As a life-long zombie fan from the great state of Michigan, I am met with varying degrees of surprise when new friends learn that I loathe The Evil Dead movies—and indeed, all of Sam Raimi’s horror. “Even Army of Darkness?!?” they say in feigned hipster shock. Yes, ‘fraid so. People have been asking me to explain (read: justify) this for at least 20 years now. I wanted to explain it, but I honestly didn’t know—until now. This might end up being more about me than the film itself, but hey, you asked. See, I don’t just “dislike” Evil Dead. I loathe it. I’ve reached a point where I’m pissed that people praise it so highly, love it so much—especially when the most gung-ho people aren’t even zombie fans. “The Evil Dead” is kind of a silly title if you think about it—akin to The Mean Murderer or Bad Men We Don’t Like. 
Until my preparation for this article, I hadn’t seen the original Evil Dead in over 15 years. I remembered it as tritely scripted, horribly acted, rife with ridiculously bad dialogue, and generally shitty overall. On the off chance that I asserted this, I would typically be met by—let’s say vigorous disapproval. Eventually I became perplexed, suspicious that there must be something I was missing. The disagreement was SO strong that I doubted the veracity of my hatred—even Stephen King has admitted liking The Evil Dead.
“But…it’s terrible,” I’d say, referring to the aspects of the films which are…you know…terrible. And here’s the thing—no one disagrees that Evil Dead has horrible acting, is poorly written, has amateurish special effects and makeups that are lit far too brightly, and is generally stupid. Everyone concedes these points. “But, you don’t understand,” they all say. “But, they had so little and did so much,” I hear. What I gather from that is that I’m supposed to love the movie because they took the time to make it, and it was hard. It’s probably hard for Uwe Boll to make movies, but the fact that he did so isn’t enough to make me go. I’m not falling for THAT again. Now that YouTube exists, we now know that movie making is not some elusive skill that only Kubrick, Fincher, and Hitchcock were ever good at. Simply making a film with a small budget is not a good enough reason to like it. That said, I respect anyone who’s out there trying.
Side note: I once paid to see Drag me to Hell in the hopes that there would be ONE Sam Raimi horror movie that I could enjoy. No dice. I love Spiderman, but all of Raimi’s horror watches like he’s enjoying a private joke that I just don’t get. The talking goat was enough to make me want to walk out in a huff; and I spotted the **spoiler alert** button switch from a mile away. Sad, because like Evil Dead, Drag me to Hell has a promising beginning.
It’s even been suggested that I don’t like Evil Dead because I’m a girl. And apparently, Girls don’t know anything about zombie movies. Pish tosh, I say. If you don’t think chicks know zombies, I’d implore you to check out Z Magazine, and its proprietess Eloise Knapp.
The Evil Dead starts out fine. There is some great footage of a swampy, wooded area (that isn’t in Michigan, for some reason) where scary shit is no doubt brewing. These swooping opening shots are fun and visually appealing—setting us up to think the movie will have a certain artistry that just doesn’t develop. By the time Ashley et al have a near-miss car collision, it’s clear to the viewer that not a single one of them can act. An abundance of 20/20 hindsight tells us that only one of these people went on to do any actual acting—if indeed, Old Spice commercials and Bubba Ho Tep can be counted as “acting.” 
Because this film is so well-known among fans, I’m not going to do a play by play of character or plot. If you’re reading this article, chances are you don’t need the information. That said, I do feel compelled to mention the following:
–How am I supposed to like a character who thinks it’s funny to point a loaded gun at his buddy? Unless the setup is “they’re a bunch of douchebags and you shouldn’t care if they die,” I don’t see the point.
–Some of the props are really cool—the book and the skull in particular.
–A chick is raped by a tree. I’m gonna say that again in case you aren’t getting that. A Chick. Is Raped. By a Tree. Evil Dead is considered to be an American classic, and a shining example of great filmmaking on a tiny budget. And in this zombie opus and source of American pride—a chick is raped by a tree. Women have come a long way in horror since then, but c’mon. 
