Ash vs. Evil Dead - "Brujo"

Both “cabin in the woods movies" and “road movies” are well-worn and well-loved genres but, on paper, the two don't seem like they should go to together. The isolation inherent in an far-flung cabin or other spooky setting is the polar opposite of the sprawling broadness of the world in a “road movie.” For all intents and purposes, Ash. vs Evil Dead, playing on the fear and remoteness of the movie for which its named and taking to the open road should not work as well as it does. What the Starz original series does so well, though, is maintain the stakes throughout and trade in the claustrophobia and detachment of the remote vacation spot and blow it up until nowhere in the world is safe.

Ash vs Evil Dead borrows from one of the best road movies of all time in continuing to up the stakes and adding new players to the mix. Like Thelma and Luouise, Ash and his companions may think they know what they're dealing with, but the great and ancient evil that is after them is not their only problem. In reality they are being closed in on from all sides. Detective Fisher is still after them, and now that she has Ruby (Lucy Lawless) at her side her resolve and her chances of catching our hero seem to be growing by the minute. Armed with Ash’s original hand, the two have their muscle care aimed right for him. In case all of that wasn’t enough, the demon that Kelly so skillfully took care of last episode may not be as gone as the gang is hoping, and the threats to Ash and the mission are piling up.

With “Brujo”, the three finally make it to Pablo’s uncle’s house, in hopes that he can use his shamanistic abilities to help them find a way to defeat the Evil. Step one: send Ash on a hallucination-inducing iowaska trip into his own mind to look for the answers inside of him that Lionel told him were the key—before being turned into a Deadite himself. The inside of Ash’s mind holds all of the things you’d expect, from trauma over watching his friends die to nudey mags, and a talking lizard.

After what felt like a slight dip last week, Ash vs. Evil Dead comes back swinging this week with some serious antics and another great Deadite kill scene. It is clear that the Evil of this universe is bigger, badder, and more full of tricks than even Ash might be ready for and it’s far from the only thing he needs to worry about. 

Lasting Thought: We got an eyeball coming out of a man's mouth, in true Sam Raimi fashion.

Sophie

Contributor

Sophie's introduction into the magic that is the horror genre was watching Halloween at a party in high school, and since then she's never looked back. She may be the wimpiest horror fan you have ever met, but she won't ever let that stop her!