The consensus is firmly positive, with praise centred on Raimi’s restless visual invention and the film’s mixture of gore and physical comedy. Most critics treat Evil Dead II as a comic reworking of its predecessor rather than a straightforward horror sequel. Campbell’s committed slapstick performance draws particular admiration, while the camerawork, lens tricks and exaggerated effects are repeatedly credited with making the bloodshed funny. The prevailing response is delight at how inventive the mayhem remains.
The differences concern emphasis more than approval, and there is no substantial negative dissent. Variety offers the clearest qualification about the storytelling, describing it as chiefly an excuse for Raimi to devise fresh shocks. The AV Club treats the film as an outright comedy, finding charm in its dated latex monsters and stop-motion. Across the reviews, enthusiasm varies in degree, but the comic excess is consistently treated as a strength.