User reviews

This is the type of film we really wish we made ourselves before some else thought of it. It's intelligent but not entirely complex ... entirely enjoyable yet a serious piece of film making ... everything adds up to cult status. It's the type of film your uninformed friends (or mine at least, I'm surely surrounded by fools) dismiss as trash without giving it a chance.

Raimi showed us the thrills, chills and blackly tinged laughs he could bring about in the first in the series on a virtually non-existent budget. Here with just that little bit more he retreads old ground but everything still works ... probably more effectively too! Seeing some of props used and slightly off production values (the 'muppet' headless girlfriend in the shed, the demon head stuck to camera attacking Ash towards the end, Ted Raimi's ripped old lady from hell suit and the quickest of glimpses of set floor boards during one stage of shooting) shows how Raimi was still constrained by budget issues.

Seriously though, who cares ... this film has 6 different colours of blood, some seriously funny slap-stick scenes (didn't think I'd say that anytime soon) and a chemistry between lead Campbell and director Raimi that let the jokes flow freely.

Campbell proves himself a master of face contortion, self-harm as well as flipping himself over! So many classic scenes in such a short space of time ... my favourite being when Jake is dragged into the cellar and a torment of pink blood comes pumping out. The camera work is as dynamic and as fast paced as in the first outing, the shot of ash standing by the remains of the bridge at the start of film standing out for its grandness among otherwise less cinematic shots.

The film leads on nicely to the 3rd installment in the series with one-handed Ash getting sucked into another dimension to face the undead in jolly olde England (or something like that). It really is no wonder that the in-store geeks/pop-culture snobs of High Fidelty described Evil Dead II as the greatest movie of all time.

'Groovey' indeed.

Taking up his impactful "Evil Dead" from 1981, Sam Raimi delivered a fantastic reimagining of his vision.

Within 10 minutes, "Evil Dead II" manages to descend into absolute madness of the best kind, with a protagonist that became an absolute horror icon. I dare you to find another example of a perfect blend of horror and comedy, a wildly free camera that serves as the second protagonist and a more influential low-budget, basically one-location film.

In my opinion, it was this film that cemented Sam Raimi as one of the most imaginative and humourous genre directors of our time, and it hasn't lost any of its appeal to this day. Highly recommended!

Silly, but epic one-liners, perfect mix of horror & comedy, groundbreaking editing, amazing performance of Bruce Campbell, inspiring "making-of" story make Dead by Dawn one of the greatest film experiences to ever exist. Movie ages like a fine wine and I can't help but love it, every re-watch is like a holiday and I'm not even joking! Many methods used in this piece are revolutionary, which transforms Evil Dead 2 from a very solid picture to a genre-changing page in history of cinema. To think that a couple of almost pure enthusiasts made such influence on the industry is a pure joy. Films like this fuel you with hope that with enough passion people can achieve unspeakable results.

After a slightly confusing recap, Evil Dead II kicks of the carnage pretty much instantaneously and simply doesn't let up until it's final few moments. Delivering a superior sequel that's faster, funnier with even more gore and cements Bruce Campbell's Ash as a bonafide horror icon.

Bruce Campbell endures another onslaught of various bodily fluids being thrown at him in hilarious fashion but this time around really shows that he's also a great physical performer with a standout sequence where he fights his own hand and then transitions into a hardened action star for the ages by the end (his delivey of 'groovy' is perfection).

Sam Raimi's direction is even more skillfully chaotic than before, the camera has never been more alive and the set pieces are more inventive, incorporating a variety of tricks and effects. The budget has also clearly gone up but in a way that thankfully doesn't sacrifice the cheap charm of the original.

This is my favorite film, easy.

I have seen hundreds of films over the course of my short life, but none can compare to this masterpiece. The original film defined horror and showed not only what horror was meant to be, but what it could be. This movie at the time is what horror could be. This movie is suspenseful, scary, and most important;y funny!

I recognize that noone comes to imDb to read a thesis, but I could certainly write one on all of the things that makes this movie great.

I am not saying this is the best film ever made, because it isn't, but it is far and away my favorite film.

