Evil Dead 2 [DVD]

Great movie, and in great quality

Sam Raimi's "The Evil Dead" became a massive cult hit almost immediately -- but not entirely for the reasons he had hoped. Yes, some parts of it are scary, but it's also hilariously over-the-top. So when it was time to give the world "Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn," Raimi decided to embrace the joke. Sure, it still has some horrific moments (possessed lady in the basement! Ash stuck down there with her!), but the movie is now being deliberately over-the-top for the sheer joy of it -- fountains of gore, quotable lines, chainsaw hands and laughing deer heads. And of course, Bruce Campbell has completely graduated into his memelike status here, as a demon-slaying mass of manly awesomeness. It begins with a heavily abridged retelling of the first movie, where Ash (Campbell) and his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) take a romantic vacation in a rickety old cabin, but stumble across a weird old tape recorder and the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (aka, Book of the Dead). An evil force possesses Linda, and Ash is forced to behead her with a shovel. Got it? Onto the story! After being possessed for a grand total of six seconds, Ash finds himself trapped in the haunted cabin, with no way of getting back to civilization. He's slowly driven insane by demonic hallucinations, and the undead Linda reassembles her very-rapidly-decayed body so she can attack Ash once more. This time, she bites his hand and possesses it, forcing Ash to take very extreme measures to protect himself. Think a chainsaw. Used for amputation. Meanwhile, ANOTHER quartet of disposable individuals are approaching the cabin, led by Annie (Sarah Berry), whose father left behind the tapes on the Necronomicon. Not only did he leave the Necronomicon and the tapes in the cabin, but his possessed wife Henrietta (Lou Hancock and Ted Raimi) is buried in the basement -- and she wants out. More horrible killings, possessions and demonic evil ensue. Despite having a few million dollars more, "Evil Dead 2" retains the same low-budget charm as the original. The story takes place in the same weird little cabin, there's a cast of about five or six people, and demonic possession is represented by some charming stop-motion and clever makeup. Sam Raimi has definitely polished his special effects with all that extra money (Ash talking to himself in the mirror), and has added a few for comedic effect (the laughing deer head, geysers of blood!), but hasn't lost the rough edges that made the first so delightful. He's also dialed his directing up a few notches. It's still a horror movie with a sense of creeping dread, especially as we discover more about the Necronomicon and the undead horrors that come from it ("We are the things that were and shall be again!") But Raimi fully embraces the over-the-top ("I'll swallow your soul! I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!" "Swallow this!") and in-jokes (Ash pins down his hand... with "A Farewell to Arms"), with plenty of delightfully quotable lines (... groovy"). There's also a lot more weaponry in it, since Ash swaggers through the film with a sawed-off shotgun (which he fires into demon faces) and a chainsaw that he ends up attaching to his arm. It is almost as awesome as it sounds. This is also the movie where Bruce Campbell blossoms into the one-liner-slinging, larger-than-life, gun-and-chainsaw-swinging cult icon he is today -- he plays Ash as the kind of cool yet frenetic guy that every guy would like to imagine he would be in a supernatural crisis, and he is utterly delightful. The other actors do serviceable jobs as characters you don't know very well, but Bruce simply expands to fit the movie with no room for anyone else to steal (or chew) the scenery with such aplomb and charm. "Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn" is one of those rare sequels that has more money and polished special effects, but doesn't lose what made the first movie so much fun. Instead, it takes everything that was fun... and amps it up.

COMMENTS ABOUT THE SPECIAL "BOOK OF THE DEAD" EDITION: Jan 2006. As far as I am aware, there are at least 3 versions of the DVD for EVIL DEAD 2.Apart from the Very Cool Book look for the special edition I bought, I have the VHS tape of the film with the "Skull" face on it. The most amazing plus of this DVD is the 5.1 audio, which makes use of all 5 channels as well as the Sub-Woofer. Up loud, this film is potentially very scarey, and whilst I had obviously noticed the comedic elements, I had never considered that the comedy might be the raison detre of the film; overall, I still think that the Horror-Comedy tag is correct, since most good Horror films need to be paced, otherwise the film just fails to scare. The commentary is very revealing. Whilst I have continually enjoyed multiple viewings, I had never noticed the sneak references to other horror icons that the commentary refers to in the special feature. Whilst the Special "Book" edition I am referring to in this review is about the unrated edition, it appears some edited editions, may skip certain items ( like the British Edition). The Commentary is brilliant, and reveals a great deal, and shows just how much fun the group had in creating this work. I can but wonder if Ted Raimi is perpetually thin thanks to this film, or in spite of it :-). However you see this film, its a great work, and shows plenty of Sam Raimi's style, and Bruce's agility. ENJOY. ******************** After watching the film again for the umpteenth time, and hearing the commentary, as well as seeing the "Making of..." feature, it is just proof positive that a film by Sam Raimi is great despite faults. It seems like Sam can run on the sniff of on oily rag, as far as motivation goes, and wow how that takes him a LONG way. After doing so much with so little, it is not a surprise that with a larger budget, Raimi can do wonders. Anyways, check out the making of feature, as well as the commentary... the extras make this a gem on DVD. This film is great on VHS, but wow is it an awesome gem in this special edition package.