–Scott: Huge Asshat, or the Hugest Asshat? In fact, for being such close friends, all of these people are serious dicks to each other.
–Um, is that gerbil supposed to be a wild animal? If so, really?
–The clouds going past the moon shot is an affront to all things lunar. If you can’t just shoot the actual moon, don’t bother.
–”Zombism.” Personally, I believe in a relaxed and inclusive definition of “zombie” which can include infected, voudon, bite-based, chemical, viral, etc. But being possessed by a Demon is not really zombism. Evil Dead “zombies” don’t seem to want to actually eat anyone, not as a primary goal anyway. What really bugs me about this is how many zombie aficionados will scream for days that 28 Days Later is not zombie movie because infection isn’t dying blah blah blah, but have no issue with this? I guess later in the film it’s a little more zombie-like, but really? Evil Dead is a zombie movie like Pet Sematary is a zombie movie—which is to say: kinda, but not really.
–Bruce Campbell. I know he has legions of fans, and is purportedly a really nice guy. He’s handsome. Ridiculously, absurdly, chiseled-out-of-stone handsome. No disrespect, but Bruce looks like he could be Mitt Romney’s brother. He’s so handsome, I’m suspicious and want to dislike him on general principle.
–Claymation. I gotta admit, I like it.
–Zombies don’t talk. And you can posthumously tell that prick Dan O’Bannon I said so.
Lets agree for the time being that The Evil Dead is a zombie movie. Zombies are part of the horror genre, and will be until they sparkle and make the romance with teenage girls. But The Evil Dead isn’t scary. It’s gross and silly and ridiculous. It doesn’t take horror seriously. And I do. Horror is serious business, and if you’re going to piss on it with your foolish FX and shittier than shitty dialogue (which is free, BTW. Good dialogue costs nothing, and the only thing you need to get it is talent) it needs to be at least as funny as say, Fido. Evil Dead isn’t, not in MY humble opinion. It isn’t even as funny as Saturday the 14th, or Student Bodies and how many of you have even seen that little gem of a film? ** insert horsehead bookends joke here **
There’s one more thing that keeps me from digging The Evil Dead. And I didn’t put it together for the longest time. And it begins with the Fake Shemp. A “Fake Shemp” is a delightfully nerdy expression derived from when the Three Stooges had to complete a few shorts after Shemp Howard’s sudden death. They worked around him with (what we now call) some Ed Wood-style body doubling. They had to shoot around Bruce Campbell to finish the film. Since Ted Raimi was far too adorable to stand in for Mitt jr, they used a series of these Fake Shemps.
Hmmm…a Three Stooges joke. Even with that knowledge, it still took someone actually telling me that the reason I don’t appreciate Evil Dead movies is that I don’t like the Three Stooges. Once I looked for it, Evil Dead was rife with references, parodies, a veritable cornucopia of Three Stooges humor. That’s the ongoing joke that I just don’t get. And let me assure you, that running gag is holding that movie together more than some of you realize. Without it, the whole thing turns to an unfunny crapshack.
Even more eye-opening was the realization that I don’t know a single chick who likes Three Stooges. Not one. I mean, I’ve seen a few of their shorts and don’t wish them any specific harm. A lot of fingers in eyes and pies in rich dowager’s faces. Hardee har har. But aside from thinking that recent movie was an affront against the gods of cinema, I know fuckall about the Three Stooges, and am quite comfortable with that. But I was pissed to realize that my dislike of Evil Dead had more to do with me being a chick than I’d care to admit.
In the end, I can forgive lame special effects, bad makeups under too bright lighting, suspiciously handsome actors, and even poorly written dialogue. But if I’m not scared, I need to be laughing, intrigued, or care even the tiniest bit about these characters. I wasn’t, and I couldn’t, and I still can’t. And that, ultimately, is what keeps me from enjoying The Evil Dead.
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Hello great website! Does running a blog like this take a massive amount work?
I have very little knowledge of computer programming but I was
hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways,
if you have any ideas or techniques for new blog owners please share.
