Ash vs Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell: ‘Put Ash on my tombstone!’
What started in 1979 as a calling card to the movie business, the Evil Dead franchise has spanned almost four decades. Recently, Bruce Campbell sat down at the Walker Stalker Con in Atlanta to discuss his past and his future with Ash vs Evil Dead on STARZ.
“What’s awesome though is to be best known for something when you had your least experience.” – Bruce Campbell
Fixing Ash
In 1979, a group of friends from Michigan got together and made a movie in the boonies in Tennessee. That film spawned the Evil Dead franchise. A quarter of a century later and Bruce Campbell still finds himself playing the lovable idiot, Ash Williams in Ash vs Evil Dead on the STARZ network.
Recently, Bruce sat down with GPB News in Atlanta to talk about the enduring legacy and his plan to fix Ash. In his words, “I am going to be like George Lucas. It’s been twenty-five years since I played the idiot last. So, I want to bring actual experience to playing him now. He’s almost fixed.”
The continuing appeal of the Evil Dead world centers on the fans love of Campbell. A perennial favorite at Comic Cons his larger than life extension of his personality, let’s call it the “Brash” factor is what keeps his clients coming back for more. Ladies love him and guys want to be him. It is a win-win situation for Bruce.
However, it is his workhorse ethic that makes Ash a relevant character in 2017. He does whatever it takes be it getting doused in fake blood and losing sight in his eyes, gagging on the craptacular Karo concoction or tearing his hamstring muscle while doing a stunt. Taking pride in his craft is important to Campbell and it shows.
Just a Drive in Movie
In the interview, Bruce discusses the fact that the Evil Dead was a drive-in movie and that they felt “obliged to make it a good drive in movie. We studied the movies at the time like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Revenge of the Cheerleaders.”
“If there was a part in these movies that was lousy, the viewers would actually turn their headlights on and honk their horns until it stopped being lousy. This is our audience right here, instant critics.” “Once the horror starts, it can’t stop. I credit these drive-ins with teaching us discipline.”
In It to Win It
The current incarnation of Ash in Ash vs Evil Dead is in Campbell’s words, “Well past his prime, he’s a middle aged out of shape guy who is lazy and has horrible, bad habits. Now, he’s got to save the world. That’s the guy that I want to play.”
“Yeah. Put Ash on my tombstone. I’m ready for it. I feel like I’ve finally serviced the character. He is the every man. That is why he appeals to a small but fervent audience.”
“He’s an old school guy. He drives a beat-up Chevy Delta 88. Chainsaws, shotguns and fists and lower back pain.”
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Why does Ash appeal to you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. We want to hear from you!