The most perfect example of horror and comedy there is, is Sam Raimi’s 1987 film Evil Dead II. As perfect a fusion of grotesque slapstick, audacious ideas, and manic style as you can get. A cleverly titled sequel to the original The Evil Dead (1981), it continues Ash Williams’ (Bruce Campbell) fight for survival against chaos in a small cabin in the woods.  

Often myopically listed as a horror maestro, Sam Raimi has always been interested in injecting the horror genre with his own brand of slapstick. Raimi’s flippant attitude toward horror is demonstrated fully in Evil Dead II, and here he goes all out with his kinetic sense of humour. 

Raimi’s approach was completely original, taking the familiar conventions of the horror genre: gore, isolation, monsters, and spiking them with an undercurrent of comedy. Everything is so over-the-top, it’s hard not to laugh at it. But the film is smart enough to offset the chaos. It provides a satirical take on the b-movies of the 1940s, capturing the spirit effortlessly with a brilliantly hammy protagonist and over-the-top effects.  

The camera itself acts as if it’s a slapstick gag, whirling through forests surrounding the cabin, playing a game of hide-and-seek with Ash. The energy with which it’s directed is miraculous; every trick in the book is utilised here: whip pans, quick cuts, and sometimes just strapping it to a bike and ramming it through the cabin set.  

What makes Raimi such an effective filmmaker is that he knows when to tone down the excessive style to focus on building the atmosphere. The pale moonlight which bathes the cabin, creates a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.  

The camera stalks Ash slowly as he gradually moves to investigate a chair rocking in the centre. It still remains a horror film, knowing when to rely on suspense and dread through its surreal atmosphere. The horror feels more influenced by comedy instead of vice versa. Scenes such as the decapitated corpse of Ash’s girlfriend elegantly dancing out of their grave provide a quandary where the viewer doesn’t know whether to laugh or wince. It’s funny and scary at the same time, a balance that almost seems impossible, but here it is seamless.  

There is so much more you can talk about with Evil Dead II, but instead, it’s better just to watch it for yourself. 

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