Following
2013’s enjoyable but humourless remake/sequel/reboot, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell
et al return Evil Dead to its gore-soaked roots. With (mostly) glorious
results.
When we last saw Ash – brief cameo aside –
he was either trapped in a post-apocalyptic future, or back working in the
S-mart, depending on which version of Army Of Darkness’s two endings you
prefer. After keeping us waiting for over 20 years (has it really been that
long?) we now find out that Ash did indeed make it back to his own time, and we
pick up with our reluctant hero: older, definitely no wiser, living in a
trailer and still working as a stock boy. (Interesting side note, Raimi reveals
here that one idea they considered for a fourth Evil Dead would have followed
Ash’s adventures in both time periods).
When Ash starts having visions of Deadites
at very inopportune moments, he remembers that he might – possibly – have got
stoned and read from the Necronomicon to try and impress a girl (who hasn’t?)
Before you can say “groovy”, Ash is reluctantly picking up his chainsaw and
boomstick, dismembering elderly neighbours, and setting off on a quest to find
out how to undo the damage he’s caused.
Joining Ash are two of his co-workers,
Pablo and Kelly (Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo, both fantastic) who seem blissfully
unaware of what happens to every single person Ash meets. The trail of bodies
means they’re also pursued by the police, in the shape of detective Amanda
Fisher (Jill Marie Jones) and the mysterious Ruby (Lucy Lawless) who may have
sinister motives for wanting to catch up with Ash and the Necronomicon. Bruce
Campbell has been playing Ash for so long now that the character fits him like
a second skin. It’s good to know though that, despite their obvious affection
for him, Campbell and Raimi still resist the temptation make Ash in any way
heroic. He’s still a loveable idiot, forced into acts of heroism through his
own blundering. And all the more enjoyable for it.
The longer storytelling format afforded by
television proves a mixed blessing. Whilst we’re treated to a richer story, new
demons, and a fleshed-out supporting cast, it lacks the relentless energy of,
say, Evil Dead 2. And after the first few episodes (including the Raimi-directed
pilot), things sag slightly mid-season. Fortunately, it recovers, as familiar
locations, characters and appendages make a welcome return, with the final few
episodes up there with the most entertaining stuff Evil Dead’s ever done.
Those worried that the series’ traditional
gore and humour would have be toned down for television need worry not. Evil
Dead’s creators were given complete creative control by the Starz network, with
whom they previously collaborated on the distinctly non-family friendly
Spartacus. Deadites are dispatched in a variety of creative, bloody ways, and the
cast are so frequently splattered with gore that, at times it’s like watching
an 18-rated, blood-soaked Nickelodeon. The humour’s a little broader than the
first two instalments, skewing closer to the more comedic Army Of Darkness, and
there’s the occasional jarring bit of CGI gore thrown in amongst the impressive
practical effects, but Ash vs. Evil Dead is off to a great start. The second
season’s about to land in the US and, and if it keeps up this standard, Ash
could be protecting us from Deadites for a long time to come. Hail to the king
baby.
Extras: Commentaries on each episode, three
featurettes.
ASH VS. EVIL DEAD SEASON 1 / CERT: 18 /
DIRECTORS: VARIOUS (INC. SAM RAIMI) / STARRING: BRUCE CAMPBELL, RAY SANTIAGO,
DANA DeLORENZO, LUCY LAWLESS, JILL MARIE JONES / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 19TH 
