Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
{{Short description|2010 film by Eli Craig}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
| image = Tucker-and-dale-vs-evil.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Eli Craig
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Morgan Jurgenson
- Albert Klychak
- Rosanne Milliken
- Deepak Nayar
}}
| screenplay = {{plainlist|
- Eli Craig
- Morgan Jurgenson
}}
| story = Eli Craig
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| music = {{plainlist|
- Michael Shields
- Andrew Kaiser
}}
| cinematography = David Geddes
| editing = Bridget Durnford
| production_companies = {{plainlist|
- Eden Rock Media{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/67879-TUCKER-ANDDALEVSEVIL|title=Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2011)|work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|accessdate=October 13, 2023}}
- Kintop Pictures
- Urban Island
- Looby Lou
}}
| distributor = Magnet Releasing
| released = {{Film date|2010|01|22|df=y}}
| runtime = 89 minutes{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFV274613/ | title=Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (15) | publisher=British Board of Film Classification | date=2011-08-22 | access-date=2011-08-31 | archive-date=August 29, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829131756/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFV274613/ | url-status=dead }}
| country = {{plainlist|
- Canada
- India{{cite web |title=Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8dbeb269 |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=31 December 2022 |archive-date=December 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231130320/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8dbeb269 |url-status=dead }}
- United States{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/tucker-dale-vs-evil-v493398|work=Allrovi|title=Tucker & Dale vs. Evil|last=Buchanan|first=Jason|accessdate=January 17, 2012|archive-date=July 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719235456/http://www.allmovie.com/movie/tucker-dale-vs-evil-v493398|url-status=live}}
}}
| language = English
| budget = $5 million{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tucker-and-Dale-Vs-Evil#tab=summary|title=Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011)|work=The Numbers|accessdate=2016-05-19|archive-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616192644/http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tucker-and-Dale-Vs-Evil#tab=summary|url-status=live}}
}}
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a 2010 comedy horror film directed by Eli Craig and written by Craig and Morgan Jurgenson. It stars Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Brandon Jay McLaren, Jesse Moss, and Chelan Simmons. Labine and Tudyk play a pair of well-meaning hillbillies who are mistaken for killers by a group of clueless college students. The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and received a limited release in the United States.
Plot
A group of college kids – Allison, Chad, Chloe, Chuck, Jason, Naomi, Todd, Mitch, and Mike – go on a camping trip in West Virginia. While at a gas station, they encounter Tucker and Dale, two well-meaning hillbillies who recently bought an abandoned lakefront cabin in the woods. On Tucker's advice, Dale tries to talk to Allison, but his appearance and nervous behavior frighten her and her friends. While Tucker and Dale repair their cabin, Chad tells the group about the "Memorial Day Massacre", a hillbilly attack that took place 20 years prior. They later go skinny-dipping at a lake where Tucker and Dale are fishing. Startled by the pair, Allison hits her head. The hillbillies save her from drowning, but the others run off, believing they are kidnapping her.
The next day, Allison awakens at Tucker and Dale's cabin. Initially frightened, she gradually befriends them. Concurrently, Chuck leaves to get the police while Chad leads the others in heading to the cabin to save Allison from the hillbillies. They arrive as Tucker unknowingly hits a beehive while chopping wood, causing him to wildly swing his chainsaw. Believing he is attacking them, the group scatters, and Mitch accidentally impales himself on a fallen tree branch. After finding Mitch's body and concluding he was murdered, Chad persuades the others that they are in a battle for survival. They return to the cabin, where they misinterpret Allison and Dale digging an outhouse hole as her digging her own grave and attack. However, Todd impales himself on a spear he brought, Mike dives into a wood chipper while attempting to tackle Tucker, and Allison gets knocked out by Dale's shovel. As Dale takes her inside, Tucker assumes the group are part of a suicide pact and dissuades Dale from calling the police for fear that they will be accused as murderers.
Before long, Chuck returns with Sheriff Gurr, who expresses doubt over Tucker and Dale's theory before accidentally killing himself with a loose beam. Chuck grabs Gurr's gun, but accidentally shoots himself with it. Chad returns, taking the hillbillies' dog Jangers hostage. Tucker rescues Jangers, but gets captured by Chad, who tortures him and cuts off two of his fingers to lure out Dale. Dale leaves to save Tucker while Chad and Naomi try to rescue Allison. She explains what happened, but they accuse her of having Stockholm syndrome. Tucker and Dale return before Allison leads everyone in a calm discussion, during which Chad reveals his grandmother told him his father died in the Memorial Day Massacre while his mother was the sole survivor. Jason and Chloe break in to save Allison, but a fire breaks out. In the ensuing chaos, Tucker, Dale, and Allison escape; Naomi, Chloe, and Jason are killed; and Chad is injured, disfigured, and becomes mentally unhinged. The trio try to escape in the hillbillies' truck, but crash. An injured Tucker tells Dale Chad took Allison to an old sawmill, where Chad threatens to kill her for "[going] hillbilly" unless she becomes his girlfriend. However, Dale arrives and rescues her. While barricading themselves upstairs, they find newspaper clippings revealing Chad's father was one of the hillbillies responsible for the Memorial Day Massacre. While Chad is distracted by the revelation, Dale throws a box of chamomile tea at him, causing him to have an asthma attack and fall out of a window to his apparent death.
