The Evil Dead Series

This is my boomstick

Evil Dead has been one of my favorite movies for over 20 years now. Yes, my taste has changed and it now has a slew of contenders for top-billing, many of which are also considered "B-raters" by consensus. However, I was not a big fan of the sequels.

Evil Dead 2 was what it was when it came out; in that time, it was definitely unique in its field. However, the third sequel dismissed the Horror elements entirely in favor of downright goofiness - as opposed to comedy - Ash has catchphrases he chews thoroughly upon delivery, for example, and the wackyzanyslapstick pratfalls number in the thousands. Despite my personal feelings, the trilogy has become a cult classic that launched both Bruce Campbell's and Sam Raimi's careers and spawned several comic book series, an unofficial musical -- even the recent reboot/remake was generally well-received!

Now, Raimi and Campbell return in their respective roles (writer/director and lead, respectively) for a Starz TV series based on the Evil Dead franchise, entitled Ash vs. Evil Dead. Yes, Bruce Campbell is reprising his role as S-Mart stockboy, Ash Williams -- the unlikeliest of heroes, elevated by fate to the level of a demigod despite himself. Raimi himself described Ash's character arc as a, "lame, but heroic, saga."

MTV has also picked-up a TV series based on another classic Horror movie; Scream debuts next October (2015). The director of the film series, Wes Craven, is reported to be involved. Ash vs. Evil Dead also debuts in 2015 on the Starz network.

© The Weirding, 2014