One of the most popular and successful of the cult horror series is the Evil Dead trilogy. These three gore classics follow the unlucky - but groovy - Ash (Bruce Campbell) through a seemingly endless barrage of demonic attacks. All three films were created by Sam and Ivan Raimi and were directed by Sam Raimi (who also directs the Xena and Herculese television series.)
The first of the series, Evil Dead, was released in 1983. Ash, his girlfriend, sister, and two other friends decide to spend some time in an old cabin in the woods. Soon after, they discover a tape recorder. On the tape is the terrifying retelling of the story of the Necronomicon, and a reading of an incantation from the infamous book by the archaeologist who owns the cabin. Of course, the incantation is one that raises the Evil in the woods, and it doesn't take long for our unfortunate campers to become possessed (and dismembered - the only way to kill a "Deadite") one by one.
The beginning of Evil Dead 2 is similar to the first movie, but only has Ash and his girlfriend visiting the cabin. Soon after playing the recording, the girlfriend is taken, possessed, and decapitated. Then the real fun begins. The Evil in the woods decides to play with the unfortunate Ash, and he slowly goes mad. The most famous scene from this movie is when 
Ash's hand becomes possessed. (This scene was such a classic that it inspired an entire movie... Idle Hands.) Another classic (and stomach-turning) scene was after four other unfortunate victims find their way to the cabin. All I'm going to say is that it involves a flying eyeball and a screaming woman. Ash and the archaeologist's daughter manage to open the portal to banish the Evil. But poor Ash once again fails to escape danger and gets sucked into the portal.
Army of Darkness picks up where Evil Dead 2 leaves off. Ash has been sucked into the portal and finds himself in the time of King Arthur. Mistaken for one of the enemy's men, Ash is captured by Arthur's knights and brought to the castle. After being thrown into a pit with Deadites and managing to escape, Ash is recognized as the "Promised One" and must retrieve the Necronomicon in order to be returned to his own time. After fighting many Deadites (including a bunch of little Ash's), Ash is able to retrieve the Necronomicon. And in true Ash fashion, he messes up reciting the very important words before taking the book, and raises up the Deadite army.
Army of Darkness has an alternate ending to the one shown in the theatrical release. The Army of Darkness Alternate Ending page has a summary of the ending, if you're curious.
Why wasn't it called Evil Dead 3? So that it could be released in the theatre as its own movie, and to draw in new fans who may not have seen the first two.
Will there be an Evil Dead 4? Sam Raimi says he'd like to make another sequel. We can only wait and hope.
Evil Dead Links:
Bruce Campbell Online
Evil Dead Fan Page
The Essential Ode to Ash
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