Evil Dead 1 part 3
July 13, 2011 8:57 AM   Subscribe

Bruce Campbell confirms on Twitter that a remake of Evil Dead is in the works.

The film will be directed by Federico Alvarez, produced by Sam Raimi, and will again star Bruce Campbell.
posted by Hoopo (78 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
Groovy.
posted by adipocere at 8:59 AM on July 13, 2011 [11 favorites]


Not that he isn't badass, but I think having Ash aged-up twenty or so years will result in a different sort of movie.
posted by LogicalDash at 9:01 AM on July 13, 2011


I hope it's a shot-for-shot remake with all the same actors.
posted by griphus at 9:02 AM on July 13, 2011 [6 favorites]


The news is uglier than you think.

Sam Raimi producing, unknown new guy directing.

Bruce Campbell is a maybe for a cameo, new guy playing the 'Ash' part.

Hells Angels sent to murder your childhood memories, fond recollections of the original will be found floating in the canal.
posted by FatherDagon at 9:06 AM on July 13, 2011 [4 favorites]


Evil Dead 2 was a remake of Evil Dead. Talk about redundant.
posted by stinkycheese at 9:06 AM on July 13, 2011 [3 favorites]


Oops. I read a blog earlier today that gave me the impression Campbell was going to be Ash again, appears I may have been mistaken. Mods?
posted by Hoopo at 9:11 AM on July 13, 2011


Is that really him on Twitter? It's not a "verified account"...
posted by Gator at 9:13 AM on July 13, 2011


Evil Dead 2 was a remake of Evil Dead. Talk about redundant.

Evil Dead 2 was a wild and joyous slapstick re-imagining of Evil Dead. Not redundant at all; in fact, totally dundant.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 9:17 AM on July 13, 2011 [16 favorites]


Gator: "Is that really him on Twitter? It's not a "verified account"..."

See the twitter link on his official website.
posted by zarq at 9:18 AM on July 13, 2011


the core conceit of Evil Dead

You mean the rapey tree?
posted by shakespeherian at 9:22 AM on July 13, 2011


I have a lot of fears about this. the basic formula is pretty straightforward; an idiot, in the right place, at the right time, with an abundance of good luck on the heels of a ton of really bad luck interspersed with excellent one liners, all filmed in Raimi-vision is typically a recipe for success, but without the careful balance that Campbell brought to the role, I can see someone leaning too hard any one direction and ruining the result.

It's kind of like them remaking The Crow; I'm glad that a new generation will be introduced to something that shaped my youth, but on the other hand, I'd kind of prefer it if they just watched the original and learned to love it for the same reasons that I did.

It's too easy to take a beloved franchise and, even with the best intentions, completely ruin it.
posted by quin at 9:24 AM on July 13, 2011 [3 favorites]


Mod note: edited the post to remove the "as Ash" part by poster's request, carry on
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:39 AM on July 13, 2011


Twitter generally doesn't verify celebrity accounts anymore.
posted by Zozo at 9:42 AM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


I would have preferred a film version of the Evil Dead musical.
posted by cazoo at 9:44 AM on July 13, 2011 [3 favorites]


I used to have this idea that if I had a superpower, I'd be able to manipulate time. Now, I want it to be that if anyone in Hollywood says the word "reboot," I'll fly from out of nowhere and bash their head in with a crowbar.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:51 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


The bonus is that you could actually watch the metal erode in real time.
posted by heatvision at 9:57 AM on July 13, 2011


Bruce Campbell is a maybe for a cameo

Then this film can maybe bite me.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:58 AM on July 13, 2011


If this were a sequel with Campbell as a 20-years-older Ash, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

A remake with Campbell in a cameo? Inh. Maybe when it comes out in the-library-has-the-dvd.
posted by Zed at 9:58 AM on July 13, 2011


Without Campbell in some major role, my enthusiasm for this is at about the same level as finding out that Samwell has made a Kickstarter project for What What, In the Butt: The Movie.
posted by adipocere at 10:01 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


my enthusiasm for this is at about the same level as finding out that Samwell has made a Kickstarter project for What What, In the Butt: The Movie.

I just reflexively threw a handful of money at my monitor, so immediate was my urge to fund that.
posted by FatherDagon at 10:09 AM on July 13, 2011 [10 favorites]


Coming up with your own original story no longer cool?
posted by TheRedArmy at 10:12 AM on July 13, 2011


villanelles at Dawn: I mean a *third* version of the same story is redundant.
posted by stinkycheese at 10:14 AM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


My feeling is they'll have to make it very different than the original to make it worthwhile, and that's a bit risky. 99% of the good points of the movie were Bruce Campbell as Ash, campy low budget special effects, and Sam Raimi's corny campfire storytelling. I don't know if CG like we saw in Drag Me To Hell would fit in a movie like Evil Dead and I think it will be hard to avoid.

