This movie is without a doubt made for the kind of viewer who (much like this reviewer) enjoys watching horror movies simply to try and predict the order in which the killer’s victims meet their untimely ends.

 

 

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is best described as being an unexpectedly gory romantic comedy/horror movie. ..well that’s probably the only way to describe it anyway but what’s stranger still is the fact that such a seemingly contradictory premise actually comes together quite cleverly, eventually up-ending every slasher movie cliché you’ve ever seen.  

 

 

A plot synopsis of this movie is very difficult to pull off without spoiling a lot of the humour, suffice to say that the setting is one which you would have seen several times before. Essentially the movie is about some college kids who go on vacation only to have things go horribly wrong except not in the ways that you’d expect...at all.

 

Just so you were warned, the gore in this movie is very easily on par with whatever else you’ve seen from more recent movies in the slasher/horror genre, if not better at times so this one is definitely not for children. In fact, due to the comedic aspects of the movie, the gore seems to get even more unflinching in its portrayal, at times leaving the viewer in the very unique position of struggling to fight down very repulsed laughing fits.

 

 

The movie benefits from some very clever camera work with lighter scenes being played out in full colour whilst the cliché factor on the horror scenes is intentionally ramped up through the use of those grey-blue filters so typically used to the tunes of Standard Intense Stalking from Every Single Horror Movie You’ve Ever Seen Before.

 

What really carries this film over the line into downright awesome territory are some really great performances by the two leads, the relatively unknown and extremely familiar, Alan Tudyk (Death at a Funeral, 3:10 to Yuma, A Knights Tale) and Tyler Labine (Rise of the Planet of the Apes and TV’s Reaper) as Tucker and Dale.

 

Both Labine and Tudyk deliver relatable and downright hilarious performances as two very likeable, b**r-guzzling, down to earth, nice guys. They both managed to get past my general disregard for characters in horror movies to the point where, particularly towards the movies climax, I was really worried for them; an emotion which doesn’t come easy for me in such movies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucker and Dale also benefited from a great performance by the unbearably attractive Katrina Bowden better known as Cerie from 30 Rock. As fans of the show might have gathered, Bowden doesn’t really get a chance to showcase her acting skills on the show, but with this movie she was given well…essentially the same role but with a lot more depth and likeability. If she keeps it up, I think we can all expect to see some great things from her in future.

 

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a refreshingly different, side-splittingly hilarious movie that will probably have you chuckling the next time you see Creepy Mask Wearing Redneck Serial Killer take a swing at someone with Random Agricultural Tool of Death. Grab a bunch of your friends and a lot of popcorn and make an evening of it.

 

Genre - Romantic comedy/horror movie

 

Reviewed by Channa Fernandopulle