I know this is off topic nevertheless I simply
needed to ask. Appreciate it!
Thanks! I don’t actually run the site. Our fearless leader os Don of the Dead. I believe he can be reached through the site. This is a WordPress platform, which I understand is pretty easy to work with. The blogging interface is pretty straightforward, but I can’t speak to site design.
This topic is still going on? It got so old that I forgot what site this is. But I’m surprised at some people saying this is a great site. Even though Evil Dead is listed on this site and its not even a Zombie film. It’s about demon possession. Since it is a woman that wrote this guaranteed you loved the garbage remake because of the same old role reversal bullshit that they ALWAYS pull. Anyway this subject is dead. Who cares if some didn’t like Evil Dead who are you anyway? Everybody knows its a cult classic and it brought Rami to stardom. PEROID.
Oh Corey, I’m so glad you still have time to visit us.
I’m dying to know…what’s “peroid?”
Didn’t mean to post twice
Aspiring filmmaker Sam Raimi, a professed Stooges fan, coined the term in his first feature-length movie The Evil Dead.[3] Most of his crew and cast abandoned the project after major delays (mostly due to budget issues) pushed production well beyond the scheduled six weeks. He was forced to use himself, his die-hard friends Bruce Campbell, Rob Tapert, Josh Becker, assistant David Goodman, and brother Ted Raimi as “fake Shemps”.
Thought this was interesting…
Aspiring filmmaker Sam Raimi, a professed Stooges fan, coined the term in his first feature-length movie The Evil Dead.[3] Most of his crew and cast abandoned the project after major delays (mostly due to budget issues) pushed production well beyond the scheduled six weeks. He was forced to use himself, his die-hard friends Bruce Campbell, Rob Tapert, Josh Becker, assistant David Goodman, and brother Ted Raimi as “fake Shemps”.
THIS was great!!! I am however a huge fan. I mean hell, I was like 8 hiding under the covers and all the pillows I can get under the popcorn bowl and still sorta see! My parents were quite cool about letting me watch horror from basically inception! YAY! I love the cheesy bit but you’re totally right, I didn’t get it until you mentioned it but yes, there is a bit of slapstick in there. And no, I do NOT like the Three Stooges. At all…
As for zombies? What? This is EVIL DEAD. Demons. It was the big thing in the 80′s. Like Night of the Demons, also cheesy but I liked that movie too!
Yeah… definitely not zombies.
Ohhh you’re going to love the fact that I heard Summit is doing a zombie movie about love…. hahahha… Just in case you want to know more: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/11/12/warm-bodies-poster/
LOVE the blog!
It seems people are getting on the “writer” here for being a fan of zombie movies and liking a movie that isn’t a zombie movie. That’s right, The Evil Dead is NOT a zombie movie. And most fans of zombies are not fans of horror… they just like zombies for some reason. Sure it’s annoying, but it’s not worth losing sleep over. Though after viewing a few of her comments here, it seems she still doesn’t understand that no movie in The Evil Dead series is a zombie film.
Believe me I’m not losing sleep over it. I didn’t even recognize the site until I opened it up. But this woman really needs to understand and watch films to write about them. Everybody who has seen the Evil Dead films know they are not Zombie films but about demonic possession & the supernatural. Also this is a film that had hit cult status. It’s very hard to achieve that in the business(I know first hand). And saying the best Zombie films are comedies is ridiculous, not sure why she’s able to write for this site? We have the Walking Dead out there, the original NOTLD, Dawn of the Dead, REC films, the Horde etc And the only ones she thinks are any good are the comedic ones? I, mean I liked Shaun of the Dead like a lot of people, but even Eagar Wright respects George Ramero. So what does she think Strippers vs Zombies is a classic? Even FIDO wasn’t a comedy, it was a drama. This woman needs the proper schooling on Zombie films and films in general before writing on here. My only conclusion is she either runs the site or has a friend that does, or last but not least the one running it is just as clueless as her in thinking the Evil Dead films are Zombie films.
When the Evil Dead was first released, it was marketed as a) very scary and b) a zombie movie.
