Bruce Campbell: Even heroes are human (Requiem for Ash review)

Bruce Campbell’s paperback reissue of Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor, Requiem for Ash edition was on our must-read list for months. Fresh off special delivery, here is our take on the end of an era.

Bruce Campbell released the paperback version of Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor yesterday with an added bonus for his fans of 50 pages of new adventures and musings. The idea was to explain part of his story, his decision to retire the iconic character of Ash Williams.

Thus, the Requiem for Ash edition and the end of the portion of his life which he calls “Act II” was born. Throughout his European tour in 2018, the actor jotted down notes about the various locations and experiences he was having. When he returned to the states, he got to work and a year later the fruits of his labor are available for all to read.

What has emerged is an honest and unflinching look at his last season on Ash vs Evil Dead. He pulls no punches, there is no sugar coating. We get the reasons behind why he hung up the chainsaw for good.

As much as his fanbase doesn’t want to admit it, Bruce Campbell is done with the character. There is no turning back. He literally gave it his all and we got three wonderful seasons and over 15 hours of Deadite fighting goodness.

Bruce Campbell Reaches “The Latex Point”

However, this will be a hard read for those that hold out hope for a return of the Ghostbeaters. By Season 3, the series had exacted a toll on Campbell draining him mentally and physically. What looks like a good time on screen isn’t necessarily a good time off screen.

On a daily basis, he was contending with green screens, dank basements, dried blood, harnesses, blood cannons and the list goes on and on. The shoots were becoming more tedious and grueling. In his words:

"“After a while, I couldn’t tell when a scene started or ended. In the days of Evil Dead when an actor broke down, weeping uncontrollably, we called it ‘The Latex Point.’ I am there.”"

Cancellation is never an optimum result for anyone involved in a television series but for Bruce it was what he wanted. Conversely, he was happy that he could get on with his life but he also worried if eventually it would have a lasting effect on his career.

Requiem for Ash is not all about Evil Dead though. We get to regale in Bruce’s storytelling ability when he shares his insights on lollygagging in Amsterdam, exploring castles, his trip to his ancestral beginnings in Scotland and immersing himself in French culture (or trying to) in Cannes.

So, is the book worth purchasing? Definitely. It is one to add to your collection if you are a fan of Bruce Campbell’s or have a keen interest in the business of making movies.

Our takeaway from his musings, even heroes are human. In the end, Bruce Campbell is Bruce Campbell, an actor not his character, Ash Williams. He is subject to good days, bad days and all points in between just like the rest of us.

Personally, we can’t wait to see what’s next for the actor and we will be tuning in. For information on how to order Requiem for Ash and meet Bruce on his book tour, visit bruce-campbell.com.

Have you ordered your copy of Requiem for Ash yet? Let us know in the comments.