Army of Darkness (1992) Review
Written by: BlackTequilaKiss
For all the critics who say this is not on par with The Evil Dead & Evil Dead II, sod ya! I hereby pronounce my love for this film. The Evil Dead Films were insane and gory, this is the first time I saw Army of Darkness and it literally blew every one of my expectations to shreds and gave me so much more! This is insane but so much fun that the time simply floated on by as I watched this. You want serious, intellectual... LOL, I cannot even continue. This is entertainment with no brains but fun and chaos in all it's glory. To the plot: Ash (Campbell) is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., set for execution he manages to kill the creature he is up against, from there he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return to his own time.
Coupled with a tender romance, Ash's nightmares and dreams are starting all over again! I refuse to say Campbell is the... because you already know this but still doesn't make it any less true. That said there were other actors in this who shone brighter than stars. I would love to name everyone but only one other beside Campbell really glowed for me. Embeth Davidtz as Sheila. Her complexion is pale to a degree but with full red lips and a very real innocence, I was bewitched by her beauty. She is a fantastic actress, severely underused in movies and not given respect, yet put her in any role and she immediately makes it her own. As gentle, retiring Sheila she was beautiful and I quickly fell under the spell of her character. Just stunning. The story is straight forward and I loved how easy it was to become immersed in the characterisation of the story. I love the edge of cynicism Ash carries throughout the movie. Why? Yes he was gentle to begin with and it was sweet but after all the obstacles and pain he has endured, it stands to reason he would gain a little cynical nature along the way and it is fantastic. The one-liner's are brilliant and damn I love the line quoted from his days working in S-Mart to the characters imbued in the movie, that was bloody awesome! The music is hyper, fast and frantic and to my mind in tune for the whole film.
It was eerie when needed. Ominous when required but always in tone with the scenes and overall feel of the movie, literally just right. Just so good. Gore, blood, Mayhem? Smack me and call me Angel! this is just the stuff of beauty. It is so over the top it's the stuff of legend. In the face, disgusting in parts and some actually quite grotesque it oversteps the line and does it in bloody excellent taste. Decapitation scenes are just as insane as the previous instalments and the old-school approach for the most part is as always perfection. Complain? Yeah right! Camera shots are fluid and in my honest opinion very well shot, managing to pick up on the tiny details that can outline a plot and the scenes, subsequent surroundings are gorgeous. Using forests to great effect and barren lands to toned technique every moment looks shot beautifully with gorgeous attention to detail. This really is a tongue in cheek movie.
It is a little bit of horror, a little bit of romance, a spring of adventure and everything rolled into one. It is just a lot of fun. Ash as changed to a degree but still as loveable and insane as ever and the storyline just delivers punch after punch. I think to end the films with this movie was a stroke of genius and I have so much respect for both Raimi and Campbell for creating a strange and fantastic world. Enjoy the ripeness of a truly insane but funny film. This is a movie that deserves such a cult status. I loved it! Revel in Campbell, a star in the making. Love Raimi at the peak of his career and enjoy the strangest night of your lives. You are seriously in for a wild ride! Pure inane, insane and driven entertainment. This will make your night come to life! Fantastic.