It is pretty amazing to me how many commenters either didn’t know or don’t remember.
I’d be interested to know who you’re angry at for saying “the best zombie films are comedies.” I didn’t say that in this article, and would never say it in real life. A lot of you seem to be commenting on things that were neither stated nor implied. Oh wait, you’re trolling, aren’t you?
I was replying to others on here well. You obviously don’t understand film(s). It’s not a Zombie film. It’s about possession and the paranormal. Who ever narrated the film obviously knew nothing about it either. The Evil Dead is a cult classic. If you were in the business you’d know how hard that is to accomplish. Trolling? You have like 50 or more other people saying the same thing about your article. I’m honored that I was the only one picked lol but Evil Dead is NOT a Zombie film. Who cares about the cheese. The over the top dialogue. It’s what makes it fun and a classic amonst horror films. I’m sorry I’m being mean and I’m not really like that.but a still love Evil Dead(minus the remake garbage.No Ash, No movie lol). Sorry about the trolling and the negativity towards your article.
Its always amusing to read rants by self-professed horror fans who can’t seem to spell such well-known classics as “Carrie” correctly, don’t understand that the “Twilight” franchise is a piece of gothic literature (a legitimate sub-genre of horror whether you like it or not), and always seem to be chomping at the bit to reduce those that don’t agree with them to whatever lowest common denominator they can think of. The “Twilight Fan” bandwagon is as juvenile, feeble, and ignorant as the “Scream Fan” bandwagon of the late 90s. And people that bash Kristen Stewart clearly haven’t seen any of the movies she’s made, though I dare say that condemning her acting abilities while praising Bruce Campbell or ANY of the Scream Queens from the eighties is not just hypocritical, it’s pathetic. And one more thing, gratuitous violence and sex do not make a good horror film. It’s that ignorant mentality that has ostracized the genre and reduced true fans to basement dwelling stereotypes in the public eye. You wanna masturbate to shit like “Cabin in the Woods,” have at it! But don’t pretend you’re better than “Twilight Fans” just because your kink comes out of the derivative mind of a comic book junkie and not a devout Mormon who actually treats her fans with some semblance of respect and doesn’t laugh at them behind their backs like Mr. Joss W. does.
I see…I notice you didn’t actually disagree with anything the article says about the film.
Couple of points: I didn’t mention Carrie or Cabin in the Woods. I’ve not actually seen CitW yet, but I’ve heard insanely mixed things about it. Nor did I state or imply that gratuitous violence and sex make a good horror film. Did you mean to comment on a different article?
Gothic literature doesn’t have baseball in it.
I saw Kristen Stewart in The Runaways. She does have more (read: some) facial expression in it, but let’s not start picking out an Oscar dress just yet.
If a werewolf betrothing himself to a newborn vampire hybrid baby is showing respect for fans, I’d hate to see the kind of drivel she gives people she doesn’t like. Maybe a Paranormal Activity version of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?
You write: “I’ve reached a point where I’m pissed that people praise it so highly, love it so much—especially when the most gung-ho people aren’t even zombie fans.”
In my opinion, a remark that shows that all you really care about is what other people think, instead of what you think about the film itself. You should abondon thoughts like that at once, they only make you come across as a very naive person who definetely doesn`t deserve to be called a proper zombie fan yourself.
If you only like a film just because not too many other people like it, start using your own brain. Maybe it helps you figure out some deeper mening behind it all.
The best of luck to you.
