Evil Dead

The Evil Dead started as a series of films created by Sam Raimi. They focus on Ashley "Ash" J. Williams who is played by Bruce Campbell. Ash deals with 'deadites', which are demons created by the Necronomicon. The series has since expanded into other formats such as video games and comic books. An off-Broadway musical opened in New York in October, 2006.

Development

Within The Woods

See also: Within the Woods

In January 1979 Bruce Campbell had just was then three years out of high school, while being a college dropout and then quit his job as a taxi driver. Sam Raimi was studying literature at Michigan State University with Robert Tapert finishing his economics degree. While finishing the remaining finishes of It's Murder! Tapert suggested to Raimi on doing a feature length film. Raimi felt it to be impossible citing that they could never pull off the funding. Campbell didn't mind stating that "I could always move back home." Tapert was fearing that he would become an expert in fisheries/wildlife while Raimi was afraid that he would go back to work at his dad's home furnishing store. These were the practical reasons that convinced the three to put fourth a feature length film. The three were highly valued fans of the comedy genre, though they decided not to do such a film as they felt "a feature-length yuck fest just didn't compute." To to the film as a horror was put fourth after they were inspire by a well noted scene from It's Murder. This promoted Raimi to write the short film Clockwork. The three felt the end result was very effective and represented, thinking that it would represent a new direction that their films could take, that of a semi-successful horror film.

This would later ensue for research of low-budget horror films at the local drive-in theater. The many films that were seen were the "two films for two dollars," as they got the chance to document the behavior of what would become their target audience. Campbell quoted, "the message was very clear-kept the pace fast and furious, and once the horror starts, never let up. 'The gore the merrier' became our prime directive." Films that were witnessed amongst them included Massacre at Central High and Revenge of the Cheerleaders. The idea to do a "prototype" was then commissioned as to not only prove to themselves they were capable of doing a full length horror film but also to potential investors. At Michigan State of the same year, Raimi had been studying H.P. Lovecraft and was most impressed with Necronomicon, or simply The Book of the Dead. From these rough concepts, he concocted a shorty story where a group of four friends unwittingly dig up an ancient Indian burial ground and unleash horrific spirits and demons. In the spring of 1979 filming of Within the Woods started over a three day weekend on a budget of $1,600.

During the course of the film, Campbell had to sleep in his extensive make-up. He didn't rally care which way or another, though when filming was over he realized that his skin had genetically transferred with the latex appliances. This caused serious rashes for months and then the situation went further. Campbell found out the liquid his character was drooling was actual black latex paint, meaning he could have died of chemical poisoning, though somehow he survived, which he claims he doesn't know how or why. Within the Woods, as well as serving as a prototype, had impressed the filmmakers. For a marketing strategy a screening was arranged at their former high school, with a positive response.

Films

Within the Woods

Main article: Within the Woods

While it is not technically a part of the series, Within the Woods was the first creation in what would become the Evil Dead universe. It was made to secure funds to make The Evil Dead properly.

The Evil Dead

Main article: The Evil Dead

Released in 1981, this is the first official film in the series. It introduces the series' protagonist, Ash, and the Book of the Dead and what it brings with it. The Evil Dead is a horror movie with some elements of black comedy.

Evil Dead II

Main article: Evil Dead II

Released in 1987, this is the film that introduced the series' trademark humor, while expanding on the horror themes of Ash's dealings with the Necronomicon and demons.

Army of Darkness

Main article: Army of Darkness

Released in 1993, this is the last film in the trilogy, taking Ash back in time to England in 1300 AD. The movie has horror attributes, but is based mainly on humor and action. This time the evil creatures are referred to as deadites.

Rumored sequels

It has been rumored for years that there will be an Evil Dead 4. Sam Raimi has stated in an interview that he would like to make this film, as soon as he has completed work on Spider-Man 3. In an article released May 3, 2007, he stated he was trying to get his brother Ivan Raimi, who wrote Army of Darkness, to write the screenplay with him.

Another popular rumor is that the sequel to Freddy vs. Jason will include Ash, and possibly be named Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. Raimi has decided against it, as he would not have creative control over the character.

