Evil Dead (series)

Infobox Film
name = The Evil Dead series


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director = Sam Raimi
producer = Bruce Campbell
Robert Tapert
Dino De Laurentiis("Army of Darkness")
writer = Sam Raimi
Scott Spiegel ("Evil Dead II")
Ivan Raimi ("Army of Darkness")
starring = Bruce Campbell
Ted Raimi
music = Joseph LoDuca
Danny Elfman ("March of the Dead Theme for Army of Darkness")
cinematography = Tim Philo ("Within the Woods" & "The Evil Dead")
Peter Deming ("Evil Dead II")
Bill Pope ("Army of Darkness")
editing = Edna Euth Paul ("The Evil Dead")
Kaye Davis("Evil Dead II")
Bob Murawski ("Army of Darkness")
distributor = None ("Within the Woods")
New Line Cinema ("The Evil Dead")
Rosbud Pictures ("Evil Dead II")
Universal Pictures ("Army of Darkness")
released = 1979 – 1992
country = USA
language = English
runtime = "Within the Woods"; 32 mins.
"The Evil Dead"; 85 mins.
"Evil Dead II"; 85 mins.
"Army of Darkness": 83 mins. (Theaterical Cut), 91 mins. (International/Director's Cut)
budget = US$14,876,600 (all four films)
amg_id =
gross = US$52,300,000 (est.)The "Evil Dead" is a series of media that originated from a trilogy of horror films created by Sam Raimi. The films focus on the protagonist, Ashley "Ash" J. Williams, who is played by Bruce Campbell. Ash deals with 'deadites', which are demons created by the Necronomicon. The film series has since expanded into other formats such as video games and comic books. An off-Broadway musical opened in Toronto in 2003 based on the storyline of the first two films.

Development

Within The Woods

In January 1979 Bruce Campbell was a college dropout who had just 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 forth a feature length film. [cite book | author=Bruce Campbell| title=| id=ISBN 0-312-29145-0 | publisher=LA Weekly Books|pages = p.63-4|date=August 2002] 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 do the film as a horror was put forth 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. [Campbell, p.65]

This would later lead to research of low-budget horror films at the local drive-in theater. The many films that they watched were the "two films for two dollars," allowing them the chance to document the behavior of what would become their target audience. Campbell quoted, "the message was very clear-keep 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 commissioned, to prove not only to themselves, but also to potential investors that they were capable of doing a full length horror film. The same year, at Michigan State, 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. [Campbell, p.66-7] In the spring of 1979 filming of "Within the Woods" started over a three day weekend on a budget of $1,600. [Campbell, p.69-70]

"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. [Campbell, p.71-2]

Films

"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"

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"

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"

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.

Possible sequel

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".Fact|date=February 2007 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. [ [http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070503_ivan_raimi_to_write_evil_dead.html Moviehole.net - Ivan Raimi to write Evil Dead 4? ] ] On July 26, 2008, Sam Raimi stated that Evil Dead 4 was "in the wheelhouse" during the 2008 Comic Con. [ [http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Comic-Con-Sam-Raimi-Planning-Evil-Dead-4-9644.html Cinema Blend.com - Comic Con: Sam Raimi Planning Evil Dead 4! ] ]

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. [ [http://www.slasherama.com/features/sean.HTML Sean S Cunningham interview, Friday The 13th director and producer ] ] [ [http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/742 BD Horror News - Freddy vs Jason vs Ash has a Sperm Problem? ] ]

In the unlockable bonus content of Evil Dead : Regeneration, Bruce Campbell says the rumor of Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash is "partly true", claiming that basically there are 3 separate franchises arguing ("No We're The Better Franchise!" "No, No YOU Suck!") so he says with this debate constantly on going it might happen, but not in the foreseeable future.

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. [ [http://www.bruce-campbell.com/projects/evil-dead-remake.htm BCO: Evil Dead Remake ] Dead link|date=July 2008]

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. [ [http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/bubba-nosferatu/news/bad-news-no-bubba-nosferatu-good-news-no-evil-dead-remake.html Bad News: No 'Bubba Nosferatu'. Good News: No 'Evil Dead' Remake! @ JustPressPlay ] ]

There have recently been more rumors however that a re-write of a script is being reviewed and Bruce Campbell suggested that in true style of Sam Rami's films he would do a cameo role, jokingly suggesting that it would be a remake/sequel and Knowby's ghost would be replaced by ghostly Ash.

Indirect sequels

Bruce Campbell is currently writing, directing and starring in a film titled "My Name is Bruce". [ [http://www.bruce-campbell.com/events.asp?specific=5] ] 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 2008.

Video games

There have so far been four "Evil Dead" video games:
*"The Evil Dead" (1984) for Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum
*"" (December 18, 2000) for PlayStation, Sega Dreamcast, and PC
*"" (May 24, 2003) for PlayStation 2 and Xbox
*"" (September 13, 2005) for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC

Comic books

"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 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

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

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