Three days later, the police and a news crew arrive at the cabin, concluding the deaths appeared to be part of a suicide pact and a deranged killer, Chad, who survived and kills the news crew. Elsewhere, Tucker convalesces at a hospital while Dale goes bowling with Allison. While there, Dale encourages a fellow hillbilly to talk to some girls, leading to a new misunderstanding while Dale and Allison confess their feelings for each other and kiss.
Cast
{{castlist|
- Tyler Labine as Dale Dobson
- Alan Tudyk as Tucker McGee
- Katrina Bowden as Allison
- Jesse Moss as Chad
- Chelan Simmons as Chloe
- Philip Granger as Sheriff Gurr
- Brandon Jay McLaren as Jason
- Christie Laing as Naomi
- Travis Nelson as Chuck
- Alex Arsenault as Todd
- Adam Beauchesne as Mitch
- Joseph Allan Sutherland as Mike
- Karen Reigh as Cheryl
- Tye Evans as Chad's Dad
- Weezer as Jangers
}}
Additionally, the film's director, Eli Craig, and his wife Sasha make cameo appearances as a cameraman and reporter respectively.
Production
The production began in June 2009 with the casting of the actors. Principal photography started one month later in Calgary, Alberta.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/16688|title=Cast Fills Out for 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil'|last=Miska|first=Brad|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=2009-07-08|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=July 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711183720/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/16688|url-status=live}} In October 2009, post production ensued in British Columbia, and the first images were released as part of the American Film Market.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/17869|title=AFM '09: First Image from 'Tucker & Dale vs Evil'|last=Miska|first=Brad|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=2009-10-28|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=February 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201153115/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/17869|url-status=live}}
Reception
=Box office=
The film premiered on 22 January 2010 at Sundance Film Festival{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19562|title=SXSW '10 REVIEW: Another Look at 'Tucker and Dale vs Evil'|last=Anderson|first=Tim|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=2010-03-23|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=March 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326115506/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19562|url-status=live}} and was on 12 March 2010 part of the SXSW Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19609|title=SXSW '10: Complete Review Round-Up!|last=Miska|first=Brad|work=Bloody Disgusting|date=2010-03-26|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=March 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329000327/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19609|url-status=live}} The film was distributed by Magnolia and received a limited theatrical release in the US on 30 September 2011.{{cite web |last=Barton |first=Steve |date=2011-07-08 |title=U.S. and Canadian One-Sheets Debut: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/25293/u-s-and-canadian-one-sheets-debut-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil/ |accessdate=2014-01-31 |work=Dread Central |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219220312/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/25293/u-s-and-canadian-one-sheets-debut-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil/ |url-status=live }} On its opening weekend, the film grossed $52,843 from 30 theaters. It grossed $223,838 in the US. It grossed between $5 and $5.3 million outside the US.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=tuckeranddalevsevil.htm|title=Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil|work=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816061847/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=tuckeranddalevsevil.htm|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports that 85% of 116 surveyed critic gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 6.9/10. The critical consensus states: "Like the best horror/comedies, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil mines its central crazy joke for some incredible scares, laughs, and—believe it or not—heart".{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tucker_and_dale_vs_evil/|title=Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2011)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster|accessdate=2018-03-20|archive-date=April 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419172218/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tucker_and_dale_vs_evil|url-status=live}} The film also has a score of 65 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 23 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/tucker-dale-vs-evil|title=Tucker & Dale vs Evil|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=February 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215131532/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/tucker-dale-vs-evil|url-status=live}}
Todd Gilchrist of Shock Till You Drop wrote: "Eli Craig's feature debut celebrates genre conventions while turning the traditional view of horror film heroes and villains upside down."{{Cite web|url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/reviewsnews.php?id=14585|title=Tucker & Dale vs Evil|last=Gilchrist|first=Todd|work=Shock Till You Drop|date=2010-03-23|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=October 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017212917/http://shocktillyoudrop.com/news/reviewsnews.php?id=14585|url-status=live}} Roger Ebert also gave the film a positive review, writing: "Students of the Little Movie Glossary may find it funny how carefully Tucker and Dale works its way through upended cliches".{{cite web|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2011|title=Tucker and Dale vs. Evil|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=2011-10-05|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=October 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027093013/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2011|url-status=live}} Noel Murray of The A.V. Club rated it C+ and called it "surprisingly clever" but "too slick and too cute".{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/tucker-dale-vs-evil-62510|title=Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil|last=Murray|first=Noel|work=The A.V. Club|date=2011-09-29|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201234414/http://www.avclub.com/review/tucker-dale-vs-evil-62510|url-status=live}} Dennis Harvey of Variety wrote that the film "offers good-natured, confidently executed splatstick whose frequent hilarity suffers only from peaking too early."{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/tucker-dale-vs-evil-1117942003/|title=Review: 'Tucker & Dale vs. Evil'|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|work=Variety|date=2010-01-27|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305142554/https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/tucker-dale-vs-evil-1117942003/|url-status=live}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Award
