Ash vs Evil Dead: “Brujo” Review

Ash be trippin’

While “Brujo” was still a lot of fun, I feel like – and this is strange to bring up – we might need to actually start having solid ground rules in the Evil Dead universe. How bonkers is that? Because while I certainly enjoy this new “total nerd” mind demon, which has now officially become a huge pain in the ass, sprawling across multiple episodes, I don’t know what it’s doing when it holds people’s heads and zaps them. Last week, the brain attack seemed to have no effect on Ash or Pablo (other than pain), and yet Kelly’s now the one possessed. I mean, she hit it with the book, but if anything it looked like the demon sort of hid out in the book itself.

And then when Kelly was in full demon-mode, she was touching Ash’s skull and sort of Freddy Krueger’ing herself into Ash’s acid trip – which here also doubled as a dreamscape. I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking Evil Dead. It’s just that…with this deeper serialization, and new elements being brought into the mix, there may be a need for a touch more clarity.

Either way, none of that even matters when these half-hour episodes keep feeling like they’re ending right when things are getting good. Even, like, right in the middle of a scene almost. I’m not against the 30 minute format for this series, but the actual episodes could stand to be paced a little differently. I was almost certain the demon would get driven out of Kelly this week, within the same episode, but she still remains possessed as we head now into next week’s chapter.

All that being said, “Brujo” had some great moments. Not only did Ruby show up and kick some Deadite ass (while also revealing that she’s the vengeful daughter of Professor Knowby! – aka “Guy Who Made The Mistake Of Reading Aloud Necronomicon Text In The First Place” ) but Ash got to get all giddy and loopy under a potent hallucinogen and imagine himself staring out at his personal Sri Lanka – freakin’ Jacksonville, Florida (almost morphing him into Burn Notice’s Sam Axe for a spell). Sweet s***house mouse, indeed.

Plus, we actually got to see – in physical form – the thing that always wooshes through the woods! A “Drafter” as Ash called it. The evil force behind Sam Raimi’s trademark P.O.V chase-cam. It’s a giant, malevolent cloud capable of demolishing a car. I mean, we know it must have “a look” – a form – because we’ve seen Ash run from it on occasion. So here it was. The Drafter. Giving chase. And getting blocked by Pablo’s uncle’s mystical totems.

And then Ash even quasi-quoted The Rock when he suggested that the Brujo take his opinions, turn them sideways, and shove them “right up the old poop chute.” Now, we never did figure out what the inner power was that Ash possesses. The one that he’s oblivious about. Granted, he did manage to take control of his own trip and wield power over the mind demon – almost killing Kelly in the process (“Who’s f***in’ with who now?”) – but there were no specific clues as to his overall specialness. Just a lot of Whitesnake, 60s TV, and pinup posters. Oh, and old Evil Dead footage.

Oh, and we got the return of Ash’s old hand! And it’s still as sinister and crusty as ever!