The Evil Dead (40th anniversary)

Release Date Rewind

Temperatures are rising, and so are the Evil Dead! Mark welcomes old friends Katie Bruno and Jacqueline Renne on a drive to a cabin in the woods to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Sam Raimi's cult horror classic The Evil Dead in theaters throughout the country. The trio discuss how the NC-17 shocker starring Bruce Campbell as scream king Ash Williams got the approval of Stephen King and subverted audience expectations, skipping the sex, drugs, and alcohol morality rules of horror at the time, and going straight for the blood, inventive practical effects, and painful contact lenses. The scrappy indie film was influential in 80s horror, action, and fantasy comedies, and 40 years of deadites and gore later, the franchise still slays with the brand new Evil Dead Rise. Not every movie is cool enough to be connected to the Coen brothers, Wes Craven, and Xena: Warrior Princess!