That said, The Evil Dead was probably the only one in the series that tried to be a horror movie first and foremost with and attempted to be legitimately "scary." The sequels ran with the camp factor and it's easy to look back now on the whole series in retrospect as cartoonish horror-comedy. I think there's room to re-examine The Evil Dead as a scary movie, but it won't be easy. I'm probably in a minority when I say this, but Sam Raimi acted as producer for The Grudge which in my opinion was pretty damned scary (because it used a lot of the exact same tricks as Ju-On). I think he's got it in him.
posted by Hoopo at 10:29 AM on July 13, 2011


If we were talking about the original Evil Dead, as it was released, and with me back at the age I was when it was originally released, I would enthusiastically approve. Anything else sucks.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 10:34 AM on July 13, 2011


You think they're going to take the humour out and play it straight? Now *that* would be shocking.
posted by stinkycheese at 10:35 AM on July 13, 2011


Yeah I'm only speculating based on the "Scary as hell" bit in the tweet, I don't know if that's what they're doing.
posted by Hoopo at 10:37 AM on July 13, 2011


Sam Raimi producing, unknown new guy directing.

Bruce Campbell is a maybe for a cameo, new guy playing the 'Ash' part.


I need to head to Hollywood with my boomstick.
posted by Runes at 10:43 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


95% of all people will hate it. 5% will see it good on its own merits.

I think this is similar to the argument of remastering and releasing an old movie onto bluray, that really became a part of you, in all its bad quality ways, but now is just not the same; and you're disappointed and kind of annoyed at yourself for even buying the new version.
posted by zombieApoc at 10:46 AM on July 13, 2011


i only hope, like last year, they do another theater run with the original film as a build-up to this.
posted by zombieApoc at 10:46 AM on July 13, 2011


Shakespeare's plays have been produced millions of times. Every great Jazz player records their own versions of Jazz standards. I like the idea of "classic" films being remade every few decades.

Sure, modern remakes are generally worthless trash, but that's a symptom of a diseased Hollywood that equally afflicts original films.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:47 AM on July 13, 2011


But how much cooler would it be if they restarted The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. ?

I mean, srsly, it's hard to change channel these days without being beset by marauding schlock-horror zombies pouring out the screen (or vampires, or werewolves, or whatever else current the dark-meme-du-jour is), but the original sci-fi and western series?

Now that would be 1 kelvin legumes.

Also I really want to know what happens next.
posted by titus-g at 10:49 AM on July 13, 2011 [3 favorites]


Give me some sugar baby.
posted by Elmore at 10:51 AM on July 13, 2011


But how much cooler would it be if they restarted The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. ?

I don't know. I loved that show, I loved Jack of all Trades equally, and I don't think that show was given enough credit
posted by zombieApoc at 10:52 AM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


Jack of All Trades was great because they somehow managed to get Bruce Campbell to have a fist fight with Napoleon in every single episode.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:56 AM on July 13, 2011 [5 favorites]


Evil Dead III: The Evil Deadening
posted by blue_beetle at 10:59 AM on July 13, 2011


Shakespeare's plays have been produced millions of times. Every great Jazz player records their own versions of Jazz standards. I like the idea of "classic" films being remade every few decades.

Well Shakespeare laid out some templates with immutable brilliance, and they are ruined by either being lazy or trying to hard. If movies could be played like music or maybe only left to be redone over and over by great filmmakers, then you could make the Jazz comparison. As it stands though remakes are usually badly done. A younger and in better shape Bruce Campbell is an intrinsic part of the Evil Dead films and I don't see how they're going to get around that.
posted by P.o.B. at 11:03 AM on July 13, 2011


I don't see that combining Jack of All Trades & Brisco wouldn't be a perfectly reasonable plot scenario, you've already got the time travel in there, and he is kinda playing the same guy in both of them.
posted by titus-g at 11:03 AM on July 13, 2011


how much cooler would it be if they restarted The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

I remember predicting that Brisco County Jr. would be the big winner of FOX's 1993 season.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:04 AM on July 13, 2011


Possibly with Skott Bakula and Christopher Lloyd in supporting roles...
posted by titus-g at 11:05 AM on July 13, 2011


(in my defence, 899 other people (according to google) have spelled it skott before me)
posted by titus-g at 11:09 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


They should just make Evil Dead 4. Picking up x number of years after Ash returns from the past at the end of Evil Dead 3. Post apocalyptic demon slaying Ash holding court over a rag tag team of survivors inside of a barricaded souped up S-Mart.
posted by ian1977 at 11:11 AM on July 13, 2011 [5 favorites]


(in my defence, 899 other people (according to google) have spelled it skott before me)

I'd say to your credit. Skott Bakula is a cooler way to spell it. Reminds me of Count Duckula
posted by ian1977 at 11:12 AM on July 13, 2011


Dundant as hell.

