Editorials
5 Reasons You Should Be Watching “Ash vs Evil Dead”
When Army of Darkness released theatrically in theaters in 1993, it was technically a bomb, earning only $4.4 million opening weekend on an $11 million budget. The relentless fan following would amass in the decades that followed, but the reality is that Ash vs Evil Dead is a rare gift. The trio behind the original Evil Dead trilogy, Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi, and Rob Tapert, reunited to unleash the biggest love letter possible to fans; a brilliantly paced series that not only keeps continuity of previous films in high regard, but folds in new mythology and expands the universe in mind-blowing ways.
In breaking with the previous seasons’ premiere dates coinciding with the Halloween period, season 3 is scheduled to commence on Starz on February 25. It’s a move that’s stirred up series-ending rumors, but I tend to think of it as kismet, since it falls very close to Army of Darkness’ 30th anniversary. So you now have fair warning to catch up ahead of the premiere (season 1 and 2 are now available on Netflix, you primitive screwheads). Ash vs Evil Dead is an absolute must watch, and here’s five reasons why:
Ash is foretold in an ancient book
Ashley J. Williams fate was forever intertwined with the Necronomicon and Kandarian Demons when he and his friends played the tape recorder at that cabin in the woods decades ago. Yet, at the end of Evil Dead II, the reveal that Ash was the chosen one to defeat the deadites, as foretold in an ancient book, raised questions that still haven’t quite been answered. Why Ash? What exactly is the prophecy in full? Season 3 promises to provide answers, finally.
We love seeing Ash in compromising positions
Ash fighting deadites is a cornerstone of the entire franchise; Ash has dismembered, sliced, and bludgeoned his way through piles of the evil dead over the years. Yet the cast and crew still manage to find the most creative ways for Ash to go head to head with Kandarian evil. Sometimes even head to rectum. How do you top that? Perhaps by turning Ash into an evil puppet? Never doubt that Raimi and the writers will always find a way to top even the most outlandish of demonic battles.
The Ghostbeaters
Admittedly, prior to the inaugural season premiere, I was skeptical to learn that Ash would have partners in crime. Ashley J. Williams was always a bit of a lone wolf, whether through his selfishness or through his inability to keep loved ones safe, he just worked better alone. Until we got to know Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), and then I learned just how wrong my skepticism was. Not only has it been fun to see how their relationship with Ash has changed him, but now it’s hard to picture this world without them in it. Pablo as the heart, and Kelly as the fiery brains, the trio balance each other out in ways that lends depth to a series and emotional investment.
The nods and throwbacks to the original trilogy
For a series that spans nearly four decades and now exists in a fast-paced series, the Evil Dead universe has grown exponentially vast. There are new levels of demons to contend with beyond the deadites. Yet, the cast and crew behind the series never ever forget its roots, paying homage in both small and epic-scaled ways often. To do that while keeping it fresh is an impressive feat. From the return of Ellen Sandweiss as Cheryl in season 2, the return of Henrietta, to keeping the minute details of the original cabin in place during the season 1 climax, Ash vs Evil Dead knows how to fan service better than any other.
It’s the only way to get more seasons
Duh. It took a long time to get a follow up to Army of Darkness, and that’s because the theatrical release didn’t perform well. So I look at this as the last chance to find out what happens in Ash’s long winding story. Whether that means this is the final season or there’s a still a couple more left to tell ultimately depends on whether we support the show. It’s a small, obvious thing, but it’s worth it.
Editorials
‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel
The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.
The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.
Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.
With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).
It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.
The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.
The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.
Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.
Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.
Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.
The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.
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