Do yourself a favor and watch this classic.

Ash and her girlfriend went to a deserted cottage in the wood. What they don't know, that the house are doomed.

Evil Dead 2 is a very funny horror-movie, but have a few silly parts. You curry a many times when you see the film.

Evil Dead 2 is better than the first Evil Dead-movie. I like funny horror-movies, but I want to have quality in this sort of horror-movies and Evil Dead 2 have that.

Bruce Campbell is a very good actor and make a very good role in this horror-movie.

Sam Raimi have capacity to make fun and horror!

I did not remember this movie being as funny the first time I saw it, but then I was just a kid. Now years later with my sense of humor effectively warped I had quite a few chuckles. This is of course a sequel to "The Evil Dead", but then it is not quite a direct sequel. The first part of the film sort of recaps the first, but then it doesn't. You will notice only Ash and his girlfriend are shown at the cabin. The cabin is significantly better looking on the inside and there are various other differences as well. Still, this does not detract from this film as I like this one better than the first. Campbell as Ash is great, the first part of the film is like a one man show of someone doing a self torture stand-up. You get to watch a man have his hand possessed and proceed to beat the crap out of himself. And the scenes of Ash laughing along with the rest of the cabin is like a demented episode of Pee-Wee's playhouse. Soon though others arrive, of course they are just fodder for the evil dead to possess and kill. The effects are good for the most part, and where they are not so good it is usually done in humorous manner. The chainsaw arm is cool, and it is a nice ending as well considering the third part. I kind of wish Sam Rami and Bruce would make more horror movies as they are very good at it.

Let's be honest: Evil Dead II is basically the more refined version of the first movie by way of plot hole, a rewriting of script, and change-up of an ending. It's not a true-to-form "remake" or "reboot" or anything like that. That said, it's still a great movie with cult status. The set pieces are well put together, the effects, and an entertaining script. It also sets up a sequel that had just as much entertainment value.

A spawn of the same cult film pool as such diverse projects as "The Goonies" and "Donnie Darko," the "Evil Dead" series is similarly one popularized (and yes, to some extent overrated) by its endless legion of fans, most of whom were teenagers when the originals came out, and are now in their twenties and thirties. Each film separated by six years, "Evil Dead, Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness" (or "Medieval Dead" as some fans enjoy referring to it as) all certainly hold a certain low-budget fanbase appeal. None of them did very well financially, at least not in theaters (particularly the third, which had the largest budget and flopped on initial release), but the same can be said for "Donnie Darko," the "flop" of 2001 that went on to do very well on video and has played continually at midnight showings across America, enticing new fans every day.

"Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn" stars Bruce Campbell as the returning Ash, the hapless hero who visits a remote wilderness cabin with his girlfriend only to inadvertently unleash the Deadites from another world. After his girlfriend is possessed and murdered by one of the demons, Ash finds himself fending for his life in the cabin and enduring endless physical pain.

This is a film set free of logic, cohesion, and reality. Ash murders his possessed girlfriend but never really seems to mourn his loss. Soon he's cutting off his own hand and doesn't really seem to miss it very much in the following scenes (he replaces it with a chainsaw – a clever idea that nevertheless is totally and utterly ridiculous). If I cut off my hand, I might be sort of upset, but not Ash – he doesn't really seem to mind, and it doesn't seem to hurt him very much, either, as he immediately wraps it in a bandage (which must have a magical effect, because blood never stains through the fabric). Furthermore, Ash never seems to fear death from blood loss, or the fact that when he returns to civilization, he might have a hard time convincing local authorities that he's not responsible for the murder of his girlfriend and the visitors who show up midway through the film and all proceed to quickly die painful deaths at the hands of the Deadites.

No matter. That's not the point of this film. "Evil Dead II" is pure fun, and nothing more. With this in mind, its strong fanbase comes across as being rather intimidating – visiting any "Evil Dead" message board will reveal some people who seem to thrive on this film, daily reciting quotes, acting out scenes, and dreaming up scenarios for the (pending) sequel "Army of Darkness II." That begs the question: Is "Evil Dead II" really deserving of its critical and public acclaim? Having been referenced by Jack Black in "High Fidelity" as the film you must see in order to stray away from devolving into a "movie idiot," "Evil Dead II" is a fun experience with a charismatic, energetic lead performance and a clever and witty script. Before I saw "EDII," Black's recommendation in "High Fidelity" ("…there's so much blood!") was a joke -- a parody of the macho male "action, sex, nudity, loud music" attitude. After having seen "Evil Dead II" I realize that Black was right -- the blood and guts really do make it worth seeing – they almost become a punch line to the joke, such as when a body is dragged into a fruit cellar by a demon and a spew of excessive fake red water drenches the heroine as the corpse is churned into a million pieces.

So, no, it's not a masterpiece and it probably isn't quite deserving of its strong reputation. It's that type of movie, where you kind of enjoy it for the cheese factor – and don't try to heavily criticize its flaws, because to do that would be way too easy. And obvious.

The film is more of a remake than a sequel, recapping the events of the first film, dropping three characters, and generally picking up somewhere in the middle. For example in the original "Evil Dead" Ash stumbles upon the Book of the Dead, and he does so again in this movie. Many events are totally re-filmed as if they never occurred. It's a rare beast of a sequel – somewhere oddly in between continuation and smug self-parody.

I personally prefer the original "Evil Dead" if only because I find the horror elements stronger and the "comedy" far less goofy (if there are even any traces of comedy in the original at all). "Evil Dead II" goes a bit too far sometimes – the dancing furniture is lame, for example.

However, no one can say this series lacks originality. Instead of presenting us with a banal representation of the original film, director Sam Raimi reunites with Campbell and creates a whole new beast – packed with excessive physical humor (think: ultra-violent Three Stooges on a macabre level), self-parody, tongue-in-cheek humor, and what Campbell himself described as "splatstick" comedy. On top of that, Campbell is much better here than he was in the original (where he seemed to be a pale shade and more cowardly version of the typical action hero persona) – Ash is still somewhat of a coward but Campbell lends his character a great sense of irony here that if anything only establishes Ash as one of cinema's most iconic characters.

Overall, "Evil Dead II" is a really fun ride, with a superior performance from Campbell. It may not be on the same level as the original in terms of horror or just general enjoyment, but it's still a blast. Groovy, baby!

The Evil Dead (first movie) was a good movie. It was cheap, it was self aware at its own cheapness, it had some hilarious jump scares, and it had great timing with its humour. It always knew how to hold something scary long enough to make it funny.

Evil Dead II is almost the exact opposite of The Evil Dead, but in a good way. While The Evil Dead's humour generally revolved around showing someone die for 5 minutes or just how obnoxiously long it takes to fight the evil. However, Evil Dead II is INCREDIBLY fast. Not only does it have a short run time, but so much happens to quickly that it makes the movie hilarious. The movie is so half- assed and so quick that it is hard to catch your breath because the jokes keep on coming. This is literally the funniest "horror" movie I have ever seen.

The movie starts with a brief recap of the first movie at the beginning (and yes, this movie has a recap and is NOT a remake; as some would like to believe). The movie then quickly leaves us off with where the first movie ended and continues from there... and man does it take off. Non-stop weird shots, strange angles, ridiculous concepts, dancing zombies, laughing furniture, demented hands, and tons of really fake looking blood. The movie has so many continuity errors in itself that the errors are their own joke. Sometimes the possessed people will have different colored blood, sometimes the clothes will change on actors, and supposedly sometimes there are multiple actors playing the SAME character! The movie is a joke on every level.

DEFINITELY watch Evil Dead II. While it does work as a standalone movie, I think part of its humour comes from how different it is from the first movie. The Evil Dead felt like a b-movie that was aware of its lameness while Evil Dead II feels like a full fledged comedy.