Well, you liked Spiderman, and didn’t like The Army of Darkness. ‘Nuff said
You like Raimi’s worst shitty job ever, and dislike his best
I’ve read a few replies about this article and most are right on the money. This film is meant to be fun. You are a Zombie fan which leaves me to believe you really didn’t watch the film at all. Its not a Zombie film. As I said before. Its about demon possession. Nowhere in this film is there Zombies, its his friends that have been possessed by a demon curse. This film is fun. The 80′s films out do the current crap that we are forced to watch. The 80′s films didn’t rely on CGI which makes films look like crap. Back in the day people actually relied on their imaginations. As discussed in past posts todays horror films are predictable and the re-makes get watered down so they can bring in the teen crowds. As also discussed the scream queens are done in mainstream horror films and we are forced to watch some woman go through motions and always survive at the end. And then re-making some some they can do role reversal. Like the Hitcher for instance. Great piece of film(The original). Then all they did was with the re-make was do role reversal. Complete garbage. Same set ups, same gags just the chic survives. The best current horror film I’ve seen was Cabin in the Woods. The two writers love horror films and you could tell. But it seems like your stuck in the world of CG and the modern horror film crap that is currently destroying the best genre in film. Sorry bring back the scream queens, the sex, the violence, the cheese, todays horror films can’t capture that. Their trapped in a box where the have an ass kicking woman. I really cant wait for the re-make of Carry. You think they’ll have the opening period scene(Being sarcastic). It will be watered down junk. The EVIL DEAD series is a cult classic(How many times do I have to say this). NO horror film today will EVER get a cult standing like The EVIL DEAD.
When you can achieve a cult standing in the film industry you’ve made something great. It is VERY hard to make a film where it gets to the level of an EVIL DEAD. The EVIL DEAD franchise is NOT a Zombie film and nor does it portray itself that way. Its a Supernatural horror film. Its not about the living dead its about demon possession. Regardless of some of the lame effects and some cheesy dialogue this film is still a cult classic that is very entertaining. This film had next to no budget and I know what thats like but still proved that good films can be made even with out a ton of money like todays studio films. Studio films cant capture that. They have to much crew, big actors and stuff that doesn’t give the current horror films any life(Minus Cabin in the Woods which I thought was highly entertaining and a good solid horror film). Rami captured all the elements of making a good film and I know a few aren’t obviously seeing that(Main focus on the one that wrote this article). You obviously don’t know how hard it is to make films and to achieve what Rami has achieved here. Todays horror films are predictable, a female survives and everybody else dies the end. Even the remakes are watered down crap so the teeny boppers can get in them now so big studios can make even more money to fill their greedy pockets. Plus the classic scream queens have been dropped for women acting like men(Not sexy nor realistic at all). As brought up I liked Ash because he was a ladies man and kicked ass like a man, he didn’t need back up. The studios can NEVER re-create this film. Period.
IMO i thought the movie/movies were supposed to be kinda cheesy, and that’s why i and others liked them and still do. They are a break from all the real serious/complicated horror movies. Their is good cheese and their is bad cheese, Evil Dead IMO is good cheese. Try watching it with a different expectation maybe you shouldn’t have gone in thinking this was going to be some amazing horror movie with intricate storyline and A-List actors, just go in wanting to watch a fun movie. I rank it in the same category as stuff like Shaun of the Dead because its a little hokey and funny while still giving us some blood splatter. Only difference with SotD was they actually had a budget and was made in a modern era. I also know a lot of people just don’t like movies if they are old, they don’t even give them a chance. So if you find yourself not liking older movies don’t criticize them and bash them for everyone to see, just don’t frickin watch them. I don’t like War movies, i don’t criticize or bash them to people that i know like them, i just don’t watch them and leave it at that.
This is likely a generational issue. I was 11 the first time I saw Evil Dead, and it was presented to me as a serious, low budget horror movie by these awesome guys from Michigan. I thought it sucked then. The later movies turned into the skid of low-budget suck, and actually tried to make it funny. That worked, though my taste for funny horror tends to set the bar a little higher.
I can’t stop cringing at your assertion that the only difference between ED and SotD is budget.
