EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN

*Please note: I wrote this in the Halloween season. I realize that’s like well over a month ago, but I’ve got kids. And two dogs. And a wife. Shit piles up, you ungrateful bastard!

“Someone’s in my fruit cellar… Someone with a fresh soul…!”

It wouldn’t feel like Halloween if I didn’t see Ash blasting, hacking and chewing a horde of Deadites into oblivion. And yeah, I’m aware I watched The Evil Dead the other night, but the Ash in that adventure is the equivalent of watching Jack Tripper fighting off the undead. Seriously, Ash had problems finding his footing when not one, but *two* bookshelves fell on him. 

Of the three movies, this is my favorite Ash. Orginal Ash is one of those nice guys from high school that sort of blends into the background. He’s normal at best — one step up from being an Extra. Army of Darkness Ash is absolutely the most entertaining but drunk on his own ego. Evil Dead 2 Ash is the most grounded, the most human. He’s guilt-ridden, stressed, beaten — but still brave and determined. He hasn’t turned into a parody of himself yet. Besides, anyone who sees cutting off their own hand as a victory is my kind of hero. That’s some serious lemons-into-lemonade shit going on there.