Bruce Campbell is a genius in the acting world and he revises his role of Ash in this sequel to Evil Dead. We as the audience get caught up to speed as to what has happened and from there on out it is nothing but Black Comedy at its finest. Sam Raimi really made a gem here. Yes it is a little goofy and a little 'what?' at times but this movie stands along on its own pedestal amongst others of its type. I prefer this installment over the original by far and I would recommend it to any horror fan of any type. The noises the 'Evil Dead' make in this film are horrifying and the way Raimi crops up the chase sequences is classic, it truly had me gripping the edge of my seat. Do not miss this flick if you have!!

My parents aren't letting me watch evil dead 1 so I've watched this one.

Evil dead 2 is one of my favourite movies. The set design, slapstick comedy, horror elements, camera work, are all amazing.

The film can be a bit too yucky for me sometimes but overall this is a really good movie, I have now watched army of darkness (the sequel to evil dead 2) and I have to say both movies are magnificent. I would watch evil dead 1 but my parents say it's not appropriate, I mean they let me watch the shining and this movie. Sam rami always makes amazing movies and this one is no exception, this is amazing.

Evil Dead II is one of the great horror sequels of the 80's, which there aren't a lot of, Halloween II, Friday the 13th Part II, and A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 all pale in comparison to this diabolical film, and I can't wait to see where the franchise goes next.

Evil Dead II takes everything that was great about the first movie and turns it up 1000%, from the traumatically gory action scenes, the cheap thrills, and the honestly hilarious stop motion characters, it is a non stop thrill ride.

Bruce Campbell is even better here, turning into the iconic Ash Williams we all know and love, and I don't think I'll ever erase the blood shower scene or the final 20 minutes from my mind.

I'm gonna give Evil Dead II an A.

Yes, absolutely. And yet it is so simple in its plot: Dumb, lovestruck teens venturing out to a cabin in the woods and awakening a dark evil, with decibels of screams and buckets of fake blood - some of it green, of course.

But the devil is in the execution: Raimi has filmed a hell of a ride, an over-the-top, theatre-like extravanganza that leaves the audience exhausted and spent. All of the classical horror elements he brings are pushed to their grotesque maximas, without taking itself too seriously, which makes it a perfect balance of Lovecraftian horror and grim comedy.

There is stop-motion in there, but what steals the show is the camera work, the way it moves and how one scene melts into one another. And also, Bruce Campbell, who bears half of the movie on his shoulders alone... thus became a fan legend.

Rarely is the second iteration of a cinematic precedent is as good as its predecessor, but this isn't the case here, as this movie stand on an equal, if different footing than the original. The Evil Dead II (Death by Dawn) is an essential entry in every horror fan's filmography.

Perfect blend of ridiculously campy humor and genuinely creepy moments.

A real classic and one I watch again and again! If you haven't seen it what are you waiting for!

If the Evil Dead is a great Horror passion project, the Evil Dead II is a masterclass of a sequel. Taking all the passion and unique style from the original film, this film is the refining and perfection of that. Whilst we again get to see Ash go insane, we get see to see a man trapped in the house for a second time, no way out, there's no escape to the evil.

What can I say though, the film is just a great Horror Comedy, it mixes the style, the stranger elements and refines them in a way that is funny but still keeps the same style of scares. It also holds one of the most iconic characters in the whole of cinema. The script, the effects, the direction and all the elements of the film are just incredibly well done.

There are also problems I have with the film such as the way that the whole of the last film feels retconned due to the recap they had to make because of Sam Raimi and Co not having the rights to the footage from the first film but that's just a small part of the movie and allows it to stand on its own as a great sequel.

Great Horror Comedy, on par or even better then the first, truly iconic. I give this movie a Groovy/10.

Okay, it's a 9 star movie, in MY world. The evil dead saga is a different type of movie that attracts "different people" such as myself. Unlike "Evil dead" 1981 version, the following evil deads introduced funny camera work, silly scenes, and funky catchphrases to forever change the horror world. Bruce Campbell takes a serious beating while fighting undead, and just bad luck (and some good luck). The Evil dead series probably needs no introduction, since it is legendary amongst it's followers. If you have not seen evil dead 1981, start there watching this version. You will need it before watching evil dead 2.

