One of those typical cult films that over time has become overrated by the internet. This is Peter Jackson's attempt at some _Evil Dead 2_ type comedy/horror, but the results are decidedly mixed. I had a hard time getting into the first 30 minutes because the script has no idea how to engage us with its story or characters. The dialogue and performances are weird and campy, but not necessarily in a fun way. Timothy Balme's performance is almost too genuine and natural for the movie he finds himself in. However, the film becomes more and more entertaining as it goes along, for me it immediately finds its footing once the mother character dies. After that it's filled with fun & creative gore, great slapstick, over the top moments, violence, nastiness; it's all that good campy stuff. So much of this is memorable simply because of how disgusting it is. Loved all of the practical effects, though I find some of the other technical choices questionable. Visually it has a similar DIY feel as Sam Raimi, and while I like seeing Peter Jackson's personal signature that's also found in _Lord of the Rings_, there's some camerawork and editing that doesn't feel well realized. The score is also sappy and overly present. Overall, it's not hard to spot the flaws, but I simply had way too much fun to call this a bad movie. Recommended to those who love artful trash.

6/10