Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn

I have vivid memories of my first viewing of “Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn,” which I watched twenty-four-some years ago.  It was also for the first time I watched a horror movie from Hollywood. At that time, I hadn’t even experienced the original “Evil Dead” (1981). Nonetheless, after watching the film, I was shocked, terrified, and repulsed by the whole experience. After all, pools of green blood, possessed dead bodies, blood-spewing walls, and mutilated limbs don’t exactly make for an entertaining experience. But then, how can you expect a fourteen-year old to understand what the filmmakers were trying to achieve with “Evil Dead II.” Years passed and my feelings for the film changed a bit when I saw “Evil Dead” a few years back. Having said this, I still hadn’t seen “Evil Dead II” since my initial viewing; however, this new twenty-fifth anniversary edition Blu-ray release, which is probably the film’s fifth home-video release, has given me another chance to reassess the film.

So what’s my verdict this time around? After seeing so many horror movies over the years, I can say “Evil Dead II” ranks high in my list of top-horror movies. In fact no other horror movie in my opinion comes to “The Evil Dead” series in terms of originality and its cult appeal. Director Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead II” is a raw, brutal cult-horror masterpiece, whose appeal over the years hasn’t diminished a bit. Moreover, the sequel trumps the original in all the aspects. With each passing year, fans have appreciated “The Evil Dead” series more than ever, and the series as a whole remains a genre-defining one that pioneered new filmmaking techniques and triggered a cultural phenomenon.

Sam Raimi immediately shot to fame after the smashing success of “The Evil Dead,” but it took another six years before the filmmaker came back for the sequel. Nonetheless, just as with the original, “Evil Dead II” was a hit, cementing Raimi’s position in Hollywood. He would then return to his original filmmaking roots for “Drag Me to Hell” (2009), which generated positive acclaim from critics. The story of “Evil Dead II” goes like this: A deadly spell is unleashed when Ash arrives with his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) at a remote cabin. Linda soon dies, after which she is converted into a monstrous Deadite. Meanwhile, the others arrive at the cabin and they are terrified at seeing a possessed Ash. After a series of misunderstandings, the group tries to stay alive by battling the Deadites in the cabin and in the woods. The only way they can get rid of evil spirits is by reciting a spell from the book of the dead.

The primary reason the film is captivating and entertaining is because of Bruce Campbell’s electrifying performance as Ash. His performance fixates and amuses us to such an extent that we are glued to the screen, in spite of the gruesome violence and gore. The story doesn’t make much sense, since the “Evil Dead” series is never about the plot. Nonetheless, the moment Campbell appears on screen, our concerns with the story line vanishes. Cynical critics have criticized Campbell’s performance as utterly one-dimensional, but Campbell’s performance is one of the wickedest performances one will ever see and the best performance of his career. Surely, Campbell enhances Ash’s character with unpredictable spontaneity; one moment he is perplexed about the whole situation, and the next moment he is laughing. Ash is bizarre, wicked, twisted, and comical, all at the same time, and that’s the reason we love Campbell’s performance. Ash symbolizes a rebellious character who is prompt in defending himself. He transforms into an action hero rapidly, ready to conquer the dark forces. Our hero cuts his hand, absorbs the pain, and kills the daemons with abject disdain and callousness. He is our comic-book hero caught in a fantasyland. Indeed, the image of Ash holding a chainsaw and shotgun has developed into one of the most-iconic images from the ‘80s.

With no meaningful story, “Evil Dead II” is a perfect example of how to push the technical limits of filmmaking to achieve new, inventive techniques that were a rarity in horror movies at the time. In the opening sequence, we witness impressive stop-motion techniques, showing a headless corpse dancing around the jungle. The scene is shot in such a way that the dancing figure occupies the entire frame, and to some extent it terrifies us. We also laugh at seeing Ash’s reactions to Linda’s dead body. The makeup is equally impressive, too, as it manages to induce the scare factor. More important, the film perfectly blends horror and comedy in the right proportions, and even though there is plenty of gore and violence, their impact is lessened by Ash’s cartoonish character and corny one-liners. From a set-design perspective, even with a limited budget filmmakers were deft and resourceful in creating a cabin with a claustrophobic feeling. The basement was constructed as a dark death room, and the camera work is splendid, nicely placing Ash and the audience at the center of dark forces. Furthermore, the swirly camera work around the trees manages to create a suspenseful setting without ever revealing the “real” evil forces, and we genuinely believe there is something deadly in the area.

