The Gloriously Gory Horror Classic ‘The Evil Dead’ Shines on 4K UHD Blu-ray

GameStop, Inc.

The Evil Dead

A group of friends travel to a ramshackle cabin in the middle of nowhere. What happens to them in this secluded locale will forever change their lives. With limited resources, writer-director Sam Raimi, actor Bruce Campbell, and producer Robert Tapert made the horror classic The Evil Dead, which started them on a career in the movies that lasts to this day. Now this immortal work of horror finds itself reissued on home video once again, this time with a 4K UHD Blu-ray edition from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. It’s an upgrade that brings forth all of the low-fi glory of the independent horror film that spawned a franchise that spanned over 30 years and launched the careers of some modern legends.

A quintet of friends travel to a ramshackle cabin in the middle of nowhere. There’s Ash Williams (Campbell) along with his girlfriend Linda (Betsy Baker) and his sister Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) joined by the couple of Scott (Richard DeManincor) and his girlfriend Shelly (Theresa Tilly). In the basement of the cabin they discover Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, also known as the Book of the Dead, and a tape recorder left behind. The five friends gather around and listen to the tape recorder as an unseen professor reads from the book. The passages awake an ancient evil that possesses the spirits of the living. It’s just another example of why no group of people should ever vacation in secluded cabins.

Having made a number of film shorts on Super 8 film, Sam Raimi had honed his skills as a filmmaker before securing the financing to make his big breakthrough. What Raimi does with little resources is a real testament to his immense talents as a visual storyteller. The Evil Dead is such a lean, efficient work of horror that wastes little time in getting to the goods. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Joel Coen of the Coen Brothers was working on the film as an assistant editor. The Evil Dead and its success has inspired countless imitators over the years of eager would-be filmmakers hoping to break through on a shoestring budget. But it’s incredibly rare that anyone making a film in this fashion has the sense to make it so tight, limited expository dialogue and setups in favor of ample bloodletting.

The Evil Dead wrapped its principal photography and took more than a year for Raimi and company to complete it. They went back to the woods for reshoots but many of the film’s cast couldn’t return. So Raimi employed what he calls “Fake Shemps,” a term that originated from the stand-ins of Shemp Howard of The Three Stooges after the Stooge had died from a heart attack. The use of the Fake Shemps in The Evil Dead leaves for plenty of unintentional humor, something that Raimi and Campbell would lean in to on the sequels for the series, blending the blood-soaked horror the first film with the humor of The Three Stooges.

The fact that there were such limited resources makes the gore effects of The Evil Dead all the more impressive. Don’t get me wrong, there are some obviously cheap and laughable effects in the film. But for the most part, the gore effects and moments of stop motion animation really hold up more than 35 years later. There are some truly terrifying moments that haven’t lost an ounce of their horrific oomph and still provide chills down the spine.

The new 4K edition of The Evil Dead doesn’t boast any new special features. You have the choice to watch the film in the original aspect ratio of 1.33 or the revamped 1.85. (This Evil Deadhead prefers the 1.33.) Other than that there’s only an old audio commentary track with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Robert Tapert. Even though it’s not new, it’s still a great commentary track. The trio of old friends and collaborators tell funny anecdotes about the making of the film and even take plenty of time to make fun of the movie.

Just in time for Halloween does The Evil Dead land on 4K UHD Blu-ray. It’s a horror classic that’s always worth an annual spin around the spookiest of holidays. Sam Raimi went on to make two more Evil Dead films as well as a television series continuing the misadventures Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams. But it all started in that ramshackle cabin with a little horror movie that endures over 35 years later. That’s pretty groovy.

The Evil Dead
  • Overall Score
4

Summary

A horror classic that kickstarted the careers of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell and launched a legendary horror franchise, The Evil Dead arrives on 4K UHD Blu-ray just in time for Halloween with all of its kills, chills, and blood spills.

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
‘Wednesday’ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

‘Wednesday‘ Comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, from Warner...

Toy Lei Talks About Playing Auntie Victoria in ‘The Brothers Sun’ – Interview Rewind

Asian-American actress Toy Lei stars as Auntie Victoria in the new...

Marcus Massey Talks ‘Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2’ – Interview

Marcus Massey Shares his Wisdom as Owl in ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and...

Event News Event Reviews
‘MJ the Musical’ Chronicles the Life of the ‘King of Pop’ Running at Segerstrom – Review

‘MJ the Musical‘ is the Ultimate Stage Adaptation, Chronicling the life...

Aiden Sinclair and Michael Rangel Talks ’57 Ghosts’ Aboard the Queen Mary Séance

Aiden Sinclair and Apparitionist, Michael Rangel Discuss their new Theatrical Séance...

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open ‘Slashers Axe Throwing’ – Interview

Luke and Madison Rhoades Open Orange County’s first ever horror themed...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Olympic Runner Colleen Quigley ‘On The Road to Paris’

Team USA Olympic Runner, Colleen Quigley is On The Road to...

Paralympian Swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger On The Road to Paris

Team USA Paralympian Swimmer, Ahalya Lettenberger is On The Road to...

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre – Interview

Ultimate Women of Wrestling Comes to the Globe Theatre on Sunday,...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse: Escalation

When you said "Destroy" Kurt grabbed his mini-gun an AK-47 and...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse, the continuing saga!

If cautious means being careful when I break a foot off...

Fantoy Comics Presents: Harry Potter and the Pahrump Apocalypse pt 253;sectionG

Well I think they're tacky as hell!

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs & Sketches’ – Interview

Joe Kwaczala Talks About His new Comedy Album ‘Funny Songs &...

Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her Career in the Arts

First Generation Assyrian-Chaldean, Songwriter and Poet, Tamara Mechael Talks About Her...

Louden Swain Headlining Los Angeles Show at The Echo

Press Release – Louden Swain are headlining Los Angeles show at...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Chris Clews Is ‘Raised on the 80s’ and Shares Those Life Lessons

Chris Clews was ‘Raised on the 80s‘ and Shares Those Life...

Roye Okupe Brings Authentic African Representation to HBO Max and Cartoon Network

Nigerian-American, Roye Okupe brings authentic African representation to HBO Max and...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand Demo

The new ‘Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand‘ is ready to ship...

Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the ‘Good Flour’

Canadian Super Chef Jen Peters and Matthew Clayton Bring us the...

Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

The Pop Insider 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is now available to help...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...