Great Film. I love this movie. Bad shipping though the dvd case was shoved in my mail box and is now crooked. Still 5 stars cause it plays just fine. Might be something to consider if you're a collector

* Oddly enough, there is still some confusion over Sam Raimi's (''Is It A 'Sequel?'; Is It A 'Remake?'; Is It A 'Requel?'; Is It A 'Semake?''') movie, ''Evil Dead II.'' This confusion is not entirely unwarrented, however. The assigning of the number ''two'' in the film's title automatically suggests that the film is a sequel (i.e., a 'second chapter' in a continuing saga). However, the events which take place between both films make it patently obvious that ''ED2'' is NOT a sequel. In the first film, main characters Ashley and his girlfriend Linda arrive at the cabin with his sister and a couple of friends, everyone [except?/including? Ash] dies, and the ''Book of the Dead'' is destroyed in the fire. If ''Evil Dead II'' was intended to be a sequel to the first film, then who relocated the cursed isolated cabin atop a dizzyingly high cliff, and just how crazy would Ashley have to be in order to return there, where he either nearly lost his life or completely lost it before his miraculous resurrection, and how crazy would his resurrected girlfriend Linda have to be for tagging along with him back to the place where she was possessed by the evil undead and decapitated only to be repossessed and decapitated again, and why would she receive the same necklace and charm she had already received earlier and act all ga-ga as though she were receiving it for the very first time? And just how did the previously destroyed ''Book of the Dead'' suddenly rematerialize? It could all happen only if ''ED2'' was NOT a sequel. What is it, then? Is the movie's title a ''play-on-words''-- i.e., ''The Evil Dead, TOO'' --meaning that the film is a ''remake?'' No, because, again, despite the many similarities between the two films (including the ''return'' of two key characters: Ashley and Linda), the overall theme, pacing, and introduction of a whole new set of supporting characters totally rule out any idea of this film's simply being a remake of an original. The title's inclusion of the number ''two'' is also clear indication that this film is something other than a remake. So what's going on? How does one make sense of this seeming paradox brought about by these two radically similar yet radically dissimilar films? I cannot begin to speak on behalf of the films' creator(s), but I personally find clarity in the titles of the two films. ''The Evil Dead'' is the ''official'' version of the film -- in other words, ''ED1'' is ''THE'' Evil Dead movie; ''Evil Dead TWO'' is actually the ''SECOND VERSION'' of ''The Evil Dead'' ... i.e., it is a ''NEW INTERPRETATION'' of the ''official'' film: Therefore, ''ÉD2'' could just as easily be called, ''Evil Dead 2[nd version]'' or ''Evil Dead 2[nd interpretation]'' for clarity. ''Evil Dead II'' is a ''STAND ALONE'' FILM, apart from ''Evil Dead I'' ... ''Army of Darkness''-- the so-called 'third installment' of the ''Evil Dead Trilogy'' --is specifically a sequel to ''Evil Dead II,'' NOT a ''continuation'' of the entire ''Evil Dead'' storyline. Now whether ''ED2'' is the film Raimi and company ''would have'' made initially if their first ''Book of the Dead'' project (''Evil Dead's'' originally intended title) had access to the bigger budget the second film enjoyed is known only to Raimi and company: Judging from the similarities and differences, one can only guess. By direct comparison, ''ED2'' is much more of a lighthearted slapstick than its predecessor and the very graphic gore is more for storytelling and visual effect than for the shock value of the first film. In ''Evil Dead II,'' Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash; the role of his girlfriend Linda, originally portrayed by Betsy Baker, is now taken over by Denise Bixler. The supporting characters are comprised this time of a couple of country hicks and a couple of archaeologists, one of whom happens to be the adult daughter of the cabin's previous occupant -- the man who first unwittingly released the evil entities into the surrounding woods by means of an ancient incantation from the ''Book of the Dead'' (the same entities which have been unwittingly re-released by Ash when he replays the incantation that had been left recorded on tape by the previous occupant). As in the first film, the woods themselves come alive and prevent anyone from escaping their impending doom. But this group of unlikely heroes have an Ace in the hole: The daughter was paying a visit to the cabin in order to present her father with their latest and most significant find -- the 'lost pages' of the ''Book of the Dead,'' which include, among other things, an incantation to dispell the evil. So whereas ''Evil Dead I'' was a massacre in a one-sided losing battle, ''Evil Dead II'' is full-scale war from start to finish. Bloody, hysterically funny at times, and packed with more memorable one-liners than a Steven Wright concert, ''Evil Dead II'' is definitely a welcome addition to any personal movie library ... don't let the hardcore ''Old School'' Evil Dead-ites dissuade you, or you'll miss out on a unique and enjoyable experience. * * *

An excellent quality blu ray. I've been wanting to add Evil Dead 2 to my physical media collection for years. This set doesn't disappoint. The movie works, and the caser is very sturdy.

