THE EVIL DEAD (1981) d. Sam Raimi (USA)
EVIL DEAD II (1987). d. Sam Raimi (USA)
ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) d. Sam Raimi (USA)
EVIL DEAD (2013) d. Fede Alvarez (USA)
EVIL DEAD RISE (2023) d. Lee Cronin (USA)

Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise is a cornerstone of independent horror cinema, redefining what low-budget filmmaking could achieve. Beginning with The Evil Dead (1981), Raimi combined raw ingenuity, kinetic camerawork, and extreme gore to create a relentlessly inventive horror film that left a lasting impact on the genre.

Shot on a shoestring budget with collaborators including star Bruce Campbell, the film's manic energy and iconic "unseen force" camera movements distinguished it from the slower horror of the late 1970s. The franchise's legacy is equally shaped by its bold tonal evolution.

While the original film plays as a brutal, nightmarish experience, Evil Dead II (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992) fused splatter horror with slapstick comedy, transforming Ash Williams into a chainsaw-wielding, wisecracking antihero and helping define the modern horror-comedy. From comics and video games to the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series to reboots like Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise (2023), the series continues to evolve.

Join AC and his awesome panel of horror enthusiasts (Krisy Jett, Anna Maurya, Daniel Millhouse, Ryan Olson, Jennifer Olson, Joseph Wycoff) as we celebrate 45 years of THE EVIL DEAD!! 
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KRISTY JETT, faithful horror nerd of 40+ years, resides in Buffalo, NY and is the mother of nine cats. She remains now and forever the world's biggest fan of the film Popcorn (1991). 

ANNA MAURYA is a film fan stuck in Ohio. They have been a guest on Raiders of the Podcast, a contributor to Hidden Horror, and they generally dislike writing about themselves in the third person.

DANIEL MILLHOUSE joyfully returns to review films with Dr. AC and friends! As an Assistant Professor at the College of DuPage, he cherishes his Theatre, TV/Film, and Motion Capture acting experiences. He is one mischievous, charming, goofball.

JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team!

RYAN OLSON (aka S. Ravenlord of The Cold Beyond music group) is the owner of Deadspeak Design and Night World Records, as well as a member of the Synapse Films street team and a regular on the Synapse Films podcast. His work has been featured in Liquid Cheese, Horrorhound, & Evilspeak Magazines.

JOSEPH WYCOFF is a veteran Chicago actor now based in New Zealand, with onscreen credits ranging from "Ash vs Evil Dead" to the Power Rangers to Josh Ruben's Heart Eyes (2025).
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