack from the terror unleashed by the Book of the Dead. Evil Dead 2 is more over-the-top (if that's even possible) than the first Evil Dead, and it's more hilarious, as a result. The fake blood flows by the gallon and the Deadites are more gruesome. This is a movie that's just fun, fun, fun to watch. There's a bit of a trade-off, as there's less "genuine" horror, but as far as pure entertainment goes, there is no real contest about which movie is better. If you liked the first, you should love the second. If you loved the original, well, get ready to meet your new soul-mate.

• AJ V

  
  This amazing horror sequel takes off right where the first movie left us. Ash is the only survivor of the last one, so another unfortunate group ventures out to join him. This one is much more hilarious than the first one, and has a fantastic ending. I love this one even more than… More
  This amazing horror sequel takes off right where the first movie left us. Ash is the only survivor of the last one, so another unfortunate group ventures out to join him. This one is much more hilarious than the first one, and has a fantastic ending. I love this one even more than the first!

• Thomas B

  
  Groovy. Full review later.

• Gregory D

  
  This movie is a great example of Raimi's style. Sure it's more silly than scary, but definately intended to be. The protagonist slow rise after a clumsy fall leading to his furnature laughing at him was both a memorable and a favorite scene of mine.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Then let's head on down into that cellar and carve ourselves a witch."</i> The lone survivor of an onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits holds up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack <center><font size=+2… More
  <i>"Then let's head on down into that cellar and carve ourselves a witch."</i> The lone survivor of an onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits holds up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Bruce Campbell returns as the manic "Ash" and fights the things in the cellar all over again. This time, however, he's brought some weapons, a maniac's laugh, and lots of colorful insults. Funded by Dino De Laurentis after the original's surprise success on video (it fared OK at the cinema), it has a marginally larger budget and some clever and bloody set pieces. Slicker and tighter than the first "Evil Dead", it is virtually a remake. Though it is still nudity-averse, it is more entertaining than the original and dispenses with that that film's cheesy character work. Campbell establishes Ash as a silver screen anti-hero and carries the entire movie on his able shoulders. After all these years still a classic.

• Jeff "

  
  After firmly establishing himself as a director with The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi cooked up a new vision of The Evil Dead. This time around, it seems that Sam Raimi is more relaxed behind the camera as he departs from his serious first film in The Evil Dead trilogy. Raimi's second… More
  After firmly establishing himself as a director with The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi cooked up a new vision of The Evil Dead. This time around, it seems that Sam Raimi is more relaxed behind the camera as he departs from his serious first film in The Evil Dead trilogy. Raimi's second film has a more comedic vibe to it, and I personally consider a prelude to his third film of trilogy, Army of Darkness which was flat out a Comedy-Horror film. The Evil Dead 2 is a fun, silly film to watch. It still possesses the wit and originality of the first, but with an added twist, it's more laid back than the first. But it still has everything you'd expect from an Evil Dead film.

• Dead A

  
  Ah this is sick -_-

• John H

  
  A slapstick horror-comedy that have you in stitches

• Conner R

  
  Crazy in all the right ways. Bruce Campbell will always be the best horror hero ever. The movie is so great in the simple fact that it gives you everything you want in a B-movie. The effects and story itself are so off the reservation, but it's done so perfectly.

• Josh L

  
  A wacky, fun, and sometimes hilarious horror/comedy.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings