Camp Horror Classic - Close to perfection.

Rating: 10/10 (16 October 2006)

Army of Darkness is one of my all-time favorites. Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi reinvent the Evil Dead series in this off-the-wall, tongue-in-cheek self-parody. Ash (Campbell) is transported to the European middle ages and must confront an army of deadites lead by his alter-ego "Bad Ash". Campbell's comedic acting is absolutely superb and the revamped Ashe character is an unforgettable hero and bumbler. In terms of entertainment value, AoD hits its mark perfectly - it redefines B film making by being self-consciously and intentionally hilarious. It is one of the most entertaining films in my collection.
The special effects are fun, but (and everything in this film is intentional) completely and overtly "B-film". Every aspect of the production works simultaneously toward building the story, the characters and humor.
There are many versions of this film available on DVD. If you enjoy any one of these, chances are you will enjoy the others. The only really major difference is between the theatrical release and the "Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness" version - which, featuring a completely different and more consistent ending, is my personal favorite. If you like this film, chances are you will want to watch it repeatedly. The Vs version also has very entertaining commentary from Campbell and Sam and Ivan Raimi.
I am still hoping that the now wildly successful Sam Raimi will eventually revisit the Evil Dead series. Campbell is clearly interested in doing this, and the possibilities are certainly limitless.