The best of the three.

Rating: Null/10 (4 September 2003)

Perhaps there is some confusion about this movie. The first ten minutes or so is a condensed version of the whole story of the first movie. When Ash gets put through the trees and whatnot, the second movie begins. It is the same night in the cabin and all, but a totally different story. Bruce Campbell pretty much carries this movie from start to finish. All of the sequences from the first movie are carried out in this one, to a point where all questions are answered. His girlfriend is unearthed and comes back to settle the score. Lot of great special effects in this one. But, they were threatened by the MPAA, so most of the blood is rainbow colored. You won't see much red blood is this flick. Sam Raimi's brother Ted gives his best performance to date as the late Henrietta Knowby. "Someone's in my fruit cellar, someone with a fresh soullllll". Bruce teams up with Prof. Knowby's daughter to send the evil forces back to their origin. Seems that she has a major in translating the necronomacon. After a couple of incantations from the book, a portal is opened, forcing all the spirits back in, and Ash as well. Some of my favorite parts are the Henrietta skit, the possession of Ed Getley, and the whole evil hand skit. Lot of funny moments in this one. And when all the objects are animated in the parlor. This was a cabin completely constructed by the film crew, since the original cabin in Tenn. was torn down shortly after the first movie. If you look close enough, you can see where they forgot to put the ceiling up in a couple of shots, especially when Ash is running through the length of the house. You can also notice The Three Stooges inspiration in some of the gags, especially the eye in the mouth bit. Pure slapstick throughout the movie. You should notice the same style of effects in From Dusk Till Dawn, because it is the same company. I have heard that Rodriguez kept saying "Give me something like Evil Dead 2" through the whole shooting of Dusk. This movie is in my top 10 of all time for all the zany antics and Ash's super ego. The ultimate protagonist. I rate this movie 4/5 for the multiple replay value. I watched this movie every day for a week after I got it on DVD. You can pick it up almost anywhere for under 15 bucks. But be sure to get the version with all the interviews, bonus footage, and making of. You really gain more appreciation after viewing the bonus footage. And if you already own the vhs, flip the cover over and read the liner notes. I found them by accident. Only printed on the animated cover though. Don't miss this one. I personally think it beats the hell out of Spiderman and Raimi should return to his roots. And I don't mean more Darkman films. I think that Evil Dead 2 is the perfect marriage of comedy/horror/gore.