Unofficial sequels

In Italy, The Evil Dead was released under the title La Casa ("The House") and Evil Dead II became La Casa II. These were followed by three unrelated movies: Umberto Lenzi's La Casa 3 (aka Ghosthouse) (1988), Fabrizio Laurenti's La Casa 4 (aka Witchery) (1988) and Claudio Fragasso's La Casa 5 (1990). This is similar to what has happened in George Romero's Living Dead series.

Remake

It had been confirmed that a remake would be made of The Evil Dead. It would have been produced by Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi, but was not to include the Ash character. It was also said that the movie would be about a group of teenagers that go to the cabin and find the book, and the similarities with the original would end there.

However, in August 2007, Bruce Campbell revealed in a radio interview that the proposed remake was "going nowhere" and "fizzled" due to extremely negative fan reaction.

Indirect sequels

Bruce Campbell is currently writing, directing and starring in a film titled My Name is Bruce.[6] It does not continue the story of Army of Darkness but is a pseudo-documentary about Bruce living his everyday life in which he is mistaken as Ash and must fight real-life deadites in his home town in Oregon. The film is set to be released in 2007.

Video games

There have so far been four Evil Dead video games:

• The Evil Dead (1984) for Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum
• Evil Dead: Hail to the King (December 18, 2000) for PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and PC
• Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick (May 24, 2003) for PlayStation 2 and Xbox
• Evil Dead: Regeneration (September 13, 2005) for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC

Comic books

Main article: Army of Darkness (comics)

Army of Darkness adaptation

The first Evil Dead related comics appeared in 1992, in the form of a mini-series adaptation of Army of Darkness produced by Dark Horse Comics. A trade paperback of this series is being released by Dynamite Entertainment on September 25, 2006.

Dynamite Entertainment

A new Army of Darkness series was released by Dynamite Entertainment in 2004, this time as a continuation of the stories taking place after the Army of Darkness movie. Initially, two mini-series were released, but soon after an ongoing series was released. There has also been one Tales of the Army of Darkness special which included multiple short stories by different writers and artists. It has been said that this is to be an annually released series. Also, a new bi-monthly mini-series, Darkman vs. Army of Darkness, has been announced which will be released at the same time as the ongoing series.

Mini-series

• Ashes 2 Ashes
• Shop Till You Drop Dead
• Darkman vs. Army of Darkness
• Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness

Ongoing series

• Issues 1-4: "Army of Darkness vs. Re-Animator", which included Herbert West from H.P. Lovecraft's Re-Animator stories. This was because both the Necronomicon used in Evil Dead, as well as the Re-Animator were both created by Lovecraft[7] and therefore have a similar, and sometimes overlapping, fanbase.
• Issues 5-7: "Old School" in which Ash returns to the cabin in the woods to destroy the nexus of Deadite evil.
• Issues 8-11: "Ash Vs. Dracula" in which Ash begins his mission to destroy all other creatures spoken of in the Necronomicon before they wake the Anti-Christ; he starts with Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Werewolf and the Mummy (a resurrected Evil Ash).

Other

• Tales of the Army of Darkness

Musical

Main article: Evil Dead: The Musical

The production team of George Reinblatt, Christopher Bond and Frank Cipolla recently created an Off-Broadway show titled Evil Dead: The Musical, based on the film series. Its New York run was directed by Bond and Hinton Battle, who also choreographed the show. Ryan Ward played the part of Ash. Tying in with the midnight movie plot of a group of friends visiting a wooded cabin and unleashing untold evil, performances did not start until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Previews began October 1 and the show opened November 1 at the New World Stages. It was announced on January 31, 2007 that Evil Dead: The Musical's New York production at New World Stages would close on February 17, 2007. Toronto producers announced a new Toronto production of the show, also starring Ryan Ward, at the Diesel Playhouse. The new production started its running May 1st 2007 and has been announced to end on September 8th, 2007.

