EVIL DEAD: THE BIRTH OF A FEAR FRANCHISE BY SCOTT DREBIT 4 DEADLYMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE #14 EVIL DEAD When we talk about the roots feature-length film, 1977’s rating in its theatrical release, of horror (in this case, modern) It’s Murder!, so they used guaranteeing that a large, fleshy it helps to be specific, as there Within the Woods as a calling chunk of its intended audience are so many knotty branches card to gain benefactors. It wouldn’t be allowed to see it to investigate. What is now worked, and off they went on the big screen. Home video a franchise (with three films, to Tennessee to shoot their afforded cultheads and casual a well-received remake, a gritty masterpiece. Following fans alike to savor every bit musical, and now a hit TV further financing and months of delicious grue—unless, of series, natch) started out as a of grueling shoots, the film had course, you lived in the UK, mere short film by a group of a local premiere in Detroit in where The Evil Dead shot to young, enthusiastic filmmakers ’81, before a connection of the top of their government- hoping to get investors for a Raimi’s afforded them the mandated “Video Nasties” list, feature. Now, this is a tale opportunity to dance at the effectively banning it there until that has been performed 1982 Cannes Film Festival. January of 1990, and that was for generations; from kids A fortuitous (and rapturous) after several cuts. shooting Super 8 movies in viewing at the festival by one the backyard to filming on a Stephen King ramped up the For those who haven’t seen it smartphone. Usually, the story buzz on this frantic terror ride, (yes, you way in the back—I see ends in sweet memories and and New Line Pictures picked you), a quick recap of the story. faded dreams. But every once up the film for distribution in Five college friends (Bruce in a while, the movie gods the States, soaking screens Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, clear the brush and bestow with its blood-drenched Hal Delrich, Betsy Baker, and upon the moviemakers (and story in early ’83. The film’s Sarah York) head out to a the viewers) a first-rate classic. reputation spread like wildfire, remote cabin in Tennessee. Of course I’m talking about the and it ended up bringing in Once there, they discover the O.G. cabin in the woods, The $2.4 million; amazing, since Sumerian Book of the Dead Evil Dead (1981). once distribution costs, etc. (my favorite version!), as well as were figured in, the film cost a a tape recorder left behind by The short film in question grand total of $375,000. an anthropologist. Of course, was Within the Woods, put they play the recording, which together by future genre But The Evil Dead really took leads to hordes of demons, legends: director Sam Raimi on an undead life when it was some unseen, infesting and (Spider-Man), producer Robert released to home video in ’83 terrorizing the group until only Tapert (30 Days of Night), and by Thorn Emi and then aired on one remains. That’s it. It really is star/producer Bruce Campbell HBO. The timing was perfect; a basic, backyard, grab-your- (Bubba Ho-Tep). Short films VCRs were humming across friends-and-make-a-movie were old hat to these budding the nation, and eager horror plot. Except the boy behind filmmakers; they were itching lovers lapped up everything the camera was Raimi, who to make another movie after that came their way. The film was very intent on making the putting together their first received the dreaded NC-17 biggest splatter splash for the DEADLYMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE #14 5 EVIL DEAD horror community to embrace. trees at a heart-stopping pace. and Raimi hadn’t developed Barely out of his teens when Very low to the ground, the the character into the over- filming commenced on The unseen force ensures that the the-top más macho blowhard Evil Dead, Raimi and his posse people in the cabin stay in the who’s endeared himself to came from a place where all cabin—otherwise its full hellish millions over the decades. great cinema lives: passion. nature will be unleashed on (That Ash is born in 1987’s That, and determination, went the misbegotten. (They have Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn.) a long way towards seeing the enough demonage to deal Rather, this Ash is just another project through. But the most with inside the dilapidated one of the group, a college important aspect, the tangible structure, anyway.) A low kid trying to stay alive; as the quality that built this horror moan accompanies the film progresses, the mantle empire? Talent. of hero is