Which of the many, many Blu-ray editions of Evil Dead II is the one to buy? The original Evil Dead was a no-budget indie production put together by a team of young filmmakers who just happened to include future b-movie icon Bruce Campbell and Spider-Man trilogy director Sam Raimi. The movie is the defining cabin in the woods horror movie, and its relentless pacing, creative camerawork and lashings of gore making it a surprise success. The crew later reunited with more money for 1987's Evil Dead II, which is more of a remake than a true sequel. The film is the best in the trilogy, taking everything that worked about the original and amplifing it while turning Campbell's Ash into a cult icon.
Army Of Darkness proved to be a real change of pace for the franchise, toning things down for a PG-13 rating while dialing up the scale. The movie is still a hell of a lot of fun, but it underperformed upon release as the studio had no idea how to sell it. Rumors of Evil Dead 4 swirled for years afterward but nothing ever came of them, with the planned crossover of Freddy Vs Jason Vs Ash coming to nothing too. The character eventually returned for three seasons of Ash Vs Evil Dead, a delightfully gory continuation that stayed true to the spirit of the film trilogy; Campbell announced his retirement from Ash following the show's cancellation in 2018.
Evil Dead did receive a new, Ash-free movie with 2013's remake, which was well-received at the time and only seems to have grown in fan estimations in the years since. Fans of the franchise are nothing if not loyal, which is why so many editions of the three films have been released over the years across VHS, DVD and other formats. For those looking for a Region A Blu-ray copy of Evil Dead II, there are a few to pick from, but the best remains Evil Dead II 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray.
This 2011 release has great picture quality, a fantastic audio commentary that features Raimi, Campbell, co-writer Scott Spiegel and effects wizard Greg Nicotero and a feature-length documentary called Swallowed Souls: The Making Of Evil Dead II. Other bonus materials include some features from past releases, including Evil Dead II: Behind The Screams, Cabin Fever and The Gore The Merrier, in addition to the expected trailers and stills gallery.
While there have been impressive releases of Evil Dead II released following this Blu-ray edition, its comprehensive list of extras and sheer affordability make it the best choice for those seeking a copy. Fans will likely have a new boxset to look forward to in a few years when all the movies are repackaged with the next movie Evil Dead Now.
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June 20, 2020 at 05:10AM
