From the torrent of celluloid inspired by the success of George Romero's quick-buck masterwork Night of the Living Dead, only one film seems to have successfully tapped into the wellspring of black humor which is a latent but indespensible ingredient of any good horror film. Beginning with his breakthrough film, The Evil Dead, director Sam Raimi added innovation to inspiration by tempering Romero's gore with tension-puncturing humor. At the center of Raimi's saga is a likable schlub named Ash. As portrayed by Bruce Campbell, the vainly undaunted Ash finds his frazzled patience tested time and again by all manner of ghoulish, supernatural phenomena. B MONSTER: Have B horror type films always been a love of yours or are those types of films just another gig for you? BRUCE CAMPBELL: I'd have to say it's just another gig. I do have a certain fondness for the genre, after all that's where it began for me. When we made the first Evil Dead, we had made the decision to shoot a horror film because at the time it was a very marketable and successful genre. Granted, because of that and Evil Dead II, I ended up doing several genre pictures. Now, I'm trying to do as many different types of roles and receive as much exposure as I can. Don't get me wrong, I will do another genre film as long as and only if it's a good script. Q: It's been pointed out that Ash is sort of Raimi's (and the audience's) punching bag. Why do you think people like to see this guy get beat up? BRUCE:He's basically an idiot, and he asks for everything he gets. Also, Ash represents everything that people would like to see happen to a "hero." Q: Did you sustain any injuries in the course of making those films? BRUCE:Let's see, three films over the course of twelve years... well, I got a nasty cut on the face (required stitching), various bruises, scratches, lacerations -- that and the mental anguish. Q: Do you have a favorite among your own films or performances? BRUCE:I like to think I was bearable in the two-parter I did for Homicide and the pilot episode for Brisco. Q: At this point in your career, which project do fans seem to best remember you for and is it the work you want to be remembered for? BRUCE: I always find it funny when I'm signing autographs to see a six-year-old and his mom ask me to sign a picture of Brisco right after a mid-twenties guy dressed all in black asks me to autograph his chainsaw. It seems to be half and half between Brisco and Evil Dead. I have no complaints about being known for Brisco and Ash. I'm proud of the work I did with those characters. The slashing and gore of modern horror films is used most often to cover a conspicuous lack of intrinsic merit. Graphically engaging horror films can, however, be mounted with a degree of genuine storytelling talent: The Evil Dead (1982) An unstoppable industry buzz, helped along by Stephen King, turned this innovative cheapie into an internationally recognized cult gem overnight. Director Sam Raimi scraped and scrimped to complete this flick, filled with budget-conscious innovations and boundless energy.. Acting: B- Atmosphere: A- Fun: A- The Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn (1987) Not so much a sequel as a freewheeling remake with a more accommodating budget. Arguably the best of the Evil Dead trilogy, it features a refreshing dose of genre-tweaking comedy. Gags notwithstanding, the film delivers its shocks with unerring skill. Acting: A Atmosphere: A Fun: A Dead Alive (1992) New Zealander Peter Jackson staged this hyper-kinetic gross-out, filled with mind-blowing effects and over-the-top gore. Jackson, who also directed Meet the Feebles, Bad Taste and Heavenly Creatures, possesses a dubious knack for delivering chuckles and shudders simultaneously Acting: B+ Atmosphere: A- Fun: A Night of the Living Dead (1968) George Romero's trendsetting cheapie ushered in the new wave of graphic horror that has yet to subside. Lingering shots of zombies slurping up human innards, and stark simplistic black and white photography enhance this tale of a sequestered band surviving a mass zombie onslaught. Acting: C+ Atmosphere: A+ Fun: A- MORE WITH BRUCE CAMPBELL