Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Tucker & Dale vs Evil'

Written by Scott Edwards

Just needing to get away from it all to recharge your batteries is one thing we all need to do. I know I have used this line several times, but it is true. Everyone needs a vacation once in a while, time away to clear your head and just get back to what you are best at, being you. Finding that one spot where you feel most comfortable is the difficult thing, but once you find it, you can never let it go.

Two best friends Tucker and Dale are on their way to their new vacation home. Needing to get away from everyday life for a bit and just focus on what is there seems to be the best way for them to get to feeling better. The two hillbillies are trying to purchase some supplies when a group of college kids hit up the local shop and try to get their hands on some beer. Dale tries to make a good impression on the young ladies at hand but can’t help the fact that everything he does seems to scare them away.

The college kids make it up to their camp site and start to drink and tell stories. Chad, the leader of the pack tells a story about a pair of hillbillies who killed everyone who set up camp there twenty years earlier. Putting everyone on edge, the group decides to unwind and go for a swim in the nearby lake. Minding their own business, Tucker and Dale are going fishing at the same time…in the same lake. Seeing a very pretty girl getting undressed on the top of a rock, the two make a sound that causes her to fall and hit her head. Doing nothing wrong, the two save her from drowning, but all the college kids can think about is the killer hillbilly story and run away.

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​Waking up in a strange house, the college beauty Allison is scared out of her mind and when the supposed attacker enters the room she cannot stop screaming. Dale turns away in shame and apologizes for bringing her pancakes and makes her bacon and eggs instead. Allison then understands that these two are not the hillbilly killers she has heard about, but two guys that are just out to have a good time. Dale never thought he would be good at talking to the ladies, but when he is able to sit down and play a board game with Allison, he finds that it is much easier than he could have ever imagined. Outside of the cabin however, the group of college kids are planning their attack to get their friend back and rid the world of the savage killers.

Tucker & Dale vs Evil is a tale of misunderstanding. As everyone believes in all of the different stereotypes that are attached to people, that is what brings this movie to life. As Tucker and Dale are out on their holiday, trying to fix up their new vacation home they are met with all kinds of resistance from the college kids who think they are the made-up killers. As the two go on their normal duties of cleaning up their new residence, the college kids try to attack but end up killing themselves. Allison tries her hardest to keep the two groups from fighting, but cannot as her friend’s minds cannot be changed. 

This movie is just fantastic, delivering all of the classic horror scenes you could ever imagine along with the laughs to go along with them. I am ashamed that it has taken me so long to see Tucker & Dale vs Evil and it falls back into the stereotyping based upon the DVD cover. It looked stupid, but once you give it a chance you will not be able to draw yourself away from the screen. Blood? Yes. Horror? Kind of. Humor? Oh, heck yes!  I could not stop laughing as the first college kid dies and did not stop until the last one did. With everything being an accident and a wood chipper incident reminiscent of Fargo you should not be worried about what you are getting into. If you are a fan of horror movies and love comedies as well, this movie will make you a very happy camper. Stay Scared…and Smiling.

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