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EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN

While it lacks the supplements of the Elite Entertainment Laserdisc, Anchor Bay Entertainment's DVD of EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN ($30) strangely carries the Elite logo right after their own. EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN is the funniest gore-fest on record with the down right dumbest hero in the history of horror cinema. Bruce Campbell stars as Ash, the good natured, but none too bright hero, who is forced to fight the dark forces of evil at a remote cabin in the woods. After playing back a recording of passages read from an ancient test known as the Necronomicon Ex Mortis or Book of The Dead, Ash finds the cabin is besieged by demonic forces that first claim his girlfriend and then come for him. Director Sam Raimi blends his hyperactive visual style with intense gore and Three Stooges inspired lunacy. The effect makes EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN a laugh-out-loud horror jamboree that genre hounds love and have turned into a cult classic. In addition to the always entertaining Bruce Campbell, the cast of EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN also includes Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie DePaiva, Ted Raimi, Denise Bixler, Richard Domeier, John Peaks and Lou Hancock.

Anchor Bay's DVD edition of EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN comes from the same transfer, as does the Elite Entertainment Laserdisc. The Letterboxed transfer presents the film at the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and appears well balanced. There in no anamorphic enhancement, however the film looks quite good with a sharp image and very clean color reproduction. Compression artifacts were a minor consideration on the DVD. The Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack is adequate, although it sounds a bit compressed. Elite's Laserdisc offers better fidelity on its monaural track. Despite the slight compression, the soundtrack on the DVD is intelligible and will be quite acceptable to anyone who doesn't have the Laserdisc. There is a bit of animation on the interactive menus. The menus offer the standard scene selection feature and access to a theatrical trailer. GTN New Media, the company that authored this DVD has omitted the time code feature.

All reviews are Copyright © 1998 THE CINEMA LASER and may not be copied or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher.
THE CINEMA LASER is written, edited and published by Derek M. Germano.

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