This remake/sequel of the original The Evil Dead (1981) from visionary director Sam Raimi, starring the great Bruce Campbell, is a must-see classic that finds a perfect balance between comedy and horror. With its slapstick performances from the lead and impressive effects, Evil Dead II is just plain fun and great for a spooky movie night.

Like I said, this is partly a sequel but also a reimagining so you don't need the prequel to understand what's going on. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is stuck in a cabin in the woods trying to survive the night against the evil Deadites, a cruel malignant force that mess with his head at every turn. The whole movie is essentially just watching Ash slowly lose his mind and get concussed in the head multiple times. It's great! The movie somehow is able to combine the perfect trifecta of funny, badass, and disturbing. The antics the Deadites partake in against Ash will range from charming slapstick comedy to cruel psychological torture that really makes the journey a rollercoaster!

This is helped by the fantastic practical effects that will use anything from puppets and prosthetics to stop-motion animation to create some riveting imagery. Despite the outlandish visuals, the madness is carried by all of the cast's performances but particularly Campbell who does so much slapstick in this movie and delivers it in a great way. You'll be laughing and wincing in the same breath at some of the stunts he pulls here.

As a story, there's not really much to Evil Dead II. The characters are pretty paper thin and there aren't too many moments that genuinely tugged on me. One exception is the scene where the Deadites dance with Linda's corpse which combined with the music was actually pretty haunting. Besides that, it's not a movie that asks too much of its audience.

Many might consider the term "popcorn flick" to be discrediting, but I don't mean that here. Evil Dead II is wonderful popcorn flick which may not have much depth from a storytelling perspective, but is packed with so much sincere effort and love for the craft of filmmaking. I think it's best watched with friends, but even alone you will find yourself immersed in the twisted landscape Sam Raimi presents here.

Out of the whole trilogy, Evil Dead II finds the best balance of comedy and horror and is considered a classic for a reason. If you want scares and laughs all the same, there's no reason to choose one when you can have both!

If you enjoy:	slapstick comedy old-school horror practical effects	hell yeah

If you dislike:	silly scenes shallow characters	hell maybe