A double (septuple?) -feature of Evil, in very different shades.
Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as unscrupulous, slightly off lad Lou, looking to make his fortune freelancing in the ethically grey world of crime video-journalism, with a gradual tick-tick-tick along the sociopathy scale accompanying his ambition for success in business.
As bold and brazen as ENEMY come credits, but in a different, slow-burning way that builds from a light hum to a deafening roar over its runtime.
The soundtrack is of particular note; it has a prevalent upbeat adventurous tone, which contrasts more and more with on-screen events as the film progresses.
Which is of particuar relevance to its boldness; not only in the gradual intensification of plot, but in the way that camera and presentation is unwaveringly on Lou's side throughout.
His effect on other characters is noticeable also; ruthlessness begets ruthlessness, which itself affects a spectrum of serious consequence. But all within the bounds of professional courtesy, you understand.
An especially naive viewer might come away thinking it an underdog movie; about the little guy getting one over on a harsh and unfair world, but there are enough little touches throughout to key one in to the film's between-the-lines tone: Dead-eyed deadpan, staring into the void, screaming into it, laughing into it, with ethics and morality the punchline.
It's salve for second-order sick minds. Loved it.
Evil Dead (All of it*)
The Evil Dead
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
This was much better produced than expected - having started at 2, I'd kind of assumed that the first was going to be ramshackle when the wibbly-wobbly title card showed up. Not really!
The deadites were really good - I loved how unique each one was, and their gradual ganging-up on Ash over the course of the film.
Ash ineffectually clutching the axe and pouting in horror at the brutal killing happening in front of him was hilarious.
The sequence that kicks off with gramophone Charleston feels like the true inception point of
Evil Dead - when shit is so fucked that it loops back around to raucous hysteria. Fantastic.
Excellent practical effects throughout, and especially the finale. Gribbly stop-motion used to great effect, and a fitting final cut.
Evil Dead II
THE SEQUEL TO THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
Wildly ambitious in its creativity, slightly less focused than ED1, but an absolute smorgasbord of comic horror. Less seat-edge intense now I'm numbed by the years, but thoroughly entertaining throughout.
Who's laughing now? and
Groovy are as killer as ever, but the mirror might be my favourite bit now I've seen them all.
No buddy, we're not okay 
And the finale is truly spectacular - just enough money for impressive effects, but not enough to make a bad movie
The AoD tease overshoots a bit (and appears to have borrowed a set from Deathstalker 3
), though the NOOO is top notch - it'd have been better if they'd cut it just before, and let Ash stride out of the mist like Mad Max for the next movie, but ah well.
Bruce Campbell vs Army of Darkness
THE ODDLY-TITLED TRAGIC CONCLUSION TO THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
Oh dear. On the upside, it's got some of the best one-liners!
The beginning and end capture the Evil Dead feel, but there's a big gap in the middle (coincidentally correlated to the period where Ash is absent his chainsaw) where it slumps into campy 90s adventure movie.
It's got funny skeletons by the cart-load - for which I will award an additional point - but they don't save it. Ash is best when he's half-insane, covered head-to-toe in viscera, and animal-brain-ing his way to success against all odds, and this isn't that.
As an aside, it feels strange for the cultural iconography to have settled on an amalgam of EDII imagery and AoD one-liners after the fact. In some part thanks to Jon St. John, I'll wager
Ash vs Evil Dead: Season 1
THE WELCOME REPRISAL TO THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
Starts strong-if-slightly-wobbly; Bruce on excellent form, but unclear whether the supporting cast will grow beyond likeable first-impression caricature.
The vibe is new; the Army of Darkness cartoonery, but refined by way of Cool Dad - the aforementioned amalgam, plus love handles and an extra chin. Self-aware, but not too much so.
And the all-important Evil Dead vibe is soundly intact - Episode 1 immediately demonstrates a strong grasp of graphic chainsaw violence; the cleave, the spraying viscera, none of this quick-chop cutaway nonsense.
Lucy Lawless was a great pick to cast opposite Bruce also; comparable qualifications, but from a different school of iconic action hero.
I think it bit off more than it could chew with the last few episodes, but they were still good. Overall, wholly entertaining.
Ash vs Evil Dead: Season 2
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
Demon variety is weak to begin with, but with solid premise and a more seasoned surviving cast to make up the difference.
Almost hits the double hat-trick of smearing Ash with every different type of bodily fluid, but stops tastefully short. (In relative terms.)
The second half is incredible. It addressed all nits I had with Season 1, went the extra mile with a certain tree rape victim, and turned a loving wink at
Evil Dead: Regeneration into a double-feature worthy of an Emmy.
Applause. Season 3 more or less had carte blanche after that.
Ash vs Evil Dead: Season 3
THE AFFECTIONATE SEND-OFF TO THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN GRUELING HORROR
Characters really coming into their own at this point, and smart choices made in their various ultimate fates.
Brandi's plotline was really well done - paced impeccably, didn't overplay its hand, and hit the right notes before ceding to the greater narrative. Bruce excellent as ever, but that's a given at this point.
Overall, keeps up the standard of fun gory goofy horror, good gags, and is pleasantly conclusive - a rare joy for TV these days. Ends on a welcome positive note, but with just enough reminiscence to the end of EDII (and cut end of AoD) to feel just right for the series. Groovy.
*
As far as I'm concerned.
'tude
More creepy one-shots from middle Burgerland/Crumpetfordshire. Tales from Halloween. From The Case Files of Halloween. The Another Story of Halloween, even!
Take that, furries. 
I find long-running series tricky, goes for bands too... you never know where those gems are lurking. Mainstream commentary often of little help, there!
Will get it done tonight mon frere! 
