Finally, and most obviously, Evil Dead II is undoubtedly the most impressive project that Bruce Campbell has been involved with. It is not only one of the most brilliant horror spoofs of all time. In fact, it is one of the most astonishing films of all time, period. All of the innovative techniques Raimi honed with the first instalment of the trilogy are put to incredible use in the sequel, with its larger budget, greater comedic value and - most importantly - ingenious central performance from Campbell. If he was fairly muted in the first film, a normal guy in extraordinary circumstances, Campbell is the opposite here. He is EVERYWHERE in Evil Dead II. Whether he is laughing and dancing maniacally along with the possessed furniture in the cabin, sawing off his possessed hand while grinning like a madman, fighting off deadites with his customised chainsaw hand or, most memorably, chasing his disembodied hand around the cabin like a sketch from Tom & Jerry, he absolutely steals the show. While Evil Dead II doesn't have quite as many one-liners as its sequel (though the brilliant "Swallow this!" is here), it is the film in which the character of Ash first comes into his own. Campbell's most iconic role may have been developed in Army Of Darkness, but the arrogance and genuine insanity that drive the character were initially foregrounded in EDII. It's also the film that inspired the brilliant My Name Is Bruce line: "You don't know fear, kid. You've never worked with Sam Raimi" - a reference to the pair's jokingly abusive relationship on set. Campbell proves himself more than capable of simultaneously being a slapstick comic and a beat-down horror movie actor, and if he had been offered more roles in great films like this in the years following Evil Dead II, there is little doubt that he would have achieved far wider recognition for his work. Still, if that was the case, he wouldn't be the cult actor that he is today. Plus, there would be no Jack Of All Trades, Alien Apocalypse or Maniac Cop. So that's something.
