Thoughts from the Ledge: Birth of the Necronomicon Nightmare, Evil Dead
Today marks 36 years since the original debut of The Evil Dead in the heart of The Motor City — Detroit, Michigan. So let’s head to the ledge to think…
This article was originally published as the first piece in the “Thoughts from the Ledge” series. We’re resurrecting this like a Deadite for the film’s anniversary. Enjoy horror heads.
Get comfortable, grab your favorite beverage & let’s talk!
Evil Dead? What More Can You Say?
— Courtesy of Renaissance Pictures
Yeah, I know. This movie certainly isn’t underappreciated in the horror family. Everyone and their brother has covered this ad nauseum. What could I possibly add to the mix?
Look, I am not going to discuss special FX like the “ram-o-cam.” I am not going to talk about Deadites or even creepy trees. What I want to focus on is passion and heart.
Those are two words not associated with the horror community. Well, heart could be if you are talking about Hannibal Lecter’s favorite recipes. But I digress.
As a writer, director, or actor sometimes things get discouraging. You labor over a particular project you think is amazing and innovative, only to have it fall on deaf ears. Rather than get depressed or down tons of shots of tequila, for me whenever I endure a setback, I will take a moment & watch The Evil Dead.
This movie has an incredible backstory that’s even more fascinating than the onscreen adventure. It is about perseverance, faith & drive to turn a personal vision into reality. The power of friendship and a singularity of purpose converging at the right time and place to create classic cinema.
Related Story: Sneak Peek: Ash vs. Evil Dead Season 3 teaser photo
Something about Michigan
Talk about a series of related events or destiny, it seems like fate had designed a plan for a bunch of kids from the Detroit suburbs to meet one another and start making movies. It almost seems like the state had a deluge of future talent during the ’70s.
Being from the Midwest isn’t exactly like being a scion of a Hollywood dynasty but the trio of Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Rob Tapert didn’t let that deter them. Armed with a Super 8 camera, the threesome, and several of their closest friends, retreated to a remote farmhouse to film the “prototype” horror film, Within the Woods.
Once this film was finished, Raimi had no idea what to do with it. He ended up contacting a local theater manager who ran a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show every week. He agreed to screen Within the Woods before Rocky Horror. It received a review from Michael McWilliams of the Detroit News stating, “it will probably never be advertised alongside the glossy, big-budget horror movies of our time, but you won’t easily forget a locally produced little film called Within the Woods.”
Big Things Have Small Beginnings
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The little 32-minute movie helped Raimi and company secure a lawyer plus several investors. This was before the days of Indiegogo,Crowdfunding and Kickstarter. Raimi, Campbell and Tapert had to do it the old-fashioned way. They literally knocked on people’s doors to get the funding they needed for The Evil Dead.
What is impressive to me is these were twenty something guys who weren’t businessmen, who didn’t come from a prestigious film school and they went for it. They made their dream into a reality.
The Evil Dead started filming in 1979 but wasn’t released until 1981 because the production kept running out of money. According to Sam Raimi in an interview with IGN, the process of making the film “was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
For most fans of the Evil Dead franchise, Army of Darkness is the perennial favorite. There is even a contingent who prefer Evil Dead 2. While I realize that there are little imperfections in the original film, it still holds a special place in my heart.
This film for me, or rather what it symbolizes, is why I fell in love with movies in the first place. With each viewing, I am reminded that anything is possible. You just have to be patient, believe in yourself and your art and keep pushing. Sometimes it is an uphill battle but it can be won. So, for those people who dismiss the horror genre, there are lessons to be learned if you just pay attention.
Next: 31 Days of Halloween: Timequest – a chance to rewrite history