Evil Dead 2 is such a fun over the top horror comedy. It’s different from the first one, there is no doubt about that. I was happy they kept many creepy elements that made the first one so special. However, I was most impressed with how they danced around, just absolutely terrifying and downright scary moments with levity. We get to see the evolution of Ash Williams, who really comes into his own in this movie. Bruce Campbell did a great job with both horror and comedy moments in this role. With horror fans, Bruce Campbell practically became a household name, and as a result, so did his beloved character, Ash Williams. The 4K quality turned out excellent. I love that it came loaded with goodies like Dolby Vision, HD Audio, and a ton of special features. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase.

Evil Dead 2, while technically a sequel, holds very little in common with "Evil Dead." Evil Dead was one of the scariest, creepiest, and grossest films I've ever seen. Evil Dead 2 is one of the funniest! The gore in Evil Dead II is WAY over the top. (If you've seen Arthur's battle with the Black Knight in "Monty Python's Holy Grail"... THAT'S the sort of gore I'm talking about.) Campy lines are thrown around in here the like you've not heard since the Batman TV series. The Premise: Ash (Ashley Williams for those who saw the first one) and his girlfriend drive up to a secluded cabin in the woods for a weekend of fun. They come across a tape recording of ancient incantations...that, when played, release an unseen evil that stalks them. When the cabin owner's daughter and team show up, the evil comes for them all! If you don't try to take this movie seriously, you won't be dissapointed. One of the film's scenes was once rated in the top ten fight scenes of all time: Ash versus... his hand. Now, for the DVD goodies! First, the DVD and "booklet" come in a tin! I was impressed by the tin and the arwork on it, but the booklet is a bit of a let-down. The pictures in it are simply screen grabs (and not very good ones) from the movie. THX and Widescreen add back what's been missing all these years. It's nice to see (clearer!) all of the bits we've been missing and the 5.1 audio tracks make those chase scenes sound like you're right there! The featurette 'The Gore the Merrier' is fantastic and left me wanting more! It would be great to see more of the behind the scenes antics of this crew, as it's plain to see (hear in the commentary) that they had fun making the film. And, the teaser for the video game "Evil Dead: Hail to the King" has me chomping at the bit! I can't wait to play a game as Ash! "You want a little??" If you're an Evil Dead fan, this Limited Edition MUST be in your collection. If you just like slapstick/comedy/horror, you can't lose with this one. When it comes down to it, if legions of undead started roaming the Earth, I'd want Ash nearby! Not just for protection, but also for comic relief!

La secuela, aunque tira mas al humor negro, sigue siendo una excelente remakecuela (debido que toma acontecimientos de la primera, pero modificandolos). Tiene subtitulos en español por si aun no aumentas tu ingles. Recomendado uwu

This movie is a must have for any horror fan's collection. This movie has all the improvements the first one never had. The first movie was fun to watch, but it was very rough. This one had better quality filming and sound effects. The story and acting were on track to bring the Evil Dead brand to legacy status. It was fun to watch during Halloween, it will be part of the list each year now.

８０年代の洒落たCMが流れている頃、悶々とした気分満載の自分がビデオ店に入るとだいたいAVコーナーの隣がホラーコーナーで わぁーこえーなど呟き、顔をオーバーな百面相に歪めながらも右目で距離を測って、すけべいなビデオのコーナーにカニ歩きするのだった。 何がはらわただAVの皮膚の方がぐふふと言いながらお目当てのAVがレンタル中なのに、まるで並んで便所待ってる惨めさで、肩を落としてこいつを借りたのであった。 それから時は流れ〜バブルが崩壊し、バブルのお風呂にも行けなくなり〜ウン十年、ブルーレイ・綾波レイ・アムロレイ・ヨーロ・レイ・ホーの時代到来 VHSで見たきりで大分時が経っているのでストーリーがオオマカな記憶になっていた。 頭の中で色あせていたんだけれど、ブルーレイの高画質映像で再現したので 何というか、色の塗り直しをした時みたいにすっきりとした気分でニコニコとホラーを見られたという、本人が薄気味悪い奴になってしまった。 死霊のはらわた２は主人公のブルース・キャンベルが悪魔にビビりながらもお返しをするところを二人羽織的に見せてくれるところが笑える。 パラノーマル・アクティビティを彼がやったら笑うだろうし、オーメンやったら首が喋るし、エクソシストやったら神父も首が回るし、宙に浮くだろう。 怖いのに笑わせるって鉄板だよ、コンビニに売ってるスパゲッティー＆ハンバーグみたいだ。 夜に思いっきり悪魔と暴れまわっておかしくなってゆくけど、朝になると所々日が射している中で変に冷静なくせに 早く何とかしないとといろいろ無駄をしながら気が付けば夜じゃん、なにやってんの、である。 日が高いうちに働けという教えが皮肉に身に染みる、でも本当にドタバタしているホラーだから、TVの前でポテトチップス増量を食い散らかして見るには いい映画である。 １を聞いて１０を知るというけど、これは１作目を見ても２作目は分からない、なんとまぁ、１作目の話を盛ってるから〜それに最後の落ちがまるで違う やるな！おぬし、スパゲティー＆ハンバーグ＆カレー＆ラーメンとおいしいとこ尽きないのである。 ８０年代のHビデオの穴を埋めただけはある作品だ。

Muy buena pelicula