Why can’t we have an older, heavier Ash? Is there a law I missed somewhere?
posted by bongo_x at 11:12 AM on July 13, 2011


Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:13 AM on July 13, 2011


I hope Tim and Eric direct the eventual remake of Army of Darkness.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:15 AM on July 13, 2011


Post apocalyptic demon slaying Ash holding court over a rag tag team of survivors inside of a barricaded souped up S-Mart.

One could almost argue that Bruce already played that character in his role in Escape from LA.
posted by quin at 11:18 AM on July 13, 2011



One could almost argue that Bruce already played that character in his role in Escape from LA


or Alien Apocalypse (sorta)

But that's okay, he needs the practice!
posted by ian1977 at 11:24 AM on July 13, 2011


I think this is similar to the argument of remastering and releasing an old movie onto bluray, that really became a part of you, in all its bad quality ways, but now is just not the same; and you're disappointed and kind of annoyed at yourself for even buying the new version.

Yeah, you know, I have the original Star Trek on Blu-Ray, but I have yet to watch an episode with the enhanced effects. I like the crappy old ones!
posted by adamdschneider at 11:40 AM on July 13, 2011


Eek, I'm imagining a Blu-Ray Withnail and I where Danny speaks in perfectly enunciated Queen's English. You know, like every dirty hippie dealer.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:43 AM on July 13, 2011


I think there's room to re-examine The Evil Dead as a scary movie, but it won't be easy.

When I was a kid, I had watched Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness a few times (my alma mater actually has a yearly event called Army of Burritos on Ash Wednesday), but I'd never seen The Evil Dead. So introducing the 'Dude to the whole series, starting with the first one, was quite an eye-opener. Sure, The Evil Dead is campy in a "me and my friends made a horror film" sort of way, but it's also downright scary, in a "me and my friends made a pretty good horror film" sort of way. Unlike the next two movies, the comedic and farcical elements really aren't out of line with other horror movies of the day. So unless they want to turn it into, I don't know, The Evil Dead: Saw, I just don't see the value in revisiting this.

I think it's natural for directors (**cough** Lucas) to look at their past works and only see the flaws, and want to fix them. Until we invent time travel, it's just not going to work.
posted by muddgirl at 11:45 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


Remember that part in the second one where Cheryl's undead demonic head is in the vise, and it tells Ash that Cheryl's soul is in hell? That kinda made me imagine that that happens to everyone in the series while they're possessed--their soul temporarily goes to hell. So I always imagined a really awesome ender for the series would be Ash getting possessed again and actually being in hell. There are some juicy opportunities for both horror and humor there, I think.

They could also retcon AoD to restore the splendid "I slept too long" ending and then have film #4 be epic post-apocalyptic zombie-slaying in the future. The best parts of these films was always Ash all alone and half-insane from horror and loneliness, killing because he has to kill. This would be an easy way to provide more of that goodness in a fresh setting. It would be like I Am Legend, but with more slapstick and less touching character choices.
posted by heatvision at 11:45 AM on July 13, 2011


That kinda made me imagine that that happens to everyone in the series while they're possessed--their soul temporarily goes to hell

The only problem there is that when Linda's head speaks and professor Knowby comes back as green-faced apparition and asks them to "save his soul," they are both already dead whereas Ash is still alive but possessed.
posted by Hoopo at 11:50 AM on July 13, 2011


unless they want to turn it into, I don't know, The Evil Dead: Saw, I just don't see the value in revisiting this.

OK, quick poll: The Evil Dead Human Centipede, yea or nay?
posted by nickmark at 11:51 AM on July 13, 2011


They could also retcon AoD to restore the splendid "I slept too long" ending and then have film #4 be epic post-apocalyptic zombie-slaying in the future.

I was totally thinking the same thing.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:52 AM on July 13, 2011


OK, quick poll: The Evil Dead Human Centipede, yea or nay?

Cue possessed lady in the basement screeching "Swallow your poop, I'll swallow your poop!" and then biting Ash on the rump.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:54 AM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


OK, quick poll: The Evil Dead Human Centipede, yea or nay?