Everyone as a right to what they like and dont , I thought the film was good for the budget it had yes the acting may of been bad but i agree with others on here 90% of horror films have bad acting in them , i dont take them serious just like being entertained horror abit of gore some comedy and hopefully some naked girls im easy ! Love my zombie films and lets face it there are some bad ones but what the hell sit back and enjoy with beer and pizza . One more reason why i like Evil Dead years ago i watched it with my girlfriend while babysitting , lovely sexy girl real hot and she got turned on while we wached it and man did i have a good night !! so thumbs up for Evil Dead
(memories)
Plenty of people agree with you on this, Bobby, and I thank you for your comment. Sure, a lot of horror movies are shitty, but I’d maintain that shitty movies are something we should neither pay to see nor aspire to creating. Of course I don’t blame Evil Dead for every terrible zombie or horror movie. But I do credit the fervor the film has to be a big part of why so many people think they can get famous by putting together some poorly written crap shot with a bunch of their buddies. While I do enjoy the occasional low-budget crapfest (Tom Berdinski’s Italian Zombie Movies cracked me up, for example), the idea that it’s okay to reduce all of horror to teenage slashers and shitty zombie flicks is intolerable. No genre teaches us as much about ourselves and our world than horror (Sorry, Sci-Fi, but it’s true) yet most filmmakers reduce it to a bland bunch of running and stabbing so they can market it to teenagers at a giant profit.
The Evil Dead is horrible, concessions met. I can hardly watch it. The Evil Dead 2, however, is a personal favorite; though I’ve never really thought of it as a “zombie” movie. If it’s to be one, than it’s the rat-monkey variety and should be taken as such: the appeal is in how stupid it is. If you don’t like slapstick horror, than you won’t like The Evil Dead series, Dead Alive, the first couple of Returns, anything by John Landis, or even Dawn [not to be confused with Ving Rhames Goes to a Mall].
Maybe it is a guy thing?
As for your article, it isn’t badly written just a little cynical. I’m not sure why everyone keeps posting that it’s terrible? Maybe it’s because they’re so hip that they stopped liking zombies before they were reanimated?
Since I noticed that its a woman that wrote this and you likely think TWILIGHT is the best horror film ever made and think that Kristen Stewart can actually act. Then I’ll forgive you for your ignorance towards these films. Mind you, you said one thing right. Drag me to Hell was in fact garbage and was pure torture to watch. But you have to see the EVIL DEAD franchise for what it is. Which is an entertaining films through and through. I’m tired of today’s dribble with women becoming men in films and movies, sorry not sexy and very unrealistic out here in the real world. The Ash character was the real mans man, he’d kick ass and get the ladies. Unlike todays junk where a woman kicks ass and there is no plot behind it. These films were fun to watch and became a cult classic. I don’t know who these people are who ask you to explain because I don’t even know who you are myself. Not like your a celebrity. I’m a Zombie fan as well. But most Zombie films lately have become stale unfortunately. Even the Walking Dead which is a show I love until they had the Kill Bill chic appear. In todays Zombie films(and for 98% or horror films) the woman lives, to damn predictable now a days. And I disagree about the effects, even big time Hollywood mimics the effects from EVIL DEAD. And to top it off its being re-made because lets face facts HollyWood love Rami and his films and as an indie filmmaker myself this guy was a genius. Its very hard to make a film that reaches cult status. But he did it. I have nothing but respect for him and this film. And I really disagree with all that you wrote. But to end this its your opinion and everybody has a right to one, even if its wrong.
No you did NOT just call me a Twilight fan.
That will not stand.
I’m going to try to be short and i’m sorry.. I find it odd that you say that you take horror seriously and comment on how this offends you as a zombie fan but most of the best zombie/horror movies are comedies.. Dead Alive (single greatest zombie movie of all time) and of course the Return Of The Living Dead movies.. How can you be a horror fan or a true zombie fan and not like either of those two i mentioned.. Its like people who say they love music but only listen to skrillex.. Evil Dead is amazing. Its cinematography is just amazing.. It’s creative, funny, bloody, and creepy.. The demon zombie things still to this day freak me out. About the rape scene.. Horror movies like to add something for the gore fans and squeamish by adding some shock value to their movies.. Evil Dead has the pencil in the ankle and the raped by a tree. Dead Alive has a lady eating her own ear and pulling a dead dog slowly out of the zombie moms mouth.. I believe Land Of The Dead showed a girl getting her belly button ring ripped out by a zombie bite.. Its all part of freaking people out.. The entire plot of the Last House On The Left is basically two girls being raped and messed with and thats a classic horror movie.. It was so low budget that the girls actually had to pee their pants. I feel like you are taking movies too seriously.. Its a movie.. It’s meant to entertain.. Based on this article I still feel like you have no real reason to not like the movies.. You said the acting was horrible.. (have you seen like 90% of all horror movies?) I feel like you don’t know a thing about horror movies based off this article..
