Ever since the dawn of the narrative structure, filmmakers have sought to entertain viewers by eliciting their fears. The horror genre has been cashing in on creepy for over a century, creating a slew of mainstay motifs and plot devices that have grown from gospel to cliché. And where there are clichés there is yet more money to be gained.
The horror spoof has become as prevalent as the horror film itself, taking the repetitive and often absurd thematic devices of horror and turning frightening to funny. Sadly, most spoofs come up short, parodying the cheap scare-tactics of horror movies by manufacturing equally cheap laughs. However, if every so often a truly admirable slasher flick hits theatres, why not a truly masterful spoof?
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a top notch genre mash-up that takes the clichés limply pointed out by lesser comedies and employs them expertly in a horror spoof that delivers real laughs and genuine scares. Director Eli Craig brings us the tale of Tucker (Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Tyler Labine), two hillbillies on their way to their run-down vacation home in the woods of West Virginia, which would be a lot easier if they weren’t unfairly accused of being psychotic killers.
At the same time as their ill-timed vacation, a group of college kids camp in the woods near Tucker and Dale’s run-down shack. Having already been spooked by the two men on the road and at a local store, the young students are mortified when one of their own, Allison (Katrina Bowden) is dragged into the strangers’ boat. They assume the worst and prepare for war with the kidnapping hillbillies.
Meanwhile, Tucker and Dale have just saved a young girl's life after she fell into the pond where they were fishing. For Dale, the prospect of having to talk to the beautiful Allison is terrifying enough. The series of events that follows turns into a nightmare for all. The script is flipped as we watch the two likable protagonists forced into a series of mishaps involving a group of seemingly suicidal college students in the funniest horror spoof since Shaun of the Dead.
The film has laughs, gore, and even a few heart-warming moments between the protagonists. It is definitely a must see for not just fans of horror spoofs, but for anyone who enjoys a good movie.
Overall score: 4.5/5
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. Dir. Eli Craig. Perf. Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss, Chelan Simmons. Maple Pictures. Running Time: 88 mins.
