Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

If you're a Sam Raimi fan you'll enjoy this one. Or at least if you're an early Sam Raimi Evil Dead and Army of Darkness fan. Or if you were entertained by Shaun of the Dead. These movies should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from this backwoods hillbilly inspired horror-comedy. Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine) are just a couple of good 'ol boys heading for their new vacation home when a group of college kids encounters them on the road. Ditching the lesson mom always told to "not judge a book by its cover", the frat boys and sorority girls are creeped out by Tucker and Dale's hillbilly appearance.

What transpires over the course of the film builds on this misguided judgement and takes the idea that things are not always what they appear to comedic heights. When bashful Dale tries to approach one of the coeds at a gas station, his pathetic attempt to meet girls ends up looking like a maniac holding a scythe and laughing hysterically. The audience gets to derive most of the comedy from knowing more than the characters do. We know Tucker and Dale are harmless country boys. And we know the college kids think they're sadistic killers, the embodiment of a local legend from 20 years ago. But, neither group of characters knows what the other is up to. We also know it's leading to a confrontation bringing these two groups crashing together. When cutie Allison (Katrina Bowden) falls from a rock ledge when the group decides to go skinny dipping, nearby fisherman Tucker and Dale are the only ones who can help. Her friends have no idea she's fallen, and when they see her being hauled into the boat by two hillbillies they run. But they can't just leave Allison can they? And from there, we have our mistaken identity backwoods showdown.

The movie is a fun little story that plays the comedy horror angle very well. It's a bit gory, but not overly so. A college kid running in fear impales himself on a tree branch - always watch where you're going. You get the idea. Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine are great in their roles and have an excellent rapport that shows in their buddy-buddy exchanges. It's not high art, but it's funny and decent escapist entertainment for an hour and a half.

3 out of 5

Find Tucker & Dale vs. Evil on Netflix

Film Details at IMDB