There is one type of horror film I like, funny horror movies. In Tucker & Dale VS Evil, two Virginia hillbillies (trying to have a relaxing vacation) get mixed up with some preppy college students who assume Tucker and Dale are out to kill them. What?? Yep, you’ll love it.
First time feature director Eli Craig (he played young Hawk in Space Cowboys!) co-wrote the script with another newbie, Morgan Jurgenson. It’s another brilliant release from Magnet Releasing. They’ve been winning me over with their last few releases such as Trollhunter and Rubber. I love that they give these gems a home and a place to thrive on VOD first, then in theaters.
What I enjoyed about the film was that I never could figure out what was going to happen next. Instead of just doing the opposite of what you would typically expect, it went in all other directions and left me laughing nonstop. Rather that just make them dumb hillbillies, each of the two guys were given great personalities and I was on their side from the beginning. Nothing seems to go right for these two and they do the best they can in the craziest of situations.
Although I really loved Alan Tudyk (this guy is BUSY, check out his IMDB) and Tyler Labine (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, A Good Old Fashioned Orgy) in the title roles, I was disappointed in one thing: their accents. I was really hoping to hear some strong Virginia southern accents, but instead it sounded more like they were just imitating words and at times their accents were completely absent. I tried to let go of it, but it still bothered me throughout. It probably would have played better if the location wasn’t given and it was just described as “the south.” Besides that though, the characters were very likeable and relatable. They had just the right levels of silliness and cluelessness.
The story is very original and takes turns that are unexpected and hilarious. It keeps a great pace throughout and just when you think it’s over, there’s a whole new chapter. There is lots of blood and some very creative deaths, so stay away if you have an aversion to either. It has a great potential to become a cult classic so make sure to check it out to let everyone in on the fun.
Rating: Silly, gratuitous violence of the best variety. 7/10
Official Selection
2010 Sundance Film Festival
SXSW Audience Choice Award 2010
Best First Feature Award at Fantasia Film Festival 2010, Montreal
Best Director at Fantaspoa 2010, Brazil
Available on VOD now, in theaters in limited release on September 30, 2011. 88 minutes http://www.magnetreleasing.com/tuckeranddalevsevil/
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