The Evil Dead Films

The Evil Dead films are one of the most popular and influential cult classic films of all time. The films were directed by Sam Raimi, whose credits include the Darkman, The Quick And The Dead, A Simple Plan, and the recent Spider Man movies. The Evil Dead story begins in 1978 when Raimi and his buddies produced Within the Woods, a short horror film used to convince investors to invest money for the first film . Sam wrote the script and raised $1,600 with the help of Bruce Campbell and Rob Tapert. Within the Woods featured cast and crew such as Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Scott Spiegal, who would later work on the Evil Dead films.

In 1979, after raising nearly $90,000, Sam shot The Evil Dead with a cast and crew of 37 people. The main location was an abandoned cabin in the mountains near Morristown, Tennessee. The Evil Dead lived up to its billing as "The Ultimate Experience in Grueling Horror": it featured beheadings, dismemberment and lots of squirting bodily fluids. The film opened to mediocre success in the US, but it was a huge hit in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Over the next few years, The Evil Dead became successful enough as a underground hit to warrant a sequel. In 1986 Raimi and his friends reunited to make Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn. The film featured the return of Bruce Campbell as "Ash" and featured a fresh batch of victi--I mean, actors. Being a big fan of the Three Stooges, Sam threw in some slapstick along with the usual gore. The film became less scary than its predecessor, but more entertaining. In the film's most famous scene, Ash's hand is possessed by evil, and after it gives him a brutal beating he's forced to saw it off with a chainsaw.

Six years later, Raimi and the Evil Dead crew decided to finish the trilogy with a third installment. Entitled Army of Darkness, the film picks up right where Evil Dead 2 left off, with Ash landing in a medieval kingdom. More a swashbuckling action comedy than a horror film, Army of Darkness is best known for Ash's memorable lines such as "Hail to the king, baby," and "Give me some sugar, baby."

Currently there are no plans for an Evil Dead IV. Sam Raimi has said that he would like do to another installment, but has yet to confirm. Currently there are plans for an Evil Dead re-make with Sam Raimi as writer and producer, but they are in search for a director. We'll keep you posted!