Funny though, when I watch “Last House on the Left” (not something I have an urge to do often) I’m not also clawing my eyes out due to terrible acting and poorly written dialogue. Apologies to George, but Land of the Dead (and Diary, for that matter) sucked ass.
I cannot agree with your assertion that the best zombie movies are comedies. IMO, the “best” zombie movies are the original NotLD and DotD, the remake of Dawn is good stuff, some of the Fulci is strong. Not can I agree that 90% of horror movies have horrible acting. Typically, those are not the ones I watch. I’m of the mindset that if moviegoers stop paying to see shit, shit will become less profitable, and we’ll have less of it.
i’m not really a fan of the movies but if you want to talk about something that was poorly written this article is a good place to start.
Wow, how did I miss the Three Stooges Bit where a chick gets raped by a tree? All kidding aside, well penned Wednes!
That was a hysterical article. I don’t agree w/some of it. Hysterical none the less.
Watch the second Evil Dead. Leaps and bounds above the first. If you’re not laughing you don’t have a single funny bone in your body.
The point of Evil Dead and Army of Darkness is to be ridiculous. It’s not a horror movie. Hail to the King, baby. Nobody puts that in a horror movie.
I respect that you don’t like it, but you’re not convincing anybody. Which I don’t think you were trying to do, but thanks for sharing your opinion. Evil Dead and Army of Darkness will always be amazing classics. Hilarious, bad acting, bad effects and all. It’s a glorious bloodfest.
So you think the movie was bad? Well. Good. Bad. I’m the guy with the gun.
So in conclusion, shop smart. Shop S-mart!
keep on creating…
No disrespect is intended to the late Mr O’Bannon. I didn’t find out until after he died that he was the one who decided zombies should say “Braaains.” Until I asked, I’d always presumed it was John Russo. But Russo assured me that it was O’Bannon. Sure, it’s a tongue-in-cheek condemnation, as my zombie-related annoyances are just that, annoyances. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give Dan some props, if only for Alien, which continues to kick my ass, 30+ years since I saw it at the drive-in.
I’m not here to troll your article or point out that it’s poorly written or any of that non-sense, but what I’d like to say is, I still don’t see what you’re getting at. Is it the effects that bother you? Because all I read in this entire thing was * Bad effects* lousy effects * cheesy effects* and how handsome but untrustworthy Bruce Campbell is. I can tell you from experience that he’s a *dickhead* with a bad attitude to some, and nice to others ( I’m guessing he’s bi-polar in that way.) I’d also like to say that I’ve been burned out on zombies loooong before the modern zombie-craze kicked in, it’s like oh another zombie movie, lemme guess,” the white chick and the black guy live and everyone else dies a horrible death?” I don’t feel that way when I watch Evil Dead, I feel nostalgic for a childhood that was lost to me.
I’m not coming down on you for the article, it was well written and you are entitled to such opinion, but after reading it, I honestly still don’t see a point to why you would hate this particular trilogy. There simply wasn’t one aside from the effects, which I honestly think is all the charm of these three films. Granted they were low-budget, but Army of Darkness was released by Universal, and even with their budget of $13,000,000 backing the film, it had its cheesy effects, but they were done purposefully and not intended to be frightening. Evil Dead wasn’t ever meant to be a blockbuster, just something to laugh at with your friends….
Oh, and by the way, Dan O’Bannon died a few years back, let’s give the man some dignity for at least keeping the genre alive (even though I’m sick and tired of zombies.)
Whoops! I mentioned Z Magazine but forgot to link to it.
http://eloisejknapp.com/zmagazine/