A cult movie that lives up to its reputation.

Rating: 10/10 (14 October 1999)

I LOVE this movie! I have yet to see the other 2 installments in the trilogy in their entirety, but I can already tell that this is my favourite. I first saw it on video in '94 and was laughing pretty hard. I saw it again last year and was pleasantly surprised. It holds up well to repeat viewings. Some viewers complain about Bruce's acting style, but it's totally in character with the rest of the film. As a bonus, we're treated to an early glimpse of Embeth Davidtz, who of course went on to Schindler's List and a turn in another great subversive film, Matilda. The homage to Ray Harryhausen in the finale is great. I had a friend complain to me that the special effects in the movie were great up until the Deadite battle, which he considered cheesy. I think he missed the point. This is a fun movie, pure and simple. Sam has moved on to bigger things, and turned into a "serious" director, which is a shame. The industry needs less serious directors and more inventive visual stylists, of which Sam is one of a dying breed. It's a pity.