Army of Darkness, also known as Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness, is a cult classic horror-comedy film directed by Sam Raimi. It is the third installment in the Evil Dead franchise and follows the adventures of Ash Williams, played by Bruce Campbell, as he finds himself trapped in the medieval era. The film picks up where Evil Dead II left off, with Ash being transported back in time to the Middle Ages. He quickly realizes that in order to return to the present, he must retrieve the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, also known as the Book of the Dead. However, Ash accidentally unleashes an army of the undead, led by the villainous Deadite, and is forced to fight for his life. What follows is a blend of comedy, horror, and fantasy as Ash uses his knowledge of technology and modern weaponry to combat the hordes of darkness.
I often forget that this is the section that’s most reminiscent of the other two films. He rides into the woods, a fog rolls in, faint moans can be heard, and the evil force cam chases after him (on a horse instead of in his Oldsmobile). When he takes shelter in a creaky windmill it takes on the role of the cabin in the woods where he’s terrorized for a while. Once again his reflection in the mirror becomes evil, but this time it breaks and the tiny reflections on each shard become tiny little Ashes with high-pitched voices. They knock him out, tie him up like Gulliver and one dives into his mouth, taking him over like Henrietta’s eyeball did Bobby Joe. An eye grows on his shoulder, then it becomes a second head that he fights with until it splits off as a separate self-proclaimed “Bad Ash.” Good Ash shoots him in the face, saws him into pieces to bury, and as the other Ash’s severed head taunts him from the pit, original Ash has my favorite line: “Hey, uh… what’s that you got on your face?” before he shovels dirt over him.
This jokier version of Ash was carried over into the eventual TV series continuation, and I ve always felt it was the reason many people were shocked that Fede Alvarez s 2013 EVIL DEAD was like the movie it was remaking not really joking around. In the days when Anchor Bay were the best company releasing horror and cult films on DVD, it became a joke how many special edition re-releases the EVIL DEAD movies in general and ARMY OF DARKNESS in particular received.
What follows is a blend of comedy, horror, and fantasy as Ash uses his knowledge of technology and modern weaponry to combat the hordes of darkness. Armed with a chainsaw for a hand and a 12-gauge double-barreled Remington shotgun, Ash becomes the unlikely hero and saves the day. Army of Darkness is known for its over-the-top action sequences, campy humor, and quotable one-liners.
‘Army of Darkness’ at 30 – Review
The Evil Dead films , led by Sam Raimi’s directorial ingenuity and complimented by Bruce Campbell’s legendary performances as Ash Williams, make up one of the most original horror trilogies in cinema history. The series’ ability to balance horror and suspense with comedic timing has paved the way for self-aware franchises like Scream , and has made Sam Raimi as close to a household name as any contemporary filmmaker. Over the decade-plus in which the would-be director of Spider-Man helmed Evil Dead (1981-1993), the resourceful filmmaker took horror in new directions and established new filmmaking techniques, the trilogy’s end-point – 1993’s Army of Darkness (also known as Evil Dead III: Medevil Dead) – being as far removed from the first two films as possible, whilst still being a celebration of Raimi’s unique directorial style. Army of Darkness is an over the top, campy, fever dream of a comedy film that could only work with a director as fearless as Sam Raimi and a character as ridiculous yet charming as Ash Williams. The moronic, chainsaw-armed, shotgun-waving, S-Mart employee Ash (Campbell) has once again found himself subject to the curses of the Necronomicon and it’s more ridiculous than ever before…. The book of the dead transports Ash and his ‘73 Oldsmobile Delta to 1300 AD in the middle of an altercation between King Arthur and Duke Henry the Red. Despite his pleas for their understanding, Ash is captured and enslaved by Arthur’s men and accused of being a spy for Henry’s army. Soon after, he is put to the test by the people of the castle and eventually proves himself to be the prophesied “chosen one’ who’s come to save them from the fight against the Deadites. He reluctantly agrees to assist after ensuring safe passage back to his own time, which leads him down a road of wacky hijinks that are impossible to predict. Unsurprisingly, as he journeys on, Ash’s own buffoonery unleashes an army of Deadites upon King Arthur’s kingdom and he must fulfil his new duty as the savior to the people. This ridiculous plot is the perfect playground for filmmaking creativity, exemplified in a scene in which Ash is led to a windmill (followed by Raimi’s now iconic shaky-cam technique) by the Necronomicon’s curse and tormented by a bunch of mini-Ashes. The goofs go back and forth for quite some time, both versions of Ash engaging in Charlie Chaplin-esque gags. At one point, a mini-Ash jumps into regular Ash’s mouth, so the hero chases the dive with boiling hot water, delivering one of the many unreal one liners of this film: “How about some hot chocolate, huh?” The entire scene feels straight out of a ‘Looney Tunes’ episode, which is a dramatic shift from the NC-17 gore overload that was the series’ freshman attempt.
