Part of Midnight Movies: Summer Sequels Part Deux
Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, the ancient Necronomicon of al-Hazred, or the Book of the Dead, has transported department store clerk Ashley Williams (Bruce Campbell) and his 1973 Oldsmobile to 1300 A.D. — where he must battle an army of the dead, pitch some woo, and retrieve the cursed book so he can return home. Taking the second film’s slapstick tone to new heights, this truly unhinged third entry in Raimi’s Evil Dead series is everything you could hope for from a film that introduces boomsticks and chainsaws to the 14th century.
“Replete with thumping horse hooves, the battle cries of lusty men and the banshee screams of the living dead, Raimi's movie comes at you with a noisy, jokey swagger. Its hero even says ‘groovy’ and gets away with it.” —Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer “A lot gets overdone in ARMY OF DARKNESS. Everything, in fact. But Campbell, who as Ash wears a chainsaw on the stump of his arm, hit shotgun on his back and a smirk on his lips, ultimately saves the film, just as Ash saves the day.” —John Anderson, Newsday “Raimi has created the cinematic equivalent of fast food -- efficient, unassuming and seriously regressive. It may not be much good for you in the end, but consuming it is loads of fun.” —Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune
