Let’s set the scene-

    It’s some point in the early 2010s and I’m an angsty teenager sitting on the sofa glued to their brand new iPhone 4. My mom in her usual routine of watching marathons of questionable horror movies in a chair beside me was hunting down her next big catch of a film. 

    “What about this one?” She asks, I barely lift my head and give a noncommittal grunt of accepting my fate- What’s one more bad movie? I’m not even watching. 

    Little did we know she’d stumble on what would become her favorite movie for years to come. 

    Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

    And here we are now, nearly 15 years later and when I ask her for her opinion on it for this review she says 

    “5 out of 5, funniest movie ever”. ( A woman of many words. )

    But how does a film critic of my caliber feel about this movie? Well, let’s get into it- that’s what we’re here for.

    Synopsis ( skip ahead if you don’t want any spoilers )

    Tucker and Dale vs. Evil ( 2010 ) is a comedic horror movie that plays on the trope of a “slasher cabin in the woods” that saturated the market at the time. We’re introduced to our two main characters Tucker and Dale- two hillbillies who are on a trip to their cabin up in the woods for a relaxing getaway. And in any horror movie, there’s a group of nearby college students also camping in the woods. 

    When Tucker and Dale rescue one of the college students- Allison, the two are flipped from being “heroes” to villains by the group of teenagers who assume that their friend is being kidnapped rather than rescued. 

    This triggers what becomes a pitiful and disastrous series of “rescue” attempts by the group of students that results in their most outlandish and gruesome deaths. In the end, this drives one of the students to go mad and embrace his inner psycho trying to avenge his friends and “save” Allison. 

    The movie ends with Dale arising the true hero and proving that all along- they were just a bunch of goodhearted hillbillies trying to keep these teens safe from the dangers of the woods- and maybe not just judge a book by its very stinky cover.

    ( Spoilers over )

    So, what are my thoughts? With my whole heart, I can say this is one of the best horror movies I have ever watched. It’s so hard to mix comedy with humor and make it bearable to watch without cringing. And if there’s a movie to master it since Scream ( 1996 )- it’s gotta be this movie. 

    Eli Craig did such an amazing job at setting up poor Tucker and Dale to walk into these terrible situations and seem like these crazed killers from any outside view by a great mix of writing and camera angles; each shot reflecting the eyes of the students and what Tucker/Dale would see. 

    While the writing is very of its time, the dumb humor perfectly suits the tone of the movie. I can’t even be upset by it because most of the time- I’m laughing and thoroughly entertained. And if you can deal with early 2010’s humor- you’ll feel the same.

    Overall, this movie stays a yearly watch in our household for a reason. It makes us laugh, is a great palette cleanser from the oversaturated too serious horror movies, and isn’t something B-rated and painful to watch.

    Truly, if you like slapstick comedy and horror- you’ve found a new favorite too.

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