Ash is an idiot. Not only did he lose his Delta to a bunch of teens he pissed off in last weeks episode, but it also had the Necronomicon in the back seat. But one amazing thing comes out of all of this: Last Call reunites Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi (brother of Sam, and third deity of that holy trinity).
Last Call is a pretty cool episode in and of itself however. It utilises these teens in order to produce a quasi-slasher flick and an homage to Christine. It also makes headway in the saga between Ash and the turbulent relationship he has with his father.
The Delta gets possessed by evil and hunts down our hapless adolescents while Ash & Co. hatch a scheme to lure the kids, and by extension the car and book to a massive party they have organised at Chet’s (Raimi’s) bar.
It kicks off with an unfortunate loss of genitalia and the gore doesn’t let up from there. There isn’t a stone AvED won’t leave unturned when it comes to how graphic it can get. Stephen King gets a big nod as the Oldsmobile spits fire and stalks its prey. Special mention to the poor sap whose face is ripped off by a screeching tire. It even outdid Tarantino’s version of the same event in Death Proof.
Ash dukes it out with a deadite in the bathroom of the bar and decapitates her while drowning her in a toilet. I’m still waiting for the creative well to tap out when it comes to how many different ways Ash can dispatch demons but it’s a wait I hope lasts a long time.
Despite the numerous scenes of violence, Last Call does manage to fit in some crucial moments of exposition. First up is Ruby’s offer to Kelly, telling her that perhaps she was the one she was meant to find and not Ash. The two aren’t seen again so it’s going to be interesting to see where this ends up.
Also, Ash and his pops (Lee Majors) hash it out. It turns out that Dad resented having a killer for a son but after being saved in the bathroom, he realises that Ash was telling the truth. It’s a sweet moment, if only fleeting due to the Delta splattering the old mans brains all over the road. Ash finally patched things up with his father, only to have him murdered in front of his eyes. Things are shaping up quite nicely in terms of character development.
Last Call was a return to form after last weeks OK ep. We got a very entertaining tip of the cap to Christine, some gore and action that tied into the narrative and a touching moment to close the episode. Also, that reunion was just plain fun.
Highlights:
- Christine homage
- Sweet closing moments
- Entertaining, plot driven action
- Ted Raimi!
- Great reasons to tune in next week
Lowlights:
- Na we’re good this week
Review Score: FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Ash vs Evil Dead is streaming now on Stan.
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