It’s been 40 years since Sam Raimi scraped together a tiny budget and traveled to a cabin in the woods with a few reels of 16mm film, buckets of fake blood, and a masochistic Bruce Campbell. The result was 1981’s all-time splatter classic The Evil Dead, which made Raimi’s career, spawned two sequels, a remake, video games, comics, and an awesome (and unjustly canceled) TV show. The story isn’t over yet, with the next movie Evil Dead Rise currently shooting in New Zealand and scheduled for a 2022 release on HBO Max.
But before all that it’s time to go back to the forest where it all began. 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of The Evil Dead and celebrations are afoot. Most eye-catching is that the movie will be re-released in theaters this October via Fathom Events and Grindhouse Releasing. Fans will also be delighted that star Bruce Campbell is recording a new introduction to the movie that will be exclusive to these screenings.
Grindhouse’s Bob Murawski hyped up the release:
“We are proud to present this special 40th anniversary screening of Evil Dead with Fathom Events. The original film has always been my favorite of the series. It is truly one of the scariest and wildest horror films of all time. I’m thrilled that a new generation of fans will have the chance to experience it in the way I first did — on the big screen with a screaming audience!”
If you can’t make it to the theaters, Lionsgate Home Entertainment has your back with a collectible box set featuring The Evil Dead, The Evil Dead II, and all three seasons of Ash vs. Evil Dead. Notable by its absence is the third installment Army of Darkness, though the rights to that film are a bit of a mess.
The Evil Dead hasn’t been away from the big screen for long though. With theaters mostly closed throughout 2020 drive-ins became popular, with Bruce Campbell taking the movie on the road and doing pre-show Q&As. Those screenings were sold-out successes, so I’m betting this will do similarly well.
The 40th anniversary screenings of The Evil Dead will take place on Thursday, October 7 at 7:30 PM (local time). Tickets will be available on Friday, August 13 at www.FathomEvents.com and through participating theater box offices.