References in pop culture

• O Brother, Where Art Thou? movie - The cabin in the valley before it is flooded is a replica of the cabin from The Evil Dead (1981)
• The Necronomicon from the Evil Dead trilogy is visible on the table of the witch Miss Osie in the 1994 horror movie Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.
• In episode 3.1.1 "To Mend And Defend" of ReBoot, the main characters are in a FPS-like game. The character they are fighting is a modified version of Ash from the Evil Dead series. The episode replicates the cabin, including details such as the deer's head, the moving lamp, the tape recorder, piano and the basement trap-door. It also includes the "Dead by dawn" and "Groovy" quotes along with the user's chainsaw, arm and shotgun.
• In the Voorhees home, in Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday, the Necronomicon is seen sitting on a table.
• Strapping Young Lad's video for "Love?" is based on Evil Dead.
• Hard Rock band Lordi's video for "Blood Red Sandman" is a tribute to Evil Dead.
• On the death metal band Deicide's debut album of the same name the third track is titled Dead by Dawn, and is based on the series.
• The video for The Foo Fighters song "Everlong" is based on the laughing room scene in Evil Dead II.
• The Showbread song "Dead By Dawn" is a tribute to the series.
• In the 2000 film High Fidelity, the two main characters played by John Cusack and Jack Black have a humorous discussion about seeing Evil Dead II.
• In the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode, Gee Whiz, Frylock accidentally digs up the Necronomicon while searching through his book collection. Bruce Campbell would later appear as Chicken Bittle in the feature film based on the show.
• In The Simpsons episode Treehouse of Horror V, Homer Simpson tries to get his toaster off his hand just like Ash tries to get his girlfriend's decapitated head off his hand in Evil Dead II.

In Treehouse of Horror III, Bart raises the dead with a book that is very similar to the Necronomicon. When the zombies invade Springfield Public Elementary, Homer grabs a shotgun and fights them off in a near identical manner to that of Ash. Also, Bart fumbles the spell that is supposed to return them to their graves, in a similar manner as Ash fumbles the spells in Army of Darkness.

• Hoss Delgado from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy is a combination of Ash and Snake Pliskin from Escape from L.A. and Escape from New York.
• In Donnie Darko, Donnie and Gretchen attend a screening of The Evil Dead. Director Richard Kelly personally obtained permission from "Sam Raimi's producing partner" to use scenes from The Evil Dead in his film.[8]
• In episode 2 of Moral Orel, Orel and his friend Doughy use the Necronomicon to reanimate the town's dead.
• In World of Warcraft, dwarfs can be seen shooting a target with guns when one of them holds his up and says, "This is my boom stick", a line from Army of Darkness. There is also a quest in Darkshore that has you go to an alter with two tomes. One of the tomes has an arm pop out of it every few seconds and knock a player down that is too close.
• Also, in Warcraft 3, repeatedly clicking on the Rifleman will cause him to say the same thing.
• The song "Chop Off My Hand" by Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 is about the Evil Dead series.
• The sixth track on the second album by Necrophagist, Epitaph, features lyrics that are reminiscent to the plot of the first movie and is entitled "Only Ash Remains" which is a likely reference to Ash being the sole survivor of the first movie.
• On Death's debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, there is a track entitled Evil Dead that deals with the plot of the movie lyrically.
• Texas rock band The Toadies' music video for "Tyler" is based very heavily on Evil Dead II. It features the main Ash-like character clearly being followed by "the evil in the woods" while the band preforms in an isolated cabin. Also present is the tape recorder and the image of smoke being sucked back into tree roots.
• In a recent Old Spice commercial starring Evil Dead's Bruce Campbell, Bruce (in a den with a fireplace and armchair, sporting a robe) talks about experience. On the table next to the armchair is the Necronomicon, and next to the fireplace is Ash's famous chainsaw. Bruce Campbell is now an official spokesperson for Old Spice.
• Skinny Puppy used Evil Dead II samples to drive their song "Who's Laughing Now" from the 1988 album Vivi Sect VI.
• "Evil Never Dies" by the Massachusetts deathcore band The Texas Chainsaw Massacre contains the lyrics 'we are the things that were and shall be again,' a line taken directly from Evil Dead 2.
• White Zombie's Super-Charger Heaven from their Astro-Creep:2000 LP features most of the incantation that awakens the deadites in the first film.
• The song "Fuckin Zombies" by Sacramento punk band The Secretions is about the Evil Dead series.
• The 1991 song "People are Still Having Sex" by LaTour features the recurring sound bite "Hello, lover," which was borrowed from the scene in Evil Dead II showing Linda's disembodied head biting into Ash's hand.
• The cat-like tone, alternating from low to high pitches, which can be heard coming from the rocking chair just before the mirror scene is also depicted coming from telephone receivers in the 976-EVIL series.