! Category ! Nominee ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan=7|Leo Award{{cite web |title=Leo Awards, 2011 Nominees by Program |url=http://www.leoawards.com/2011/nominees_by_program_2011.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210055910/http://www.leoawards.com/2011/nominees_by_program_2011.html |archive-date=2012-02-10 |accessdate=2014-01-31 |work=LeoAwards.com}}
| Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama | {{nom}} |
| Best Feature Length Drama
| Rosanne Milliken and Crawford Hawkins | {{nom}} |
| Best Overall Sound in a Feature Length Drama
| Paul A. Sharpe, Graeme Hughes and Iain Pattison | {{nom}} |
| Best Sound Editing
| James Fonnyadt | {{nom}} |
| Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama
| Dario DiSanto, Brian Campbell, James Fonnyadt, Jay Cheetham, Kirby Jinnah and Kris Casavant | {{nom}} |
| Best Stunt Coordination in a Feature Length Drama
| Jodi Stecyk | {{nom}} |
| Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
| {{nom}} |
| Sitges Film Festival
|rowspan=4|Eli Craig | {{won}} |
| SXSW Film Festival
| Audience Award{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/magnet-releasing-snags-tucker-dale-196244|title=Magnet Releasing Snags 'Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil'|last=Fernandez|first=Jay A.|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2011-06-08|accessdate=2014-01-31|archive-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317033704/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/magnet-releasing-snags-tucker-dale-196244|url-status=live}} | {{won}} |
| Fantasia Festival
| {{won}} |
| Ampia Awards
| AMPIA Award; Best Feature Film | {{won}} |
| rowspan=4|Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
| {{nom}} |
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{nom}} |
| colspan=2|Best Limited-Release/Direct-to-Video Film
| {{won}} |
| Best Screenplay
| Eli Craig, Morgan Jurgenson | {{won}} |
Proposed sequel
In an interview with Choice Cuts, director Eli Craig expressed thoughts on a sequel titled Tucker and Dale Go To Yale and described it as "Good Will Hunting meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre". In that same interview, Craig also liked Alan Tudyk's idea of doing a sequel that was similar to From Dusk till Dawn.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ly0G2cgyog&t=1213s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/2ly0G2cgyog |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Choice Cuts - Episode 34: Eli Craig|accessdate=16 August 2020|newspaper=youtube.com|date=19 Dec 2011}}{{cbignore}}
At HorrorHound Weekend 2014, cast members Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk confirmed that a sequel is in development.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BakMuq5C99c/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/BakMuq5C99c |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Tucker and Dale Vs Evil 2 Announcement!|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=youtube.com|date=24 March 2014}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/alan-tudyk-tyler-labine-announce-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-sequel/|title=Alan Tudyk & Tyler Labine Announce 'Tucker and Dale vs. Evil' Sequel|accessdate=26 March 2014|newspaper=firstshowing.net|date=25 March 2014|archive-date=March 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326060248/http://www.firstshowing.net/2014/alan-tudyk-tyler-labine-announce-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-sequel/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2/|title=Tucker and Dale vs Evil - 2|accessdate=27 March 2014|newspaper=slashfilm.com|date=27 March 2014|archive-date=March 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326102854/http://www.slashfilm.com/tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2/|url-status=live}} In 2016, the two revealed that they are still actively developing the project despite other commitments. When asked of the status of the sequel at Boston Comic Con 2017, Alan Tudyk responded that a script had been written but was disappointing and unlikely to be moving forward.{{Cite web |last=Eisenberg |first=Eric |date=2017-07-28 |title=The Blunt Reason Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil 2 Hasn't Happened, According To Alan Tudyk And Tyler Labine |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1685999/the-blunt-reason-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2-hasnt-happened-according-to-alan-tudyk-and-tyler-labine |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=CinemaBlend |language=en |archive-date=December 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219220313/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1685999/the-blunt-reason-tucker-and-dale-vs-evil-2-hasnt-happened-according-to-alan-tudyk-and-tyler-labine |url-status=live }}
Remake
A South Korean remake titled Handsome Guys was released in South Korea on June 26, 2024.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Yoon-seo|title=[Herald Review] Not your everyday comedy, 'Handsome Guys' boasts unique blend of genres|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240617050609|website=The Korea Herald|date=June 17, 2024|access-date=July 21, 2024|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20110223140320/http://www.tuckeranddale.com/}}
- {{IMDb title|1465522}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|tucker_and_dale_vs_evil}}
{{Eli Craig}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker and Dale vs. Evil}}
Category:2010 comedy horror films
Category:2010s buddy comedy films
Category:2010 independent films
Category:American comedy horror films
Category:American buddy comedy films
Category:American independent films
Category:American slasher films
Category:Canadian comedy horror films
Category:Canadian independent films
Category:Canadian slasher films
Category:English-language Canadian films
Category:Films about vacationing
Category:Films set in West Virginia
Category:Films with screenplays by Eli Craig
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:Films about hillbillies
Category:English-language comedy horror films