Forgotten Horror Moments : Return of the Evil Dead

Armando D'Ossorio was a very underrated director in his day. The man was responsible for all four of the official Blind Dead films, including Tombs of the Blind Dead and Night of the Seagulls. Pretty much the only major complaint I can make about the films as a whole is that they are not a series. Instead, they are just four different 'happenings' of the zombie Knights Templar rising up. They are all in different locations and with different reasons for them. Once you get past this, you've got four great horror films (three, if you are in the majority of hating The Ghost Galleon for some reason). While I'm not a huge fan of the ending, the second film is probably my favorite as a whole. One moment in particular I feel is deserving of another look. So let's check out...

Return of the Evil Dead

This is what you need to know: the Knights Templar have risen from 'you graves' and have begun to kill the townspeople. They have done this because a full moon has timed up with the 500th anniversary of their blinding/execution by the townspeople. In summary, these people have terrible luck and must pay for something they did not really do.

*

All of the survivors have locked themselves up in the Mayor's mansion and are surrounded by the still forms of the Dead. These killers stand stoically until something gets their attention. This is important for later, so take notes. As our heroes talk about what to do, the devious and dickish Mayor has his own plans. He wants someone to distract the Dead so that he can get to the car that is parked out in the road in front of the house. His first plan is to get his assistant- with torch in hand- to do just that. This ends with the man getting his arm cut off (the one with the torch) and killed. His next plan- using the man's kid. I told you that he was 'dick.'

*

He tells the kid that is dad outside and wants to see him. He basically shoves the kid out there and stands in the doorway, just like he did before with the dad. The kid closes his eyes in fear and walks around, calling for his dad. Just like animals perking up when they hear prey approaching, the Dead begin to rustle and slowly approach the kid. The silence of the monsters juxtaposed with the kid's crying is amazingly effective. For those who say that zombies can't be scary simply because they are slow, I say 'watch this scene.' Before the kid is killed, our heroes manage to rush out and save him. I know that you were worried there.

*

Next on the agenda, a film about a giant lizard in New York. No, it is not Godzilla. Stay tuned...