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[TV Review] Ash Williams is in Top Form in “Ash vs Evil Dead” Season 2

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I almost let myself get irritated when the first Season of “Ash vs Evil Dead” ended with Ash (Bruce Campbell) making the dumbest decision possible and driving off into the Jacksonville sunset. But then I remembered it was Ash Williams and Ash Williams doesn’t do the right thing unless it’s standing between him and a beer. He’s reactive instead of proactive, and that’s why I love him so much as a character.

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Season 2 picks up almost immediately after the first season’s conclusion with Ash, Pablo and Kelly (Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo) working in a tiki dive bar down in Jacksonville, Florida. Well, Pablo and Kelly are working, still angry that he took the easy way out and allowed Ruby to do his dirty work for him. Ash is just partying and slashing open kegs with his chainsaw for college kids. Then, in Evil Dead fashion, everything falls apart. Fast.

Without spoiling too much, Ash and his friends are forced to travel back to Elk Grove, MI – Ash’s hometown and we quickly learn that the small town citizens aren’t too keen on Ash after the events of Evil Dead and Evil Dead II. There’s heavy air of hostility when some of the people from his past come into play.

Ash’s father, Brock Williams (Lee Major) is a highlight of the first episode. He’s just as, if not more, crass and racist as Ash which makes for some good face palming moments of laughter.

I really enjoyed these slower moments that took the time to build out Ash as a character. After all, you don’t become as rude and unapologetic as Ash without at least a little bit of trauma in your past. The way the people from his hometown treat him suggests that he developed an iron skin to deflect their constant tormenting over the years. It isn’t presented in a way that justifies his past actions, but to help the viewer empathize with him a little, which is a nice touch after watching him sink so low at the end of season 1.

These emotional bits don’t underplay the comedy though. If I’m being honest, there were very few parts in the first season that caused me to laugh out loud, but in the first two episodes of the second season, there were three jokes that accomplished just that.

Weaving between emotional moments of the past, comedy and buckets of blood should be jarring, especially in a half-hour show. But the way that Campbell owns his role as Ash has a sense of comfortability and seamlessness that I never saw coming. He’s by no means a great hero, or even a good one, but he’s great at getting the job done when he has to.

If this sense of balance continues throughout the rest of the season, we’re going to be in for a kick-ass ride. This is the best we’ve seen Ash since Army of Darkness.

Jimmy Champane is a horror YouTuber who loves Halloween. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @jimmychampane.

Books

‘In Search of Darkness’ Book Review: A Must-Have for ’80s Horror Fans

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In 2019, the documentary of 80s horror In Search of Darkness became an instant hit with horror fans. Now, a beautiful coffee table style companion book is available and is a must-own for all fans of one of horror’s greatest eras. The book is a walk down the horror aisle of the best mom and pop video store in the heyday of VHS, featuring full color photos, poster art, insightful essays and more. More than just a nostalgic throwback, In Search of Darkness is the kind of book I wish I’d had back in my years as a burgeoning horror fan but is also satisfying for the film fanatic I have become in the years since.

The format is beautifully and simply laid out, with at least a dozen (usually more) movies from each year of the decade presented in order of release accompanied by informative and insightful essays by the authors Heather Wixson and Patrick Bromley. Both authors have been mainstays of film journalism, specializing in horror, for many years. Wixson began her career in 2007 with Dread Central and has spent the past ten years as the Managing Editor of Daily Dead, from which she recently retired to focus on books and other projects. She has devoted the past several years to interviewing and writing books about the Make-up and Special Effects wizards that have brought so much to film over the years, specifically the horror genre.

Bromley is a film journalist and critic whose work can be found all over the place including right here on Bloody Disgusting. He recently provided the commentary for the Vinegar Syndrome release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and is known as something of a Tobe Hooper expert. He is also the founder and editor of F this Movie!, an eclectic film website, and host of its accompanying podcast. So, to be clear, the authors know their stuff.

Wixson and Bromley divide writing duties roughly in half and though each has a distinctive voice, their writing styles dovetail beautifully into a cohesive whole. Each author plays to their strengths. Being familiar with both their work I didn’t even have to look at the bylines to know that Heather covered Christine and Terror in the Aisles and Patrick took on The Funhouse and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. Wixson’s passion for make-up effects is clear and comes through in many of her contributions. In general, Wixson takes on the “big” titles, the movies that defined the decade the most, and Bromley covers what the more cynical among us might call schlock, but he would likely call pure cinematic bliss. There are exceptions and surprises, of course, as there should be (Patrick covers The Shining for example). Each essay dives into the history behind the film, the major players involved, the reception, and legacy with often surprising aspects drawn from interviews with the filmmakers from various sources and insights from the authors.

For all their in-depth explorations of each film, in general the authors keep their critics’ hats safely stowed, keeping in mind that every entry on the book has its fans. In fact, they may well have sold me on finally hitting play on some of the schlockier offerings of the decade like Evilspeak, Nightbeast, and Blood Diner. Hell, I may even give The Beast Within a spin for shits and giggles. The point is that this book is a celebration through and through. The authors are honest about the critical receptions of the films, which were often unkind, and sometimes let their own opinions shine through, but recognize how beloved even the schlockiest films can become given time and availability. And that is an ongoing theme of In Search of Darkness. What may have been dismissed in its day often becomes revered as the years pass. Variations on the phrase “the years have been kind to…” referring to various maligned projects like The Thing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Blob and many, many others, can be found throughout the book for good reason.

Each chapter of the book also includes a rundown of the top horror movies at the box office for the year as well as the top movies of all genres for context. The final page for each year highlights some of the major news and pop culture events including the top songs, albums, and television shows. There is a large central section that pays tribute to the talent involved with the greatest horror films of the 80s including directors, actors, effects artists, and more. This section includes brief biographies of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Stephen King, Tom Savini, Barbara Crampton, Robert Englund, and many others presented in a dynamic and engaging fashion.

One of the beauties of the book is that it covers so much ground. Sure, you’ll find Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, and the Halloween sequels in it, but you’ll also find deeper cuts like The Changeling, The Being, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man. I was happy to find the same love given to Frank Henenlotter and Larry Cohen as to George A. Romero and David Cronenberg. In other words, In Search of Darkness is extraordinarily eclectic, highlighting the diversity that truly defined what is often viewed as a homogenous decade. The authors make the case that the 80s was horror’s greatest decade, and with what they lay out throughout this book, it’s tough to argue against that. I even came across a film or two I hadn’t even heard of before, which has become increasingly rare as the years go by.

At just shy of $85, the cover price may give some horror hounds pause, but believe me, it’s worth every penny. This is a beautiful volume that every fan of 80s horror will want on their shelf or prominently displayed on their coffee table. Filled with favorite titles, hundreds of full color photos, insightful and informative writing, this is simply a must own.

You can order your copy now.

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