Running head: THE EVIL DEAD VS.

EVIL DEAD 2 1

The Evil Dead vs. Evil Dead 2:

A Necrotic and Uncanny Comparison

Daniel Jones

Skagit Valley College

English 101

Professor Jan Hughes

February 2nd, 2011

THE EVIL DEAD VS. EVIL DEAD 2 2

Abstract

Flesh eating zombies and demons parade the screen and show vast differences in these early and

mid 1980's horror movies. Sam Raimi the writer and producer of many B movies CITATION shemp \l 1033

and horror classics, which include The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), Army of Darkness

(1992), Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series 1995-2001), Spider Man 3 (2007), has made a name

for himself writing and directing fantasy and horror movies. Young and ambitious, out of film

school Sam Raimi wrote two movies early in his career that easily defined his style. The movies

in question are The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II, which takes place at a small cabin in the middle

of the woods. Produced approximately six years apart, The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II had a

monumental budget difference. Within you will get a comparison of the similarities and cosmic

differences between the two movies. Storyline, casting differences, and special effects varied a

fair amount between both movies. Keep your popcorn close and stay glued to your seat for this

terrifying ride and look at two quintessential horror movies.

CITATION shemp \l 1033

B movies are low budget commercial motion picture not definitively an art house or pornographic
film. The name originated from being the 2nd movie of a double feature, the first film being the main feature, in the
1950s. (“B” Movies a Brief History)
THE EVIL DEAD VS. EVIL DEAD 2 3

The Evil Dead vs. Evil Dead 2:

A Necrotic and Uncanny Comparison

"Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This... is my boomstick! The

twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the

sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety-five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a

hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?" exclaims Bruce Campbell in

the role of Ash in the movie Army of Darkness, which has become a cornerstone of every horror

movie aficionado’s collection. This line along with many others have been immortalized from

the screenwriting and acting brilliance of Sam Raimi and his good friend Bruce Campbell. Early

in both of their careers shortly after college, they decided to take on the project of making a

horror movie about the Book of the Dead, otherwise known as the Nyturan Demonta (Warren

46), a fictional Aztec/Canaanite book created for the movie. This film project is The Evil Dead.

The Evil Dead’s funding mostly came from a small film project of Sam Raimi’s called Within

the Woods (1978). Sam Raimi has since become known for being one of the most inventive,

creative, and intelligent filmmakers in Hollywood.

Horror movies can be defined in many ways and have many different styles about them.

One of these main styles is zombie comedy films that came about with movies like Gordon

Douglas’ Zombies on Broadway (1945) and evolved into movies like Edgar Wright’s Shaun of

the Dead (2004). The Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 differ in this because the original, The Evil

Dead, was written and directed as a traditional horror movie where demons possess characters

and themselves become the antagonists. Evil Dead 2 is virtually a remake of the original with a
THE EVIL DEAD VS. EVIL DEAD 2 4

more defined storyline but also a very comedic twist on the original story. Sam Raimi had

always been a huge fan of slapstick comedy such as The Three Stooges (TV Series 1922-1975)

that made those influences obvious throughout parts of the film. The Marx Brothers would have

been very proud of their comedic influences over such a classic comedy and horror movie.

Another interesting difference is a close friend of Sam Raimi, producer Scott Spiegel, wrote a

film in his childhood called Attack of the Helping Hand (1981) that was inspired by Hamburger

Helper commercials. This influence changed a part of the film in drastic ways and made it

extremely comedic where Ash’s dismembered hand and is possessed.

Another large difference was the special effects between both movies mainly due to

funding differences. The Evil Dead had a budget of $375,000, which was considerable in 1981,

but comparatively to Evil Dead 2 that were budgeted at $3,600,000 in 1987 allowed for massive

production differences (The Incredibly Strange Film Show). Evil Dead 2 featured great use of

stop animation, full bodysuits, and various other advanced, for the time, special effects. The Evil

Dead primarily used partial make-up and creative camera shots and lighting to get its feel across

as budget was extremely limited. On a comedic side of special effects production in both movies,

you can see parts of props and rigs used for various special effects shots that were unnoticed in

editing, or they decided to leave in. Sam Raimi desired to reshoot many of the scenes, but was

unable to because of a small budget. One of these goofs or left in outtakes in both movies reveals

the house, which was one large set, had no ceilings.

As for the cast in the movies the only two actors that were actually in both. These actors

were the star Bruce Campbell, along with Sam Raimi’s younger brother Ted Raimi that was a

fake Shemp or Shemp1 in The Evil Dead. Ted Raimi was also the possessed old woman,
1
The term Shemp comes from actor Shemp Howard. While filming the shorts for which they became famous for
Shemp Howard, one of The Three Stooges, died of a heart attack in 1955. At the time of Shemp Howard’s death,
THE EVIL DEAD VS. EVIL DEAD 2 5

Henrietta, in Evil Dead 2. Every other cast member was either a friend of Sam Raimi and Bruce

Campbell or a young fledging actor/actress filling a role for experience. Most parts were short

with a basic script for most roles. Budget was somewhat limited in both movies. As a result, this

obviously limited casting options for each of the film projects.

Combining B movie horror with Marx Brothers style slapstick comedy, Sam

Raimi has immortalized the comedy horror genre. On another note, Sam Raimi has also been a

very controversial writer, producer and director. Banned in Malaysia, UK (1983-1990), West

Germany (1984), Sweden, Iceland, Ireland and Singapore, The Evil Dead happens to be one of

he most controversial films of its genre (Banned: The Most Controversial Films). The third

movie in the Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, took the comedy and cheesy stop animation

effects to a completely new level. Sam Raimi continues to deliver top notch and inventive style

of writing and direction to moviegoers today. Bruce Campbell has starred in many guest roles on

TV shows and movies including cameos in many large Hollywood hits. Sam Raimi and Bruce

Campbell will forever pursue and push their passion and style to new limits in everything they

do. As Ash would say, “Sure, I could have stayed in the past. I could have even been king. But in

my own way, I am king.”

four shorts remained. Shemp Howard’s body double used to stand in for scenes that required him but they only
filmed him from the back or side preventing the obviousness of the replacement. The film crew unofficially coined
Joe Palma a Fake Shemp or sometimes just Shemp, which later became an industry standard term for a replacement
of its type. [ CITATION shemp \l 1033 ]