Evil Dead 2

"Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn"

Because you couldn’t get enough gore or enough of Bruce Campbell! Here is a familiar setting, in the woods alone except for some evil force that creates ‘deadites’. This film is often mistaken as a re-make of the original because of the way the flashback sequence in the beginning is different from the original. It appears that way because director Sam Raimi could not get the rights to the original footage from New Line Cinema. Imagine that! So he re-shot some scenes to bring the audience up to speed on what the evil dead is all about. Then he lets Bruce Campbell’s returning character “Ash” fend off the ensuing nightmare.

The special make-up effects are outstanding as Greg Nicotero (who got his break assisting Tom Savini in 1985 with “Day of the Dead”) presents plenty of gore. The cinematography is excellent including the return of the first person point-of-view Steadicam. The film takes place pretty much all in one cabin which this time is not out in the boonies of Tennessee, but on a set built inside the gymnasium of the JR Faison Junior High School in Wadesboro, North Carolina. Looks like Raimi was able to get a more substancial financial backing after the success of the first Evil Dead film.

Aside from the horror of the movie, a majority of the scenes are slap-stick comedy and hilarious! At one point Ash cuts off his own demon-possessed hand, now you'd think evil hands had been overplayed, but you would be wrong. Campbell is a genius as he fights against his own hand and suffers great abuse from it, making the audience tremble and flinch with him as he masters the scenes alone.

Of noted interest, a glove belonging to the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Freddy Krueger character can be seen hanging near the steps in one of the cellar scenes. This was in response to Wes Craven’s use of scenes from “Evil Dead” on a television screen in “A Nightmare...”

As a sequel, the plot could not have been better, especially the way it ends and sets the stage for the final film of the trilogy. An obvious MUST for fans of the first movie, and a great treat for fans of Bruce Campbell.

Kiss Your Nerves Good-Bye!

• Today's Cure song is Want from the Wild Mood Swings CD-(1996) Here is the first song from this CD. Beginning with a pounding guitar riff that slows builds to a thundering intro, this song is about desires. A kind of sister song to "Never Enough". The following lyrics from this song have become some of my all time favorite...

"i want the sky to fall in
i want lightning and thunder
i want blood instead of rain
i want the world to make me wonder
want to walk on water
take a trip to the moon
oh give me all this
and give me it soon "

CJ