The Evil Dead

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1:52

The Evil Dead

NC-17

Released Oct 15, 1981

1h 25m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

84%

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100,000+ Ratings

Ashley "Ash" Williams (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend and three pals hike into the woods to a cabin for a fun night away. There they find an old book, the Necronomicon, whose text reawakens the dead when it's read aloud. The friends inadvertently release a flood of evil and must fight for their lives or become one of the evil dead. Ash watches his friends become possessed, and must make a difficult decision before daybreak to save his own life in this, the first of Sam Raimi's trilogy.

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Critics Consensus

So scrappy that it feels as illicit as a book found in the woods, The Evil Dead is a stomach-churning achievement in bad taste that marks a startling debut for wunderkind Sam Raimi.

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Sam Raimi’s 1981 breakout feature remains profoundly unsettling due to the gonzo vigour with which he attacks his subject.

Sep 12, 2023

Full Review

Diane Haithman

Detroit Free Press

It may not be serious, but it's totally sincere; it never laughs at its own jokes. In fact, I'm not sure it even gets them. And you can't help but respond to Evil Dead at some level beyond the usual horror-movie fright and disgust.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 24, 2023

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Boston Phoenix

Sam Raimi's technique is equal to his perverse imagination. In his first directorial outing, he's already got a flair for the visual grammar of horror movies that John Carpenter might envy.

Mar 24, 2023

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Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

No matter how many directors return to that forest, it's unlikely anyone will ever reproduce Evil Dead's weaponized feral clunkiness

Mar 19, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... such a bravura bit of cinematic inventiveness that it’s too much fun to be genuinely grueling, but this unrelenting parade of funhouse terrors and creative low budget effects is one of the most entertaining American horror films of its time.

Sep 8, 2023

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Stephanie Archer

Film Inquiry

It is brutally violent and unrelentingly gory, yet it is also the work of an artist with a passion for the craft.

Jun 25, 2023

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BAPHOMETT

This movie is disgusting. My wife screamed the whole time and walked out before it was over because she couldn't handle it anymore. Personally I think it's a really cool movie though lol some of the scenes are very scary considering how old it is. But some also look super fake.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

Full Review

Justin T

The picture quality is pretty messy. This is an old film shot on a very small budget. Part of the visual mess is part of the style and part of the movie. Some of the shots and angles are ingenious. It does try to stand out. The sound is technically pretty weak. It is not very dynamic but it does work. It uses imaginative effects and interesting music. The story is low budget but it tries to do so much more. The second movie is better as it achieves what this tried. Through the use of imaginative filmmaking it transcends way above its budget. It is so clever and really awesome. It is a little slow in some places but the second movie rectifies that problem. Well worth watching as this is horror film history! The direction is what really makes this stand out and be memorable. Clever filmmaking and brilliant direction make for a movie legend.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

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{ - S

The Evil Dead (1981) is actually an solid movie with everyone having good performances and on such a low budget? Impressive Sam Raimi. However, I don’t think this movie is like one of the best to be honest but I’d consider this movie an horror cult classic and worth a watch if you’re a fan of extreme gore. 7/10.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

y watching this movie I really understood that cinema is a true art. 9,0/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

Full Review

Stephen H

One of the classics!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

Full Review

Jonathan O

This is the ultimate splatter supernatural horror film ever made is really unbelievably gory and bloody really great well know actors and really fantastic independent filmmaker who soon make Spider-Man and Drag Me to Hell this film is really a masterpiece of horror and really impressive camera tricks and special make-up effects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

Full Review

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Sam Raimi

Director

Bruce Campbell

Ashly 'Ash' J. Williams

Ellen Sandweiss

Cheryl

Betsy Baker

Linda

Richard DeManincor

Scotty

Theresa Tilly

Shelly

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The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Tree Attack

1:56

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Trapped in the Cabin

0:56

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Rising From the Grave

1:52

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - They Won't Stop Laughing

3:17

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Zombies Attack

2:33

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Killing the Zombies

2:43

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - The Walls Bleed

2:15

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Demons Possess Cheryl

2:48

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Hacked to Pieces

4:46

The Evil Dead: Official Clip - Psycho Demon Girlfriend

2:23

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The Evil Dead: Trailer 1

1:52

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Synopsis

Ashley "Ash" Williams (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend and three pals hike into the woods to a cabin for a fun night away. There they find an old book, the Necronomicon, whose text reawakens the dead when it's read aloud. The friends inadvertently release a flood of evil and must fight for their lives or become one of the evil dead. Ash watches his friends become possessed, and must make a difficult decision before daybreak to save his own life in this, the first of Sam Raimi's trilogy.

Director: Sam Raimi
Producer: Rob Tapert
Screenwriter: Sam Raimi
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Renaissance Pictures
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm, 16mm

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