Horrorthon'08: EVIL DEAD II (1987)

I don't know if it's because they couldn't find a print or whatever, but Sam Raimi's comedy horror sequel was screened from what appeared to be a DVD source or something like that, and on top of that the projectionist was clearly having some issues getting it in the right aspect ratio.

Technical issues aside however, it was great fun. You just can't go wrong with this one. Regarded as better than the original in most quarters, EVIL DEAD II: DEAD BY DAWN made it into the top 50 of Empire's top 500 films of all time recently, such is its staying power. Okay, so Empire's top 500 films was a puddle of pish in many ways, but for a gory horror to be held in such high regard by so many still speaks volumes.

After a brief intro which basically remakes the original film (no continuity knowledge required here!) Bruce Campbell and friends get terrorised by evil spirits in a cabin in the middle of the woods.

And that's about it really. However, there's endless entertainment in the presentation, from stooge-style slapstick to gross-out gore, stop-motion magic mixing with hilarious Campbell overacting. It's an absolute hoot from start to finish, and possibly the only time I've ever heard a cinema audience spontaneously applaud and cheer the word "groovy."