Can they be stopped, the "Army of Darkness"?

Rating: 10/10 (3 October 2005)

If chins could kill Â– "Army of Darkness" is director Sam Raimi's insanely funny and action-packed (and presumed) closer to his "Evil Dead" trilogy. Chaos reigns supreme in this third entry, with smart-alecky demon-slayer Ash (Bruce Campbell) being magically transported back to the medieval ages. Between his flirtations with local maiden Sheila (Embeth Davidtz), battling the evil deadites including his clone Evil Ash and Raimi's penchant for gut-busting manic hilarity (which often places Ash on the receiving end of a proverbial foot in the a**), we get what is very easily one of the most innovative horror movies ever envisioned. It's clear Raimi and company are having a blast here; "Army of Darkness" has become the director's pre-"Spider-Man" signature piece, and has made Campbell the cult icon he became under Raimi's guidance. The one-liners fly, boomsticks blast, laughs are plentiful, and "Army of Darkness" remains an unquestioned masterpiece of slapstick horror-comedy.