A Love Letter To Ash vs Evil Dead

To Whom It May Concern,

Not many movies have a true and detrimental effect on one’s being. Mine through the caverns of history and you will discover that for every human life, only a handful of cinematic gems helped shape it, and for each person, that sample varies. Some lives are touched by the tragedy of Titanic, others by the inspiration of Forrest Gump, still others by heroics of Star Wars. It’s a truth that for some of us, those of you reading this in particular, movies can MOLD us. Make us better people, define an era of our existence, maybe even awake a dormant mantra.

I have a few of these myself. Hitchcock sparked my interest in cinema as a whole – the complexities in his carefully orchestrated framing, his ability to perpetually paint the ‘Everyman’ into a corner where he must inevitably claw his way out. Spielberg took that interest to heightened levels of awe and wonder, causing me to look to the stars and dream of the unimaginable. These auteurs ignited my creative vision and imagination…and then I met Sam Raimi.

I was just a little kid when I first encountered Evil Dead. I already had an established love of horror films through my experiences with Halloween and Friday the 13^th, but some of my mother’s friends kept talking about this little indie flick they found on VHS. It was a fairly simple tale revolving around a bunch of kids heading to a remote cabin in the woods for peace, relaxation, and maybe a bit of sexy time. You just knew one of these idiots would decide to read aloud from a novel bound in what seemed like human flesh, clearly identified as the BOOK OF THE DEAD, thereby causing all hell to literally break loose. Sure, it sounded cool, but also pretty generic. Like a script written on scratch paper by a high-schooler in between bus stops. Who wants to watch a movie that has the plot of a Roger Corman film and the budget of an afterschool special?

I ignored these raves for a while, attributing them to morons who would never appreciate a good horror flick, and then I began to hear more and more from friends and family. Word was spreading, and as a kid you know that meant my curiosity was growing. I pleaded with my mom to watch this alleged ‘Scariest Movie EVER!’, and she refused. It’s too bloody, too gory for me? Please, I’m a professional. Of course, these rejections also meant that it was now my mission in prepubescent life to see this, so I could knock down the ridiculous notion that this discounted ‘film’ had even an ounce of real terror.

I clearly remember the first time I finally watched Evil Dead. Lights out, 10 feet from the screen, bowl of popcorn in my lap situated firmly on top of my youthful cynicism. This movie wasn’t going to scare me, I’m a MAN, BABY, YEAAA! Turns out I wasn’t. Instead of the gravitas and machismo I naturally assumed I exhibited on a daily basis, I was instead a frightened little bitch, sniveling and twerking worse than Miley ever thought feasible on her best wrecking-ball day. I would be lying if I didn’t admit I even tinkled a little.

Ominous first-person shots in the woods, demonic voices blended into the score as we glide through the forest, tree rape, savage possessions of loved ones, and let’s not forget venturing down into that dank cellar completely void of stable illumination. Director Sam Raimi might have been operating on a shoestring budget and a script that basically read as ‘Scary shit happens in the woods’ – but DAMN if he didn’t wring every ounce of fear out of this timid little sissy.

When the credits rolled, and the lights came back on, I was spent. Physically and emotionally devastated. Evil Dead took its toll and if they ever hand out ‘Man Cards’, mine should be disqualified based solely on my reaction to this one flick. I’ve probably seen a thousand horror films since I first sat with Ash and Linda, but nothing has ever come close to that first tortuous experience. It honestly might have spoiled horror movies for me for life – I mean, how the hell do you top THAT?!

Decades later, I still love that first film in the trilogy. I completely understand and respect that it does not past the sniff test in terms of holding up over the years. Watching it now is a completely different experience and I feel bad that kids today will never understand the sheer terror that first film brought into so many of our lives, and especially why it became a cult phenomenon, a juggernaut even. They look at Evil Dead as a product of its time, an antique. I look at it as the beginning of my cinematic puberty.

I love the other two films as well, but for different reasons. Evil Dead 2 is what happens when you take the same basic plot, slap it in the hands of your charismatic lead, grab some real money, and do everything right. It is, in every practical sense, a better film. Army of Darkness is cheeky brilliance and insanely fun to rewatch with drunken fraternity members, but neither can hold a candle to the heightened horror of the original at its release. Honestly, the closest to that first film would be the recent remake, which performed an admirable job of bringing the visceral vibe of the earlier version into the modern day.

All of this brings me to the new STARZ series, Ash vs Evil Dead. Every Evil Dead fan I know is lit up with excitement and anticipation. This is our Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We have been waiting decades to watch Bruce Campbell dust off that chainsaw and sardonic wit for another go at the character he was born to play. We’ve all seen the trailer, and every single account says that this new 10-part series is going to bring even the harshest geek critic to his knees. All I have to say is this – to the showrunners, Mr. Campbell, and the audience themselves – Let’s not forget where we started.

Ash is hilarious and the gore will be relentless, these things are assured. Yet, when I think back to Evil Dead, it is more than just trite remarks, quips, and asides. To me, it is anticipation, panic, increased heart palpitation, and anxiety. I want the humor, but I also want that feeling of sheer terror and adrenaline. Give Campbell his moment, as he richly deserves it, but do not discount the deadites and their chance to shine as voices in the darkness.

This franchise has always served multiple masters, and I have faith in Raimi, Rob Tapert, and The Bruce. I can’t see any of them committing to this if they did not have the interests of ALL Evil Dead fans at heart, so I am ready for this next chapter. I am ready for the laughs. I am ready for the gore. And I am ready to be terrified like that young kid in the 80’s burying his head in a bowl of Jiffy Pop.

I am so ready, Bruce. Come get some.

 

Forever your puppet,

Aaron

Ash vs Evil Dead debuts October 31st only on STARZ