Trolling #38: Evil Dead 2 SUCKS!

No self-respecting horror fan has not seen Sam Raimi’s 1987 classic Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn. While famous critics and scholars often eschew Evil Dead 2 in favor of darker, scarier horror films (it got no votes in the last Sight & Sound poll, for instance), most horror enthusiasts – especially of a certain age – are often hasty to include it on Top 10 lists. Indeed, there was a time in my life, back in college, when I didn’t know a single male who did not include Evil Dead 2 in their ten favorite movies. If you are a male in America between the ages of 15 and 25, you don’t just admire Evil Dead 2, you love Evil Dead 2.

Indeed, Evil Dead 2 is one of those films that has become something of a rite of passage for the American male. It’s become widespread suburban issue for all aspiring punk rock outsider geek kids. If someone has ever even considered describing themselves as a geek, a copy of Evil Dead 2 appear in their bedroom. It’s so well-known and so well-loved by so many people, viewers kind of take it for granted. It’s not just a “great movie,” it’s just a standard. It’s in the geek firmament forever now, never to be shaken, never to be doubted, never to be doubted.

Which is exactly the kind of movie we need to topple. Here at Trolling, we are only capable of getting thrills surfing on waves of self-produced internet anger. Nerd rage is our bread, and geek outrage is our wine. As such, it’s time for us to do some serious reconsideration. Is Evil Dead 2 as good as everyone naturally accepts? Is it still worthy of its worship? Could it be that Evil Dead 2 is actually not that good? Could it be that Evil Dead 2 SUCKS? Why yes. That may very well be the case. Let’s look at a few reasons why:  



 

It’s hard to watch the film without laughing, Bruce Campbell is a very funny slapstick actor, and the low-rent special effects have their charm. But the low-fi charm only stretches so far. When you really look at the film – really look at it – you’ll find that it’s shabby, weak, and sucky.

Until next week, let the hate mail flow.  


Witney Seibold is the head film critic for Nerdist, and a contributor on the CraveOnline Film Channel, and co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. You can read his weekly articles Trolling here on Crave, and follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind. 

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