thrust upon him, but there were no When true talent is expectations of stardom involved, the budget this early in the game. becomes a secondary (How could there be?) concern; in fact, lack of budget can cause the The other factor that imagination to soar— solidifies the stature of it has to, in order to The Evil Dead is the very circumnavigate the splattery effects of Tom myriad production Sullivan. Besides the issues—and create usual dismemberments something truly special, and blood orgies, which they did with The Sullivan creates a league Evil Dead. of demon makeup that nods heavily in the So why does this scrappy direction of Italy; grey, little bugger still terrify wizened pancakes with new viewers and keep searing white eyes the jaded horror veteran emphasize a desire to rapt with delight? First, scare, and these ghoulish the premise is so simple designs still mesmerize. it almost hurts. Five people, outside camera wherever it It was important for Raimi to one location, demons, and… goes, adding another layer of come out swinging; and in the go! Very much a “don’t personality to what is normally horror world, well-placed (and bore us, get to the chorus” a passive tool. Once inside, -played) carnage will get you proposition, and without the the camera behaves no less noticed. With effects that are talent to back it up, it could dramatic—extreme close- by turns crude and clever, The have been a disaster (and not ups, Dutch angles, anything to Evil Dead is painted wall-to- even a plot to wave in front of keep the viewer invested—and wall red with a paintbrush as the viewer). But Raimi does before long we’re swept along wide as it is thick. something absolutely brilliant breathlessly. This is truly what that bypasses any concerns sets The Evil Dead apart from As different and frightening as over plot or dialogue: he makes the rest of the Class of ’81— the rest are funny, the franchise the camera a character, and the damn thing WON’T STOP. starts here. And while the it’s the best one in the movie. lighter, whimsical yet ghoulish Interestingly, the Ash who has hijinks of TV’s Ash vs Evil Dead The camera (aided by Tim Philo’s become the figurehead (not may seem far removed from riveting cinematography) acts to mention punching bag) of this electric backwoods die- as the unseen evil lurking in the entire series isn’t really o-rama, make no mistake that the woods; well, lurking would present here; sure, he’s put a Deadite’s blood runs deep. be wrong—rather, it circles, through the wringer physically Very deep. roams, and races through the and emotionally, but Campbell 6 DEADLYMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE #14 EVIL DEAD II on Maximum Overdrive) to films. Released in the States embroiled in a fight for survival back the film, allowing Raimi in March of ’87, it pulled in alongside him. the chance to play with much nearly six million dollars, shinier toys on a budget nearly which is damn good for an I know what you’re saying: ten times the amount of the X-rated movie that doesn’t isn’t this the same story as original. That kind of coin buys have “Deep” or “Throat” in its the first? Well… sort of. Raimi a lot of Karo syrup. name. When it was released wasn’t allowed to use footage on home video later that same from the original; so to recap With money in hand, the gang year, everyone had a chance to the first, he just made it Ash headed out to Wadesboro, see it, and then the franchise and Linda and changed some North Carolina to shoot. The really took off. details. Besides, to bring all the cabin interiors were shot at a cast back for the recap didn’t local junior high school and the Where are my manners? The make sense financially, since production was just far enough plot! Ash (Bruce Campbell he was introducing four more away from De Laurentiis’ again) and Linda (Denise Bixler) characters later on in the film. offices in Wilmington to avoid head to a remote cabin for a The general consensus is that too much meddling. A much getaway. Upon arrival, Ash the story moves forward when smoother ride than the first discovers the Necronomicon Ash is attacked outside the film, production wrapped in Ex-Mortis, aka Book of the cabin (which is how the original December of ’86, and off they Dead, and a tape recorder with ended). On the other hand, it’s went to the ratings board in findings by an anthropologist. not a true continuation if most hopes of getting an R rating He plays the recording, and of the original gang isn’t even because they changed the he and Linda are immediately mentioned in the new story, is color of the blood to anything besieged by demons.