Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

  • Review Date: September 30, 2011
  • R
  • Genre: Horror
  • 2011
Review

Common Sense Media says

Clever horror-comedy has decent message underneath gore.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

AGE
9
QUALITY
 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this horror comedy takes one of the genre's most typical cliches and turns it upside down: In this movie, the hillbillies are the good guys, and the college kids who go camping to drink and have sex are the bad guys. Despite this "don't judge a book by its cover" theme, the movie still has tons of gore, blood, and violence, as several teens are (accidentally) killed in gruesome ways. Language is strong, and includes "f--k" and "s--t." Teens are definitely thinking about sex, and there's some sexual innuendo and partial nudity (underwear shots).

  • Positive messages1
    Despite all of the blood and carnage, the movie's main theme is "never judge a book by its cover," as it turns the old "evil hillbilly" horror movie cliche on its ear. A city girl learns to look past a man's rough exterior and see the kind, decent person he is inside. Characters also attempt to work together to solve problems and resolve conflict.
  • Positive role models1
    Dale shows intelligence, kindness, and courage throughout the story, even when his best friend picks on him and talks down to him.
  • Violence4
    Lots of horror movie violence, including bashed-in and bloody heads, saw blades to the face, a machete to the throat, a teen stabbed by a branch, a teen chewed up in a wood-chipper, a shovel to the face, nails through the head, gunshot to the face, severed fingers, an explosion, and gallons of blood and gore.
  • Sex3
    A teen girl strips down to her underwear to swim. Teens kiss and are definitely thinking about sex. Lots of sexual humor and innuendo.
  • Language4
    Strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," "p---y," "bitch," "a--hole," "hell," "goddamn," "Jesus" (as an exclamation), "crap," and "dickwad," plus the middle finger gesture.
  • Consumerism1
    One mention of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Teens drink beer and smoke pot while on their "vacation," though this isn't depicted as regular behavior. They also drink while driving. The hillbillies also drink beer, though all drinking stops when the violence starts.
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What's the story?

Like many horror movies, TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL opens with a carload of college students looking for a good time in the woods; there's also the ominous foreshadowing with the creepy, local hillbillies. But this time, the hillbillies -- Dale (Tyler Labine) and Tucker (Alan Tudyk) -- are good-hearted souls who just want to spend some quality time in their new "vacation home" (i.e. a ramshackle cabin, formerly belonging to a serial killer). After an accident, pretty blond Allison (Katrina Bowden) winds up in Dale's care, but her shallow, short-sighted friends suspect foul play. Before long, grisly deaths start to occur ... but are they random accidents, or is there something more sinister going on? 

Is it any good?

 

Director/co-writer Eli Craig makes his feature debut with this simple, ingenious idea: Why are hillbillies always so nasty and evil in horror movies? What if they're really good folks, and the college students are the awful ones? The movie takes this idea and runs all the way with it, allowing audiences to catch on at their own pace. 

 
Most of the movie's success comes from Labine and Tudyk's lead performances; the actors conjure up an appealing combination of smart, dumb, and sweet, and have a believable friendship. There's also a visceral thrill in the outrageous deaths, each so hilariously implausible that it's shocking. The characters' deadpan reactions to the situation elevate the humor all the more. Although the movie isn't as endlessly engaging as something like Shaun of the Dead, it's still an all-around winner.
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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Is it realistic, or cartoonish? How does that affect its impact? Why does some movie violence make audiences laugh?

  • Have you ever judged a book by its cover? Does this movie make you think about that, or is it too humorous to be taken seriously?

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Teen, 17 years old
November 3, 2011
AGE
15
 
Funny
Lots of gore. My rating: Gory violence, disturbing images, Some strong language, and some partial nudity.
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Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (10) | Read my mind (10)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
November 25, 2011
AGE
10
 
Review by a scholar from colombus university
A great family favourite. Good for boys who are interested in zombies and under the age of 13.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (9) | Had useful details (11) | Read my mind (9)
Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 27, 2012
AGE
15
 
A delightful surprise!
I didn't know what to expect before watching this, but the trailer was interesting and the online reviews were very convincing. I have to say, very original! I thought it would turn into one of those lame, not funny, try-hard kind of films but it was excellent, very funny and even heartwarming at times. The hillbillies are just two normal, sensitive, very caring guys who go off on a fishing trip until they meet up with a group of spoiled teens who go mad and try to murder them (but instead they murder each other, which makes it so hilarious). All I would be cautious with is some gore, lots of "F Bombs" (like any teen horror/comedy) and some minor sexual innuendo but nothing drastic. Great for 15 and up I'd say!
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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Magnet Releasing
Director:Eli Craig
Cast:Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden, Tyler Labine
Genre:Horror
Run time:89 minutes
Theatrical release date:September 30, 2011
DVD release date:November 29, 2011
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:bloody horror violence, language and brief nudity
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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