I must confess that the recent DVD release of Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki really took me by surprise. I'm a fan of the first Evil Dead Trap, despite the fact that I don't necessarily view it as an example of great filmmaking. It's a far cry from a great horror flick, however it really does stand as an example of outstanding popcorn fodder. For a night of gratuitous excess, it really does fit the bill. Although I'm certain that I have seen Evil Dead Trap 2 in the past, it must've been ages ago as I remembered very little upon my recent viewing. Still, the second in the series ranks on the same level as the first, not groundbreaking in any way, but fun on the bun nonetheless.

I don't want to give a whole lot away here, going into Evil Dead Trap 2 fresh would be quite important in ultimately determining your possible enjoyment. I'll give you a very basic and sketchy rundown as I really don't want to go into too many specifics here, hope you understand...it's for your own good shorties.

OK, The story involves a young woman named Aki who spends her time working as a projectionist at a seedy run down theater. Aki is a social misfit to the highest degree she REALLY doesn't seem to fit in. Aki winds up getting together with an old high school acquaintance named Emi, a young woman who is so full of herself and her gig as a news reporter, this alone should be enough to leave Aki running and screaming for the hills. Emi introduces Aki to a married man named Kurahashi; the start of a truly bizarre love triangle ensues. All the while, there's a serial killer that has a penchant for mutilating young women roaming the streets, which mysteriously connects our characters even further. Of course there's some sort of otherworldly presence as well, you can definitely count on that.

I'm not going to lie to you here, the story is pretty out there and by the time the last reel hits, some of you will be scratching your heads while others will be grinning in coolness approval. Unfortunately, this is where audiences are divided as the film does tend to abandon logic veering off into territory that's quite often too stylistic for it's own good (even more so than the first film). This is one of the main reasons that I consider Evil Dead Trap 2 to be a great popcorn film. It's full of all of those great horror flick elements that are fun to watch including lots of blood, cool camera set ups and angles, bizarre lighting techniques and a few satisfying if not forced scares. Although there's not a whole lotta glue holding this macaroni and sparkle picture frame together. Your initial expectations will ultimately determine how you view the film by the time all is said and done.

Performances are actually above average for a flick like this, which came as quite a surprise. Unfortunately, it doesn't make up for the fact that the characters are cookie-cutter and stereotypical at the same time. You're really getting your bang for your buck though, the flick is stylish, creepy and features a lot of that oozing red stuff. If you're feeling in that kinda shallow horror flick kinda mood, you just may end up enjoying yourself.

All things considered, the transfer quality here is pretty decent. The film itself features some really drab colors and some of the darker scenes will most likely always look quite dark. Print damage is actually minimal and there are only a few moments that feature some annoying digital artifacts. Overall, I'd say that the transfer while less than spectacular fits the bill for the title at hand.

Audio is presented in a solid Japanese stereo surround track with optional English subs. The audio track is actually quite clear and robust with solid dialogue and really no evidence of distortion. The yellow subs are nice and readable, removable and appear to be accurately translated.

Extras include a few trailers for some other Unearthed Films releases and a brief still gallery. I dug Evil Dead Trap 2, it's just what the doctor ordered for a lazy Sunday morning drive-in flick. Keep your expectations in check and you may just find yourself popping the Evil Dead Trap 2 pill on occasion as well.