The Evil Dead was a game-changing horror movie upon its release in 1981. It combined horror and excessive gore with a mischievous sense of fun, eventually spawning a franchise of five (and counting) movies, various video games, a musical and a television spin-off series.
The history of the Evil Dead series is a long and bumpy one, with various mishaps and challenges faced by the movie makers along the way. Here's a look into the strange history of the movies and series, unearthing some interesting bites of ghoulish trivia.
10 The Evil Dead Was Based On A Short Film Sam Raimi Also Directed
Within The Woods was a short film director Sam Raimi shot with his friend Bruce Campbell back in 1978. Made for only $1600, it was designed to test the skills of those involved, hoping that it would lead to something bigger.
Sam Raimi actually managed to get Within The Woods shown at a local theater, on the same night as a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was very well-received, and gave the cast and crew a lot of hope for future projects.
9 There Were Several Other Suggested Titles For The Movie
Before settling on The Evil Dead, the movie went through several other titles. Some were very on-the-nose, others a little dull (one investor told Sam Raimi that nobody would want to watch a film with 'Book' in the title, when Raimi suggested 'Book of the Dead').
Other working titles for The Evil Dead were: 'Blood Flood', 'These Bitches are Witches', 'Fe-Monsters' and 'The Evil Dead Men and the Evil Dead Women'.
8 Stephen King Loved The Evil Dead
Upon seeing the movie at the Cannes Film Festival, legendary horror writer Stephen King wrote a glowing review of The Evil Dead in Twilight Zone Magazine. He described it as being “the most ferociously original film of the year”.
This praise boosted The Evil Dead's profile no end, and boosted it to cult status, even though it had been billed as a 'video nasty' in the UK. It's this popularity that encouraged Sam Raimi and co to do a sequel six years later (and King also had a hand in that).
7 The Evil Dead Had A Big Impact On Peter Jackson
The Evil Dead had a huge impact on Peter Jackson. Before the Oscar-nominated director made the incredible The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he directed some extremely gory movies clearly inspired by the Evil Dead movies. Both Dead Alive and Bad Taste are cheap, low-budget and full of visceral thrills.
Jackson once said of The Evil Dead: "It made me think, God, I could do that. I was old enough, I had a 16mm camera, and here comes a horror movie that somebody of similar age made with a 16mm camera."
6 Evil Dead 2 Is A Remake And A Sequel
Evil Dead 2 is both a remake and a sequel of the original movie. This is because the producers were unable to use footage from the first film to act as a 'recap' at the start of the sequel.
Instead, they just remade the first film but changed things slightly due to time and budget constraints. For instance, in the first movie five people go to the cabin in the woods. In Evil Dead 2, it's only Ash and Linda.
5 Army Of Darkness Was Almost A Partial Remake, Too
Evil Dead: Army of Darkness was almost going to be a partial remake of the first two movies. A draft script delved into Ash's life before he encountered the Deadites, and wouldn't have seen him time traveling until halfway through the movie.
When Universal Pictures greenlit a direct sequel to Evil Dead 2, Sam Raimi eschewed this idea and had the medieval action starting almost right away.
4 There Was An Evil Dead Musical
Approved by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead: The Musical started in 2003 in Toronto and was a surprise hit. It garnered rave reviews and was even compared to The Rocky Horror Show! A cast recording was released in 2007.
Combining elements of all three original movies, the show was full of catchy songs and gory moments. Indeed, a lot of fake blood was used and audiences members near the front of the stage were warned that they were in the 'splash zone'.
3 Evil Dead (2013) Isn't A Remake
Fede Álvarez's bleak 2013 movie was a loose retelling of the original, but it was very much designed to be a part of the same universe, rather than a remake. Ellen Sandweiss reprized her role as Cheryl Williams from the first film in a voice cameo, and archive footage of Bob Dorian as Professor Raymond Knowby was used.
Ash also appears in a post-credits sequence, although there was an even longer one intended. In the cut scene, Ash is driving by in his truck when he comes across a blood-covered Mia.
2 Evil Dead Rise Is Going To Keep The Gory Tradition Going
The Evil Dead movies are generally known for the gallons of blood used during filming. It's always real, too, with little to no CGI being used to 'cheat'. Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin is staying true to the tradition with the new movie.
Apparently, so much fake blood was needed that they had to hire an industrial kitchen to produce the necessary amount. Allegedly, over 1700 gallons of the red stuff was used during filming.
1 Sam Raimi's Favorite Car Appears In Most Of The Movies
Sam Raimi's beloved car the 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 has appeared in all of his movies, and is a constant in the Evil Dead franchise. It's the car that Ash drives (even going back in time with him in Army of Darkness), and appears again in Ash Vs The Evil Dead.
The Oldsmobile has a cameo in the 2013 movie, and although it's not present in Evil Dead Rise, writer and director Lee Cronin revealed that the chainsaw wielded by Beth is the same color as Raimi's car. A little Easter Egg for the fans.