From the Desk of the Author: If the following Retro Movie Review's description of the slaying of zombies and skeletons offends anyone who is currently dead or may be dead in the future, please refer all complaints/concerns to ext. 2707.
This week's "Spook-tacular" Retro Movie Review highlights one of the finest films to ever grace projector and screen. Come with me as we take a glimpse into the outrageously campy world that is Army of Darkness.
A of D (or more appropriately, Evil Dead III) picks up where the second chapter left off with the psuedo-hero, Ash Williams (played by B-movie king, Bruce Campbell), still trying to rid the world of the undead forces of evil. However, it should definitely be noted that this film is largely a satire of the first two films and at no point does it attempt to be a legitimite horror film.
As in Evil Dead II, Ash's primary weapons of choice are a chainsaw worn over his "arm stub" (at this point I could explain that he was forced to cut of a hand in the previous film because it became possessed and began attacking him...but maybe you should just take the "stub" reference for face value) and a 12-gauge shotgun that he affectionately refers to as his "Boomstick". These effectively eviscerate any and all "baddies" that cross his path.
The main premise of the film is that Ash accidently opened a portal to England circa 1300 AD while reading from a book of ancient spells, and the only way to return to the present is to save the area lords and serfs from the "Deadites" (it's a lot to process...I know). At any rate, Ash makes his journey while spicing up each scene with his own brand of bravado and "one-liners". For example, when confronted with a mirror image of himself who claims to be Ash's evil twin, Bad Ash(seriously...this movie's awesome), Good Ash quickly responds, "Good...Bad...I'm the guy with the gun," and promptly disposes of his would-be foe. Similarly marvelous moments can be found thoughout the film.
I have often found it interesting that this film rarely feels like it was made in 1992. Director, Sam Raimi, used old special effect techniques (probably due to budget constraints), and as a result, things largely seem more dated. However, this makes rather than breaks the movie in my opinion. The premise is so ridiculous, and the comedy is so over the top that the dirty/low-grade style of shooting almost becomes a character in and of itself.
Another interesting tidbit: Sam Raimi has since become one of the most "bankable" directors in Hollywood. He has been at the helm of The Quick and the Dead starring Gene Hackman and Russell Crowe as well as all 3 films in the Spiderman series. However, viewing his early work reveals that many of his trademark shots have remained into success.
Since its release, Army of Darkness has achieved "cult-film" status on par with films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Gods Must Be Crazy. It is praised by its devotees for its unrelenting one-liners, intentional mockery of the first two "cheesy" films, and confusingly bizarre plot-twists. I adamantly recommend this to anyone who can appreciate a healthy dose of comedy and weird. I must warn that while in jest, there are some scary characters that limit my ability to approve viewing by small children. Still, any and all adults are prime candidates for viewing. Please, do yourself a favor and laugh at this film. It is...after all...the BEST medicine. **If you're not sick, watch it anyway. It's only 81 minutes, and I think you can survive missing *insert show title here* just this once.**
Happy Halloween!
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