Questions
Who made The Evil Dead?
It was written and directed by Sam Raimi as his feature directorial debut, produced by Robert G. Tapert, and released in 1981.
Who stars in it?
Bruce Campbell stars as Ash Williams, alongside Ellen Sandweiss as Cheryl, Betsy Baker as Linda, Richard DeManincor as Scott, and Theresa Tilly as Shelly.
How much did it cost to make?
The film was made on a budget of about $375,000, and it went on to gross roughly $2.4 million domestically and around $29.4 million worldwide.
Where was it filmed?
It was shot at a remote cabin in Morristown, Tennessee. The cabin reportedly had no plumbing but did have working phone lines.
How did Raimi raise the money?
He first made a prototype short film called Within the Woods for about $1,600 to attract financiers. Raimi then asked nearly everyone he could think of for donations, and reportedly even begged some, while Campbell hit up his own family members.
Was the shoot as brutal as it looks?
Reportedly yes. Campbell described it as nearly twelve weeks of mirthless exercise in agony, and after he hurt his leg running downhill, Raimi reportedly enjoyed poking the injury with a stick he found in the woods.
What was the fake blood made of?
The crew produced gallons of it using Karo corn syrup, food coloring, and, per effects artist Tom Sullivan’s formula, added coffee to the mix.
What is a Fake Shemp?
Inspired by The Three Stooges, Raimi used substitute actors for background shots when the originals were unavailable and called them fake shemps. His brother Ted Raimi frequently filled in as one.
How did they get those wild camera moves on such a tiny budget?
Raimi built homemade rigs like the vas-o-cam, a camera sliding down wooden platforms, and the shaky cam, a camera mounted to a board that operators sprinted through swamps with.
What was the movie originally going to be called?
Its working title was Book of the Dead, but distributor Irvin Shapiro renamed it The Evil Dead, reportedly calling it the least worst option.
Did Stephen King really help the movie?
Yes. After seeing it at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, King called it the most ferociously original film of the year, and his endorsement helped New Line Cinema pick up distribution.
Was it ever banned?
In the UK it was caught up in the video nasty panic and was banned entirely after the Video Recordings Act passed in 1984. An uncut version did not get an 18 certificate there until 2000.
What rating did it get in the US?
It received an X rating and was later re-rated NC-17 for substantial graphic horror violence and gore.
What happened to the famous cabin?
The cabin was burned down in 1982 by owners who were tired of trespassers, though the chimney reportedly still remains.
Did it lead to sequels?
Yes. It launched one of the most successful cult film series in history, including Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness (1992), a 2013 remake, Evil Dead Rise (2023), and the TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead (2015 to 2018).
