Nigel P It is an odd decision to have this film open up with scenes of how the Knights Templar became known as The Blind Dead, and then some way into the running time, have those scenes repeated as flashbacks as someone (in this case, 'village idiot' Murdo, played by José Canalejas) is relaying the story of their origin.However, this second film in the Blind Dead series sees Director Amando De Ossario once again making the titular creatures as revolting as cowled, decomposing skeletal zombies can be – although their withered, twig-like hands rarely look anything other than gnarled gardening forks held by the actors beneath the rotting robes and look particularly ineffective when trying to grab various victims. In fact, the cadaverous knights can be astonishingly inept here: usually their agonising slowness adds to their menace – here, a whole group of them completely fail to capture the terrified, screaming Monica (Loretta Tovar). It might be their most ineffectual scene and reduces their effect greatly. Later on, however, a horde of the Knights Templar storming the village present a far more persuasive presentation of their powers.This is another enjoyable instalment in the series. Each entry manages to be more than 'just another episode', however, due to Ossario's inspiring passion for the subject, and 'Return of the Evil Dead' is a substantial project in its own right. It perhaps lacks the atmospheric chill of 'Ghost Galleon' and 'Night of the Seagulls', but the Knights' relentless, statuesque vigil throughout the night awaiting the emergence of the last few survivors makes for a morbidly enthralling scenario.

jadavix In this superior sequel to "Tombs of the Blind Dead", the templars attack an entire village celebrating a festival commemorating their disposal hundreds of years ago. The body count is thus much greater than the first movie, which featured only a small band of heroes and anti-heroes against the skeletons on horses.The violence is also much increased. This version features an impaling, a limb being hacked off, and in one particularly memorable scene, a beheading. The festival-attack scene is nowhere near as violent as it could be. I guess it is harder to use those kinds of special effects the more people are on screen? Either way, it is not until the end that the movie turns really violent.It is also not until the end that the movie turns scary. If you watch a lot of horror movies, you know genuine fear is actually a rare emotion to feel during one's runtime. Like the original, Return of the Evil Dead manages genuine tension thanks to the impressive set up the movie ends with, and the minimalist, heart-pounding soundtrack. It is scarier than the original, and in my opinion, superior.It also features a moronic, monobrow-having halfwit who reminded me of Gotho from Paul Naschy's Hunchback of the Morgue. The scene where he sticks his head out, only to be beheaded, unbeknownst to the lady he is trying to save - until blood starts flowing down his arm - is a work of art.One thing that makes this movie more effective is its refusal to bow to the same old morality lessons Hollywood movies always feature (it is Spanish). Everyone knows that in mainstream American films, if a character acts brave, or puts themselves on the line for another, that character will survive the situation. In Return of the Evil Dead, they don't. This ups the tension, because you can see they're not playing by the same rules we're all familiar with, and you really don't know what's going to happen next.

callanvass I hated Tombs of The Blind Dead. It was downright boring in my opinion. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to this one very much. I wasn't exactly enthused about this movie either, though it was watchable for the most part. Unlike Tombs of The Blind Dead, this one is more action oriented. It has semblance of suspense, along with some moody atmosphere at times. The photography is solid as well, as is the locations they used. The gore isn't that great. We get a beheading, a ripped out heart, eye are burned, and more. I'd say it was pretty average. The Templars themselves are very cool looking. Despite how ancient they look, I wouldn't want them after me. The acting is pretty bad with unlikable characters. Tony Kendall is OK as our macho hero. He hilariously no sells several punches to the gut at one point. Loretta Tovar is a tad annoying as Monica. Her stuttering act was annoying. Esperanza Roy is OK as well. Most of the people were dubbed, so it's a bit hard to rate. Overall, it is worth at least a look. Those that hated the first film, probably won't love this one, but they should at least find it to be tolerable.5.2/10

lastliberal This is only the second film in the series and already they are changing the story. The knights got their eyes plucked out by birds in the first, and now they are burned out before they are burned alive. Well, which is it? It is slow in the beginning, but picks up after the dead return.About 20 hole up in a church, but some are trying to get out on their own. The Mayor (Fernando Sancho) uses one to try and get away, and when that doesn't work, he uses the man's daughter to distract the knights while he escapes. He gets his just desserts.The ending was anti-climatic.