In 1992 Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell released "Army of Darkness" to a resounding thud in the theaters. A comedy-adventure with light horror elements, it was a sequel to "The Evil Dead" (1981) and "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn" (1987), two of the most notoriously grisly horror movies in existence at that time. It was ignored by general audiences while many fans of the first two Evil Dead films didn't know what to make of it. Thankfully, this fresh spin on "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" did eventually find a very devoted audience with its release to home video. I'm part of that audience.
I've seen Army of Darkness many times, perhaps too many. I would guess I've had 30+ viewings across my lifetime. At one point in my childhood I knew every line by heart and could recite them all to prove it. Many Rocky Horror devotees and other cult film fans could put these viewing numbers to shame, but I consider it a respectable amount.
Naturally the music is ingrained in me with all these viewings from a young age. And hearing snatches of it (or very similar music from the same composer, Joesph LoDuca) in "Hercules the Legendary Journeys" or "Xena Warrior Princess" was always a treat. The following song is not the most "ambiently spooky" one on the soundtrack, but it does have an undercurrent of ghostly happenings which reminds us that one of the fun things about Halloween is embracing and ultimately overcoming fear.
These days, I only watch the film once every few years. But "Building the Deathcoaster" is still one of the handful of songs that always leaps to mind when I think "heroic adventure".
I've seen Army of Darkness many times, perhaps too many. I would guess I've had 30+ viewings across my lifetime. At one point in my childhood I knew every line by heart and could recite them all to prove it. Many Rocky Horror devotees and other cult film fans could put these viewing numbers to shame, but I consider it a respectable amount.
Naturally the music is ingrained in me with all these viewings from a young age. And hearing snatches of it (or very similar music from the same composer, Joesph LoDuca) in "Hercules the Legendary Journeys" or "Xena Warrior Princess" was always a treat. The following song is not the most "ambiently spooky" one on the soundtrack, but it does have an undercurrent of ghostly happenings which reminds us that one of the fun things about Halloween is embracing and ultimately overcoming fear.
These days, I only watch the film once every few years. But "Building the Deathcoaster" is still one of the handful of songs that always leaps to mind when I think "heroic adventure".
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