Needless to say, seeing “Evil Dead II” a second time around for me was a lot of fun, and it is definitely better than the original movie. The pacing is right, and the movie’s running time ensures the right amount of action, terror, suspense, and horror. Indeed, Ash loaded up with a shotgun and chainsaw is a delightful sight, one worth watching; just don’t take the film too seriously.

Video:

Billed as the 25th Anniversary Edition, this second appearance of “Evil Dead II” on Blu-ray features a terrific-looking new 1080p encode using an AVC codec in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The transfer packs in a healthy bit rate, occasionally shooting to 40 Mpbs but averaging in the high 30 Mpbs. Shot on 35mm using handheld cameras, I am surprised how good the film looks in its latest HD offering.  It appears that the film underwent a new restoration process, which is evident by the print’s quality; there is no sign of damage, dirt, or blemishes anywhere. The meticulous restoration ensures that every frame is thoroughly cleaned up. The detail around the trees and cabin is pleasing to the eye. The transfer is sharp, and objects do pop out. Even though it’s a dark-looking film, the 1080p boosts solid blacks, with consistent contrast. The film’s palette lacks vibrant colors, but the deep reds stand out. Likewise, the close-ups are good looking as well, and skin tones retain their naturalistic look. Of course, there is some DNR applied, but it is minimal, as the video engineers have ensured the film-like grain is retained.  I haven’t seen the previous Blu-ray release, but I can say this new Lionsgate’s release with its HD transfer scores high, something we expect from a good 1080p transfer.

Audio:

We find a lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track for this release. Fans may be disappointed with the lack of the original 2.0 track. Personally, I would have liked it if Lionsgate had included both the original track and the remastered audio track. This track, for sure, is remastered, as the sound elements have been cleaned up thoroughly, just like the 1080p transfer. You don’t hear unwanted crackling noises. The dialogue has been softened up a bit, and as a result it is crisp and clean. The ambient noises around the forest are realistically captured, and you can even hear the tiniest sounds coming from night creatures. The surround channels remain active, coming to life when capturing the evil whoosh living the woods. In the scenes inside the cabin, all the channels are fully utilized, as Ash is fighting the evil forces. The track, overall, provides the immersive, heart-pounding experience we expect from a horror movie.

Extras:

Lionsgate has included a number of new bonus features, especially for this release. First, we get a terrific, all-new featurette, “Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II” (1080p, ninety minutes). This seven-chapter featurette takes us behind the minds of the filmmakers and actors who were the part of “Evil Dead II.” They talk about the casting of Bruce Campbell, while other actors recall their scary moments during the filming. We also see extensive coverage of behind-the-scenes footage, detailing every aspect of the special effects and stop-motion techniques used in the film. The crew also recall the challenges faced in developing production sets and photography for some of the most iconic scenes.

 Following this, we get a new featurette, “Road to Wadesboro,” that revisits the shooting location of “Evil Dead II, following up with another new featurette with makeup-effects artist Greg Nicotero. Nicotero discusses the special effects employed in several scenes in the cabin and surroundings. Also, included is a new stills gallery called “Artifacts of the Dead.”

Lionsgate has also retained all the bonus features from the previous DVD release. First, the commentary with writer-director Sam Raimi, actor Bruce Campbell, co-writer Scott Spiegel, and special makeup-effects artist Greg Nicotero is a funny and entertaining track as the crew recall their moments while shooting the film. They discuss the special-effect techniques used in the opening scene and how several sequences were staged. Up next, “The Gore the merrier” is another behind-the-scenes segment, which describes the use of gore coupled with special effects. This is another great featuring showing Raimi and Campbell goofing around the sets. Next, “Behind the Screams” shows several still photographs that were used for special effects in the film. Finally, we also get a theatrical trailer in HD.

Parting Thoughts:

Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead II” is the pinnacle of cult horror moviemaking. Using groundbreaking techniques, “Evil Dead II” still remains a fan favorite with a huge cult following. It has been copied a countless number of times, though unsuccessfully. And above all, who can forget Bruce Campbell’s memorable performance that is funny and amazingly entertaining. This Blu-ray release scores high in all the technical aspects. Absolutely recommended.