Army of Darkness’ predecessors balanced horror and comedy with favor to the former, but this film breaks entirely new ground by completely embracing the campiness of the series with barely any horror left to latch onto. While there are still moments of spurting blood, dismembered Deadites, and gruesome fight scenes, Army of Darkness is closer to Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) than The Exorcist (1973) . The unhinged bookend to the Evil Dead series is downright hilarious in all of its ridiculousness and excels as an homage to slapstick comedy and exciting camerawork. As fun and energetic Army of Darkness is, its overall story lacks the plot togetherness of Evil Dead II (1987) and suffers from uneven pacing that pulls you through various Ash shenanigans without a moment to digest what has just been on screen before the camera whacks your perspective and the story in an entirely different direction. However, Bruce Campbell’s undeniable charisma and screen presence makes it impossible to gripe for too long. The Raimi and Campbell duo met in high school making films together and have stayed friends ever since. This long-standing connection between them as creatives and friends is palpable, with Campbell’s performance being the showcase of an actor truly comfortable in his own environment. It’s evident there is excitement behind the camera as well. Each shot is constructed with intention and stretched to its absolute potential; it’s as if Raimi had a creative vetting process for each scene where he’d put his screenplay to the test to see how far he could take it. At the time of its release many fans were shocked at the tonal flip the film took, and many audiences were confused with Ash’s characterization (which was largely due to the extensive cuts made to the runtime of the theatrical cut of the film). Universal hacked Raimi’s 96-minute sequel down to 81 minutes and changed his original ending, with the studio calling it too much of a “downer”. Though the film’s original audience didn’t get to enjoy the fully realized product of Sam Raimi’s high-octane creativity until a decade later, the director’s cut of the film is now available in many forms, so you can enjoy another 30 years of this timeless gem. Score: 19/24 Recommended for you: 10 Best Sam Raimi Movie Moments Written by Kae M. You can support Kae M. on Twitter – @ultraman1312
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Posted in Guest Publications, Horror Films, Latest Posts, Retrospective Reviews, Reviews Tagged army of darkness, bridget fonda, bruce campbell, embeth davidtz, evil dead, guest, horror, ivan raimi, marcus gilbert, review, richard grove, sam raimi, ted raimi
Watching the three EVIL DEADs close together it’s very noticeable that Ash is a totally different character in each of them. First he’s a pretty normal college student who becomes the main character only because he’s more honorable than his friend and doesn’t want to abandon his girlfriend. In the second he’s a punching bag for supernatural forces until he takes charge and sort of transforms or self-actualizes (and self-surgeries, come to think of it) into an action hero. But in this one he’s more of a buffoon, a nerd in his regular life who turns into a cocky asshole when transported to the past with the advantage of an operable shotgun and chainsaw. He proves himself with violence, demands help getting back to his own time period, then, as he’s apt to, accidentally summons the god damn evil dead (or Deadites as they call theme here).
It has a unique charm that has endeared it to fans of the horror genre and has gained a dedicated cult following over the years. The film is often praised for its practical special effects, imaginative storytelling, and the iconic portrayal of Ash by Bruce Campbell. Despite its initial mixed reception, Army of Darkness has since become a beloved cult classic and has influenced numerous films and TV shows. It has been praised for its unique blend of horror and comedy, as well as its creative and inventive approach to the genre. The film has become a staple for fans of Sam Raimi and has solidified Ash Williams as an iconic character in the horror genre. In conclusion, Army of Darkness is a cult classic horror-comedy film that has stood the test of time. Its blend of horror, comedy, and fantasy remains a unique and entertaining experience for fans of the genre. With its memorable characters, quotable dialogue, and inventive storytelling, it continues to captivate audiences and solidify its place in the annals of cult cinema..
Reviews for "Mastering the Night: The Army's Superior Darkness Skills"
1. John Doe - 2 stars - I was really disappointed in "Army of Darkness WRT". As a fan of the original "Army of Darkness", I was looking forward to this sequel, but it fell flat for me. The storyline seemed disjointed and took away from the charm of the first film. Additionally, the humor felt forced, making the comedic moments fall flat. Overall, "Army of Darkness WRT" did not live up to my expectations and left me wishing I had skipped it.
2. Jane Smith - 1 star - I regret watching "Army of Darkness WRT". The film completely missed the mark for me. The special effects were cheesy and overdone, which made it difficult to take the movie seriously. The acting was subpar and lacked the charm of the original. I found myself bored throughout the film and unimpressed with the attempts at humor. Overall, "Army of Darkness WRT" was a disappointment and not worth my time.
3. Mark Johnson - 2 stars - "Army of Darkness WRT" failed to capture the essence of the original film. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story. The actors seemed uninspired, with lackluster performances that didn't hold up to the charisma of the original cast. The attempts at humor were also forced and fell flat. Overall, this sequel left me wishing I had revisited the original "Army of Darkness" instead.