Few movies have left an impression on me quite like this one. I remember after I finished watching it, my only reaction was, "what the f*** did I just watch?" It was one of the greatest movie-watching experiences I've ever had. Evil Dead II is quite simply one the greatest horror movies of all time.

The first movie was a straight-up horror, with some sporadic dark humor thrown in. This one ups the comedy, but thankfully, not at the expense of the horror. Don't be fooled, there are some truly frightening scenes in this movie. And yes, the blood flows frequently, with one scene in particular possibly ranking as one of the goriest of all time. All different colors of blood and other bodily fluids show up along the way. But it's main influence probably comes from The Three Stooges. Sam Raimi's love of the The Three Stooges shows throughout the film's many comedic set-pieces. From a demon who can't stalk fast enough, to Ash fighting a possessed hand, and even some crazy antics with a flying eyeball. There are so many classic scenes in this movie, and all this is due to the absolutely awesome performance by a certain Bruce Campbell. This is the role that made him a B-movie legend; a role he was born to play. He would make an excellent Jim Carrey in some parallel universe, as he handles the physical comedy extremely well. The supporting actors do well in their respective roles, but Bruce steals the show completely.

Everything from the masterful and innovative camera work, to the somewhat dated but extremely effective special effects, simply complete the package of what is one of the greatest horror / comedies of all time. Sure, sometimes the seams show, with various puppet strings and other goofs visible, but it's that same charm that elevates this movie to cult status. You owe it to yourself to see this movie, even if just once.

This Evil dead 2 not as Dark The Evil dead and it more of comedy, which is not bad thing at all.

The plot Sequel to The Evil Dead where Ash does not manage to escape the evil from the first movie. Retelling the story only leaves Ash and his girlfriend in the beginning for whatever reason. Ash must now survive another night in the cabin accompanied now by the Professor's daughter, a mechanic, an associate of the Professor, and the mechanic's girlfriend. But the thing in the darkness vows that they will be.

This movie has some scary moments and the demons are still scary in this movie but the most is just playing hilarious! from stat to end, there still a lot gore in this movie, less then The Evil Dead.

Not as awesome as The Evil dead but still fantastic sequel the acting from Ash was Outstanding.

I am going to give this movie a 9/10

The "Evil Dead" trilogy stays about the same each film in quality and entertainment, but as they go on each one is more silly than the last in seems. The first "Evil Dead" was funny in a morbid way. It had some very dark humor, and was more of a horror film than a comedy. This movie has many horror elements to it, including several jump scenes and a very creepy atmosphere, but this a comedy. People who take this as a horror movie will probably be disappointed, but most people it seems in the first few minutes will figure out that this is meant to be funny, not scary.

To (sort of) retell what happened in the first film, the first 10 minutes of the film show a different but similar story as the first movie, including leaving off exactly where that one did. Ash (Bruce Campbell) is stuck in the woods in a cabin haunted with "Deadite" demons that possessed his girlfriend and caused him to dispose of her. The demons are brought to life through a professor's recording of the Book of the Dead, and the professor's and a few others end up in the cabin with Ash. Blood, guts and hilarity ensues.

Some say this is a remake of the original, and it's not, though it is similar to the first. Both take place in the cabin, though this one obviously takes place right after the first. Where most sequels pale in comparison to the originals, this one was even better than the first. The special effects were amazing. The over the top direction and acting were hilarious, including one scene where a moose head in the cabin begins to laugh and it's obviously infectious because soon the whole cabin including Ash in uproariously laughing. Weird and funny creatures are around every corner, as are the one liners from Bruce Campbell that go with them. There's little plot, but that's a good thing here so we get to see more creatures. One problem in this is the ending. It's a great, though bizarre cliffhanger, so make sure to have a copy of "Army of Darkness" to pop in right after to pick up where this leaves off.

Overall, this is a hilarious, sort of scary comedy/horror film that takes from many genres making it an extremely fresh film. It's probably the best of the "Evil Dead" trilogy.

My rating: *** 1/2 out of ****. 80 mins. R for violence.