Tucker and Dale vs Evil

Tucker and Dale vs Evil is my absolute favorite kind of film. I don't know where it came from, I don't know who's involved, and I don't even know what it's about. This is your warning right now: the less you know about the film, the better it is. That isn't to say that it's not worth seeing if you've had certain things spoiled - I went in knowing quite a bit about the plot and I still had a hell of a time. If you can handle a small amount of nudity and a decent slathering of gore, you'll have a blast. Don't read any further, just go.

You read further! Just so you know, I can't really discuss the movie without giving away certain plot elements, so here goes. Tucker and Dale (Alan Tudyk of Firefly and Tyler Labine of Reaper) are two hillbillies trying to live out their dream in piece. Tucker just purchased a vacation home in the middle of the woods. A dirty, run-down cabin which they absolutely love. It's literally falling apart, but they couldn't be happier. They take joy in the simple things, something we could all learn to do. Things start to go awry when a group of rowdy college kids show up in the area for a camping trip. When Tucker and Dale rescue one of the college kids from drowning, it's mistaken for an abduction. Soon, after a series of unfortunate accidental deaths, the kids think Tucker and Dale are deranged killers out to get them.

It's a fantastic premise, a simple premise, and it takes the whole woodsy horror genre and turns it on its head. What's even funnier than the kids' misconception of Tucker and Dale is Tucker and Dale's misconception of the kids, thinking they're enacting some sort of suicide pact. Tudyk and Labine are great as the incredibly warmhearted duo who are honestly terrified of all of these kids and their suicidal ways. It's surprising how much fun is lifted from what's essentially one gag without it ever getting stale. Sure, a few of the deaths are similar, but that's nothing more than a nitpick considering the overall quality of the film.

In the end, what really makes Tucker and Dale vs Evil a great movie is its amount of heart. These are two very likable guys and when turned into heroes, its very easy to root for them. The film's third act takes a huge departure, not in a negative way, but a logical way, following a road that was planted early on in the film. 

The best thing about the film is that it really does a service to its genre, because from here on out, I'm never going to look at slasher films the same again. I'll enjoy them more as I question whether or not the killer is just misunderstood.

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