The insightful horror/comedy Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, directed by Eli Craig, is a good-natured reminder that blood and gore can achieve more than just cheap scares.
Tucker and Dale begins with a car of college students driving to a cabin deep in the woods. Within the first minute it's clear they're satirical caricatures of college kids. Twice along their way they have ominous encounters with the hillbillies Tucker and Dale.
Soon after it's revealed Tucker and Dale are actually the protagonists. Their threatening behavior is only misinterpreted curiosity combined with social awkwardness.
This theme of misinterpretation becomes the driving factor behind much of the plot. As the college kids' fear of Tucker and Dale …show more content…
By exploiting clichés common to slasher flicks, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil jabs not only at the horror genre, but at society’s bias against unlikely heroes. The film takes pride in distancing itself from the one-dimensional stories so common today.
But this pride becomes hollow in the end. The plot avoids many trite horror movie elements, but the final climax hits them head on.
In the climax, our hero Dale must rescue Allison from a disfigured maniac. Dale frees the damsel in distress after a brief fight scene, and the maniac falls to his death.
The whole movie seemed dedicated to defying the audience’s expectations. I'm surprised they chose to end with the plot Mario style, where our hero has to save the girl from the bad guy. The sincerity of the movie up to this point is almost squandered to provide a happy ending.
Despite the lackluster finish, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is an honest film that balances gore and comedy to give the viewer entertainment uncommon to this genre. Its few instances of shallowness are forgivable by being a thoughtful commentary on stereotypes. Tucker and Dale is worth watching due to its rejection of common horror themes, unique plot and
Tucker and Dale begins with a car of college students driving to a cabin deep in the woods. Within the first minute it's clear they're satirical caricatures of college kids. Twice along their way they have ominous encounters with the hillbillies Tucker and Dale.
Soon after it's revealed Tucker and Dale are actually the protagonists. Their threatening behavior is only misinterpreted curiosity combined with social awkwardness.
This theme of misinterpretation becomes the driving factor behind much of the plot. As the college kids' fear of Tucker and Dale …show more content…
By exploiting clichés common to slasher flicks, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil jabs not only at the horror genre, but at society’s bias against unlikely heroes. The film takes pride in distancing itself from the one-dimensional stories so common today.
But this pride becomes hollow in the end. The plot avoids many trite horror movie elements, but the final climax hits them head on.
In the climax, our hero Dale must rescue Allison from a disfigured maniac. Dale frees the damsel in distress after a brief fight scene, and the maniac falls to his death.
The whole movie seemed dedicated to defying the audience’s expectations. I'm surprised they chose to end with the plot Mario style, where our hero has to save the girl from the bad guy. The sincerity of the movie up to this point is almost squandered to provide a happy ending.
Despite the lackluster finish, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is an honest film that balances gore and comedy to give the viewer entertainment uncommon to this genre. Its few instances of shallowness are forgivable by being a thoughtful commentary on stereotypes. Tucker and Dale is worth watching due to its rejection of common horror themes, unique plot and