4

SUNDAY

When a possessed, decapitated head falls into your lap and bites your right hand, granting the appendage a bloodthirsty will of its own, you: (a) shake the unholy hand with your left one in an attempt to make nice; (b) unzip your pants and give yourself “the Stranger”; or (c) grab the nearest chain saw and lop it off at the wrist. (Here’s a hint: The first two choices won’t land you a spot in the next film.) Although it loosely reprises the plot of his 1981 cult classic The Evil Dead, Sam Raimi’s 1987 part sequel/part remake The Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn adds a dose of slapstick humor (and a considerable amount to gore) to the story of Ash—the square-jawed, reluctant hero trapped in an abandoned cabin and forced to defend himself from an onslaught of Candarian demons. Featuring an increased budget, Raimi’s characteristically over-the-top camerawork, and Bruce Campbell in the role that would propel him to B-movie icon status, Evil Dead II easily surpasses the original in every respect. Hone your survival skills when the film screens at 11 p.m. (see Showtimes for other dates) at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $8.50. (301) 495-6700. (Matthew Borlik)