RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn
Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
98 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:42

Fresh:41

Rotten:1

Average Rating:7.9/10

Consensus: Evil Dead 2's increased special effects and slapstick-gore makes it as good -- if not better -- than the original.

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: In this sequel-remake of the original EVIL DEAD, a group of people are trapped in a cabin while ancient evil lurks outside and threatens a fate worse than death. Can brawny wiseguy Ash save the... In this sequel-remake of the original EVIL DEAD, a group of people are trapped in a cabin while ancient evil lurks outside and threatens a fate worse than death. Can brawny wiseguy Ash save the day, or will his dead girlfriend come back to cause more trouble? An influential comic horror movie from director Raimi. [More]

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley, Richard Domeier

Director: Sam Raimi

Director: Sam Raimi
Composer: Joseph LoDuca
Screenwriter: Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel
Producer: Rob Tapert

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The gaudily gory, virtuoso, hyper-kinetic horror sequel/remake uses every trick in the cinematic book, and confirms that Bruce Campbell and Raimi are gods.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/21/07
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The best in the series and one of the top horror movies of the 1980s.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/21/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Delirious, demented and diabolically funny.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One of the most visually inventive, relentless, and truly original films ever made

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Evil Dead II is the sort of film which it is really impossible to describe or summarise. You simply have to come along and experience it for yourself.

Full Review Source: Edinburgh U Film Society | comment Comment
01/01/00
Keith H. Brown
Keith H. Brown
Edinburgh U Film Society

The Evil Dead remains the stronger film... but this sequel/remake is something of a masterpiece unto itself.

Full Review Source: Projection Booth | comment Comment
10/28/07
Rob Humanick
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth

Good acting would not have served the material well, since it would have diluted the comedy quotient and made the campy elements seem cheap and cheesy.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
09/21/07
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Maximum visceral impact is what this film is all about -- and it delivers.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
09/21/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A flashy good-natured display of special effects and scare tactics so extreme they can only be taken for laughs.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
09/21/07
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The pop-up humor and smirkiness suggest Raimi's aspiring to the fashionable company of the brothers Coen, though on the basis of this strained effort I'd say he's overshot the mark.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 24 Comments
09/21/07
Pat Graham
Pat Graham
Chicago Reader

Best slapstick seen in a horror flick. If Charlie Chaplin were alive today and into terror, he'd be directing this movie. Okay, maybe not -- but at least he wouldn't be dead.

Full Review Source: Juicy Cerebellum | comment Comment
10/14/05
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Evil Dead 2 is a grade-A masterpiece of morbid mayhem. Find me a horror geek who doesn't agree and I'll take a chainsaw to a body part of your choice.

Full Review Source: DVD Clinic | comment 2 Comments
10/04/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic

Full-on gore slapstick, more Tex Avery than Dario Argento.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
09/27/05
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
Slant Magazine

A marvel for its invention and fury.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
09/19/05
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

No review available.

comment Comment
08/15/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Horror sequels don't come any bigger or better!

comment Comment
04/25/05
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

More a rethinking than a sequel and the best of the series.

comment Comment
09/27/04
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/04/04
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

It will change your life in deep and meaningful ways.

comment Comment
04/23/04
Rob Vaux
Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium

No review available.

comment Comment
04/09/04
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Movie Views
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn

October 21, 2008: Fourth Evil Dead Still on Raimi's Back Burner Opens in new window
Remember a few months ago, when Sam Raimi hinted that he and his brother Ivan might be sitting down to write a fourth "Evil Dead" movie in August? Well, there still isn't a script. More...

August 15, 2008: Bruce Campbell Talks Evil Dead 4 Opens in new window
Sam Raimi's been teasing the press with comments about a possible Evil Dead 4 lately, and Bruce Campbell has joined in, telling MTV "When he's ready, I'm ready." More...

April 17, 2008: Total Recall: The 20 Greatest Fights Scenes Ever
The long-awaited showdown between Jackie Chan and Jet Li in The Forbidden Kingdom got us thinking; what are the greatest fights ever filmed? We sifted through quite a few... More...

May 05, 2007: Campbell Open to Evil Dead 4 and Bubba Nosferatu
Even though he's in charge of the massive "Spider-Man" franchise and in the running for films like "The Hobbit," Sam Raimi always says he wants to make... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts
53% 53% David & Layla

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
22
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
44
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
118
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
178
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
80
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
59
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
41
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
33
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
21
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Ho, ho, ho! It's RT's Great Big Gift Guide!
0
  • RT's Disney Animation Celebration --- A Walk Through The Magic Kingdom!
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
10
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
20
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
7
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.