The Evil Dead was a notorious film in the UK, often cited as an example of the "video nasties" that were supposedly infiltrating people's homes via home video cassette. It was a 1981 low-budget horror about a haunted cabin out in the woods, where a group of friends are terrorized by various demons, until Ash (Bruce Campbell) becomes the sole survivor...
The possibility of a sequel was discussed by director Sam Raimi during production of Evil Dead, with the idea being to send hero Ash back in time to the Middle Ages (an idea that eventually come to fruition for the next sequel Army Of Darkness.)
Post-Evil Dead, Raimi instead went on to make Crimewave and expected it to be a big hit. Irvin Shapiro, a publicist who is credited as being responsible for Evil Dead's mainstream success, asked Raimi to instead consider doing Evil Dead II, but Raimi refused. Despite that, Shapiro put out adverts to promote the as-yet-unmade sequel!
Crimewave was released in 1985 and failed dismally at the box-office. Raimi and his producing partner Rob Tapert, fearing another flop would end their careers, accepted Shapiro's offer to make a sequel to Evil Dead. At the same time, hotshot producer Dino De Laurentiis approached Raimi about making the film adaptation of Stephen King's short story Thinner. Raimi declined, but King himself heard about the discussions and persuaded De Laurentiis to fund Evil Dead II, as he'd been a vocal supporter/fan of the first film.
De Laurentiis stumped up $3.6 million, which wasn't enough for Raimi and Tapert to pursue their Middle Ages idea. Instead, they opted for a straight sequel -- although legal reasons prevented Evil Dead II using scenes from the first film as a recap. They were forced to re-shoot a prologue, only with Ash and girlfriend as the only characters depicted in the prior events.
It's this unusual step that has meant Evil Dead II is often confused as being a remake of the first film. While that's not strictly true, it's very understandable. Both films are essentially the same story, only with Evil Dead II more interested in ghoulish laughs than the original...
Raimi, working with old friend Scott Spiegel, wrote the script with influences of slapstick humour included. Both nen had particularly loved The Three Stooges as children, and Evil Dead II is full of similar gags, physical performance and sight gags.
Actual filming took place in Wadesboro, North Carolina, not far from De Laurentiis' production offices. The shoot was far easier than Evil Dead's, primarily because of Raimi's additional experience, but there were some frustrations along the way: Sam's brother, actor Ted Raimi, had a particularly awful costume to wear as a fake shemp, with litres of sweat collecting under the latex.
Evil Dead II was released on 13 March 1987 and has so far made $5.9 million. It has since become a favourite horror-comedy of many people, and is often used to best exemplify that particularly sub-genre (along with An American Werewolf In London).
A direct sequel, Army Of Darkness, was released in 1993 -- this time with a budget to bring Raimi's Middle Ages idea to life. The sequel was more silly and jokey, so it's not to everyone's taste, but it's still entertaining with memorable scenes and lines. Of the "trilogy", Evil Dead II is most peoples' favourite, as it's far easier to watch than Evil Dead and gets the gore-to-gags quotient just right...
Sam Raimi obviously went on to greater successes, culminating recently with the Spider-Man trilogy (which featured memorable comic cameo's from friend Bruce Campbell.) Along with Peter Jackson, he's another director of a blockbuster movie trilogy who started out in low-budget horror.
Bruce Campbell has become synonymous with the Evil Dead movies and is now a cult hero for horror fans. He never managed to break into the mainstream, despite numerous attempts in the 90s on TV shows like Xena: Warrior Princess and Brisco County Jr, so has since embraced his B-movie credentials to star in things like Bubba-Hotep and various cheesy sci-fi/horror flicks. He's currently taken a straight acting gig on TV show Burn Notice, playing a former spy -- perhaps as another stab at mainstream credibility.
The prospect of a Evil Dead IV is often rumoured, with Raimi constantly teasing fans about the possibility he'll helm a low-budget sequel in-between mainstream flicks. More recently, a musical based on the first film has appeared, as well as a surge in merchandise like video-games, T-shirts, board games, action figures, etc.
A big-budget remake of Evil Dead is also on the cards now, with Raimi's blessing -- although fans are disappointed Bruce Campbell is unlikely to reprise his role...
Trivia1. After shooting, Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell sang The Byrds' "Eight Miles High".
2. The glove belonging to Freddy Kruger can be seen in the tool shed. This was a return in-joke, as A Nightmare On Elm Street had featured Evil Dead on a TV screen.
3. Sam Raimi cameo's as the first medieval knight to greet Ash when he arrives in the past.
4. The film features an Oldsmobile Delta 88, which is a trademark of Raimi's films -- as that particular make of car appears in nearly all his films.
5. Most of the film was actually shot inside a High School gymnasium!
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