Only if the first four segments are Bruce Campbell as Ash, Brisco County, Jr., Jack Stiles, Elvis, and Sam Axe.

Whoa, that's gross.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:54 AM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


Plus I can't count to five.
posted by FelliniBlank at 11:55 AM on July 13, 2011


Apropos of previous post(er)

The Evil Dead - 8.5
posted by titus-g at 11:58 AM on July 13, 2011



OK, quick poll: The Evil Dead Human Centipede, yea or nay?

Only if the first four segments are Bruce Campbell as Ash, Brisco County, Jr., Jack Stiles, Elvis, and Sam Axe.


Surgically connected, chin to ass.
posted by ian1977 at 12:00 PM on July 13, 2011


"Evil Dead: Never So Scary". Starring Ashton Kutcher as Ash.
posted by Songdog at 1:01 PM on July 13, 2011


Evil Dead vs Home (not quite) Alone - Macauley Kulkin in baby fetish drag (which is NEVER AKNOWLEDGED!), with Bruce as the dad (who also missed the flight).

Together they fight invading zombies armed with nothing but household items, their wits, and BIG METAL CHICKENS OF THE NOT-SEA
posted by titus-g at 1:14 PM on July 13, 2011


Why can’t we have an older, heavier Ash? Is there a law I missed somewhere?

You're right. Except all the action would be him running away, or rather slow jog, but unable to get one of his wisecracks off due to the gasps and lack of air.
No, but seriously, how would that work? Honestly, because I'm pretty sure Campbell is well aware of his persona and how to play it up and it's slowly deteriorated to less and less action scenes throughout the years. Hell, even his action scenes in Burn Notice usually whittled down to either him bumbling around ducking for cover or slo-mo running away from explosion. Which almost sums up My Name is Bruce.

BTW, his running is not pretty these days.
posted by P.o.B. at 1:20 PM on July 13, 2011


Which almost sums up My Name is Bruce.

Aww jeez now I got "Guan-Di is His Name" stuck in my head again
posted by Hoopo at 1:26 PM on July 13, 2011 [2 favorites]


"1 kelvin legumes" lol
posted by Tom-B at 1:33 PM on July 13, 2011


The Legend of Guan Di

Share the wealth!
posted by P.o.B. at 1:41 PM on July 13, 2011


For people with iWhatsits, there's a surprisingly excellent Army of Darkness Tower Defense (ish) game.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:00 PM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


They could also retcon AoD to restore the splendid "I slept too long" ending and then have film #4 be epic post-apocalyptic zombie-slaying in the future.

You know, that sounds pretty cool...but that version of the film removed a ton of the most classic lines.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:19 PM on July 13, 2011


I came here to echo cazoo, and say that I hope the movie is of the Evil Dead musical.

Because, damn. That's a fine fine musical.

One of the few theater productions I'd actually want to participate in these days. Maybe I should see if my tiny local theater group would be interested in putting it on!
posted by hippybear at 4:28 PM on July 13, 2011


I'd love to see a remake of Army of Darkness now that technology would make everything seem terribly real.

That, and so I could wait in tingling anticipation for the Ash to say:

"Alright you Primitive Screwheads, listen up! You see this? This ... is my BOOMSTICK!"
posted by bwg at 4:41 PM on July 13, 2011


Needs more workshed.
posted by padraigin at 6:00 PM on July 13, 2011


Sooo... just to be clear. Shia LaBeouf as Ash Jr. with a hedge trimmer hand is right out?
posted by Lon Mem at 7:58 PM on July 13, 2011


The AV Club is reporting that they've hired Diablo Cody to punch up the script.

So there's that.
posted by fryman at 9:14 PM on July 13, 2011


Diablo fucking Cody.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:26 PM on July 13, 2011


Honest to blog.
posted by fryman at 9:38 PM on July 13, 2011 [1 favorite]


Cue possessed lady in the basement screeching "Swallow your poop, I'll swallow your poop!" and then biting Ash on the rump.

I think you meant "I'll swallow your stool!"

Well, as much as anyone could possibly mean that, at least.
posted by FatherDagon at 10:17 PM on July 13, 2011


This re-remake sounds dangerously on par with Warren G's new gig.

"Bruce Campbell! What are YOU doing here?"
posted by Lon Mem at 2:29 AM on July 14, 2011


I hope Tim and Eric direct the eventual remake of Army of Darkness.

No.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:23 PM on July 16, 2011


And now Diablo Cody is doing script revisions. Here's hoping there's none of that 'honest to blog' nonsense.
posted by heatvision at 7:27 PM on July 17, 2011


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