Horror Sequel Marathon: Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Expertly mixing horror and comedy, “Evil Dead II” is everything you’d want out of a sequel to the original classic– more slapstick gore, more self-parodying and above all– more Bruce Cambell as Ash.

Written as a parody sequel, “Evil Dead II” begins with a shortened recap of the events of the first movie, wherein Ash bringing his girlfriend to a cabin for a romantic retreat, before discovering a audiotape that unleashes a legion of demons. The tape was recorded by the cabin’s previous inhabitant Professor Knowby, an archeologist who discovered and studied the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (or Book of the Dead).

Ash later teams up with Professor Knowby’s daughter (also an archeologist), her boyfriend and two road workers to combat the spirits of the cabin– all while Ash struggles to combat a demon that’s already inside him. This time around, the Necronomicon plays a more important role both in understanding the mythology behind the evil dead and how to send it away.

“Evil Dead 2” is silly in a way that only viewers of the original will be able to fully appreciate. But the scares remain consistently bold and effective. Like few other horror/comedy series, “Evil Dead II” is a balanced mix of both. When the violence and gore grows tiresome, the comedy replenishes the purpose of the creators– to provide self-parodying slapstick bloody fun. The end result is a film that’s both funnier and scarier than the original.

Bruce Cambell in "Evil Dead 2."
Bruce Cambell making a sawed-off shotgun with his chainsaw arm in “Evil Dead 2.”

Bruce Cambell is perfect for this role. It’s hard to imagine the character played by anyone else. Cambell, at the time, was not a particularly talented performer. But that amateurish, campy acting adds to the series’ b-movie charm. For much of the first half, Cambell is by himself in the scene– reacting to the evil that torments him. In one scene, his hand becomes possessed and attacks him. The Ace Ventura-level physical comedy adds humor to an otherwise sadistic set-up.

In the world of b-movie cinematography and special effects, Raimi is a god. Few directors can provoke screams and laughter within one short clip. Raimi is one of them. In one of my favorite scenes, Ash’s dead girlfriend rises from the ground, dances while her decapitated head rolls back to her body, then prances off into the darkness. The entire scene is shot in jaw-droppingly chilling stop-motion animation.

It’s remarkable to witness the growth in Raimi’s abilities as a filmmaker from “The Evil Dead” to “Evil Dead 2.” While many other manic-style slasher flicks will often show a chase scene in quick, violent spurts, Raimi will give viewers a long, uncut take from the perspective of the demon chasing Ash through the house– back through narrow corridors, diving through windows. When Raimi directs, no shortcuts are taken.

“Evil Dead II” is both a worthy sequel and an equally worthy precursor for a third installment, one reboot and even a horror sitcom (Ash vs. Evil Dead beginning October 31 on Starz network). “Evil Dead II” proves that Bruce and Raimi are a match made in hell.

***

Evil Dead 2 is available on DVD, blu ray and digital download here on Amazon; and the original here. And be sure to check out the other entries in the Horror Sequel Marathon right here on My Vinyl Muse!

Barry Falls Jr
Barry was the managing editor of his university newspaper before contributing as a freelance content creator for Yahoo News and Esquire. He founded Horror Theory in 2014 to analyze horror films through a sociological lens.

Latest articles

Don’t Breathe (2016): The Urban Decay of Deindustrialized Detroit and United State’s Neglect of Veterans

2016 was a big year for horror films featuring home invasions. Hush showcased Oculus director Mike Flanagan’s exhilarating twist with a hearing-impaired...

Green Room (2015): The Festering Ultra-Violent Rage of ‘Angry White Males’ in Pre-Tr*mp America

It probably is not a coincidence that, in 2016, A24 released their horror-thriller masterpiece Green Room the same month that Republican presidential...

The Invitation (2015): The Spiritual Philosophy of Bereavement and the Cult of Social Civility

Tonight is the night our faith becomes real, reads the tagline for The Invitation, the psychological horror thriller that chronicles the dinner...

We Are Still Here (2015): The Supernatural Dread of Denial, Grief, and Rural Isolationism

There’s a reason why haunted-house films are such a welcomed mainstay in the horror genre. The house as a safe space and...

The Witch (2015): The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Puritan Moral Panic and Patriarchal Family Dynamics

The 2010s marked a notable resurgence of religious themes and imagery in horror film. Perhaps most faithful to theological folklore was 2015’s...

It Follows (2014): Sex, Nostalgia, and The Existential Dread of Emerging Adulthood

Sex and horror have been tethered together in film since the genre's beginnings. Horror cinema remains one of the sharpest means for...

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISMENT

Related articles

ADVERTISMENT