Also Known As:

  • Book of the Dead (1981) (premiere title)
  • Evil Dead, the Ultimate Experience in Grueling Horror, The (1982) (end title)
  • Into the Woods (1979) (working title)

    • The Story:

    Five friends go up to a cabin in the woods where they find unspeakable evil lurking in the forest. They find the Necronomicon and the taped translation of the text. Once the tape is played, the evil is released. One by one, the teens become deadly demons/zombies. With only one remaining: Ash, it is up to him to survive the night and battle the evil dead.

    My views:

    Great film. Ofcourse, or i wouldn't own it. Really scary and gory film, with lots of demons and zombies. Just as i like it. Go see it. It's a classic in the genre.

    Interesting Facts:

  • Director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell (I) were friends from high-school, where they made many super-8 films together. They would often collaborate with Sam's brother Ted Raimi. Campbell became the ``actor'' of the group, as ``he was the one that girls wanted to look at''.

  • Filmed in a real-life abandoned cabin.

  • During filming one of the scenes, a camera operator slipped and kicked Bruce Campbell (I) in the teeth, knocking half of them out.

  • Total budget for this film was $50,000. Investors were initially annoyed when the film appeared to be a horror-comedy although they were told it would be a horror story. As of 1988, the investors have had a 150% return.

  • There is a ripped poster of The Hills Have Eyes, visible.

  • Directors Trademark (Sam Raimi): [3-stooges]:

  • Within the Woods was the 30-minute short used by Raimi to gain financial support for Evil Dead.

  • Watch the clock in the movie, it serves as the gauge for evil. When evil is in control, the clock stops and begins to moves backwards. That's why the night seems to last forever.

  • Evil Dead original was to be finished in 7 weeks, but was stretched to 11.

  • Cheryl, the girl in the cellar was Ash's sister.

  • Banned in Finland.

    • Sequels:

    Evil Dead 2.

    More info:

    Directed by
    Sam Raimi  


    Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
    Bruce Campbell (I) .... Ashley J. "Ash" Williams
    Ellen Sandweiss .... Cheryl
    Hal Delrich .... Scotty
    Betsy Baker .... Linda
    Sarah York .... Shelly
    Philip A. Gillis .... Fake Shemp
    Dorothy Tapert .... Fake Shemp
    Cheryl Guttridge .... Fake Shemp
    Barbara Carey .... Fake Shemp
    David Horton .... Fake Shemp
    Wendall Thomas .... Fake Shemp
    Don Long .... Fake Shemp
    Stu Smith .... Fake Shemp
    Kurt Rauf (I) .... Fake Shemp
    Ted Raimi .... Fake Shemp
    Ivan Raimi .... Fake Shemp
    Bill Vincent .... Fake Shemp
    Mary Beth Tapert .... Fake Shemp
    Scott Spiegel .... Fake Shemp
    John Cameron (II) .... Fake Shemp
    Joanne Kruse .... Fake Shemp
    Gwen Cochanski .... Fake Shemp
    Debie Jarczewski .... Fake Shemp
    rest of cast listed alphabetically
    Sam Raimi .... Fisherman on side of road/Voice of Evil Spirit
    Robert G. Tapert .... Local Yokel (uncredited)


    Written by
    Sam Raimi  


    Cinematography by
    Tim Philo  


    Music by
    Joseph LoDuca  


    Film Editing by
    Edna Ruth Paul  


    Produced by
    Bruce Campbell (I)   (executive)
    Gary Holt   (assistant)
    Sam Raimi   (executive)
    Robert G. Tapert   (also executive)


    Other crew
    Josh Becker .... second unit lighting and sound
    Don Campbell .... production assistant
    Joel Coen .... assistant film editor
    Dolores Elliott .... assistant sound editor
    Steve 'The Dart' Frankell .... construction supervisor
    David H. Goodman .... transportation captain
    Joe Masefield .... supervising sound editor
    John Mason (V) .... location sound recording
    Tim Philo .... lighting
    Bart Pierce .... special photographic effects
    Tom Sullivan .... special make-up effects
    Ed Wolfrum .... music engineer
    Mel Zelniker .... sound mixer