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Evil Dead II

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1:23

Evil Dead II

R

Released Mar 13, 1987

1h 25m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

The second of three films in the Evil Dead series is part horror, part comedy, with Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) once again battling horrifying demons at a secluded cabin in the woods. After discovering an audiotape left by a college professor that contains voices reading from the Book of the Dead, Ash's girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) becomes possessed by evil spirits that are awakened by the voices on the tape. Ash soon discovers there is no escaping the woods.

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Critics Consensus

Less a continuation than an outright reimagining, Sam Raimi transforms his horror tale into a comedy of terrors -- and arguably even improves on the original formula.

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Owen Gleiberman

Boston Phoenix

Raimi delivers. At this point, I'm not sure whether he's a genius or certifiable (perhaps a bit of both), but Evil Dead 2 is the horror equivalent of the hardest drugs there are: it bypasses logic and heads straight for your pleasure centers.

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

Elvis Mitchell

Detroit Free Press

For those who respond by screaming back at the movie while swallowing its junk food aesthetic, this may be the best time they've had in quite a while.

Rated: 7/10

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Keep your eye on Raimi: it's not easy to pitch a comedy at a level this flamboyant and then keep topping the gags.

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

Raimi's movie is a glorious goof, which picks up some of Lovecraft's tossed off ideas as an excuse for gross-out physical comedy and joyful filmmaking.

Apr 3, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Its demons just want to have a little nasty fun with its human playthings and the gleeful excess is so over-the-top that it leaves the realm of horror and becomes slapstick splatter fest

Jul 1, 2023

Full Review

Hal Boedeker

Miami Herald

It revels in bad taste. It boasts smart-alecky special effects. The blood doesn't flow, it gushes. Sitting through this movie is an ordeal. All of which means Evil Dead 2 is a spectacular success. There are horror movies, and then there is this thing.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 29, 2023

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Jason Phillips

Great cinematography, great practical effects, Bruce Campbell is amazing - just good gory fun!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

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Mathew Macias

Greatest movie of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Uri

How could you hate this god dam movie 5/5

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/23

Full Review

Rami A

The only reason people actually like this movie is that it does many of the things "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" did, and people love that movie to death.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/25/25

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Nick O

What would happen if The Three Stooges got possessed by demons and you gave them a chainsaw? That’s why Raimi’s the king, baby!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Adam B

Well blending horror and comedy together is almost always a failed task, Evil Dead 2 is able to bring it together extremely well with smart and witty lines mixed in with the blood and guts. While it loses some of the charm of the first movie's low budget, it makes up for it with its hilarious at times, gruesome at others style that will you wishing for more. Especially at its ending, which is a brilliant and fitting end off while also being a great cliffhanger.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

Full Review

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Sam Raimi

Director

Bruce Campbell

Ashley "Ash" J. Williams

Sarah Berry

Annie Knowby

Dan Hicks

Jake

Denise Bixler

Linda

Kassie Wesley DePaiva

Bobbie Joe

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Groovy! Ash Gets A Chainsaw Arm

2:58

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Ash's Girlfriend Gives Him Head... and a Chainsaw

2:56

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - The Trees Attack Bobbie Joe

2:25

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Give Me Back My Hand!

2:49

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Dancing Zombie Girlfriend

2:38

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Ash Cuts Off His Hand

2:14

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Possessed Henrietta Attacks!

2:59

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Ash vs. the Giant Demon

2:54

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Ash Laughs Like Crazy

2:53

Evil Dead 2: Official Clip - Ash vs. Possessed Henrietta

2:50

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Synopsis

The second of three films in the Evil Dead series is part horror, part comedy, with Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) once again battling horrifying demons at a secluded cabin in the woods. After discovering an audiotape left by a college professor that contains voices reading from the Book of the Dead, Ash's girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) becomes possessed by evil spirits that are awakened by the voices on the tape. Ash soon discovers there is no escaping the woods.

Director: Sam Raimi
Producer: Rob Tapert
Screenwriter: Sam Raimi
Distributor: Rosebud Releasing Corporation
Production Co: De Laurentiis, Lions Gate Films, Renaissance Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 2, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.6M
Runtime: 1h 25m

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