SILVER

Before directing the blockbuster SPIDER-MAN franchise, Sam Raimi cut his teeth on the splatter-fest EVIL DEAD movies. Less a sequel to the original than a bigger-budget remake, EVIL DEAD II takes the premise of Raimi's original zombie film to such outlandish extremes that it was threatened with an X rating. Even toned down to R level, the slapstick gore — THE THREE STOOGES by way of George Romero and Herschell Gordon Lewis — delivers a wallop that justifies its well-earned cult reputation. Bruce Campbell reprises his starring role as the egomaniacal, intrepid and endlessly quotable horror hero Ash Williams, going to violent lengths to fend off evil spirits and demonic possession at a secluded cabin in the woods. DIR/SCR Sam Raimi; SCR Scott Spiegel; PROD Robert Tapert. U.S., 1987, color, 85 min. RATED R 

AFI Member passes accepted.