THE EVIL DEAD

The beginning of the famous cult horror trilogy, directed by Sam Raimi and starring the then un-star-like Bruce Campbell with the un-hero-like name of Ashley (Ash, for short), “The Evil Dead” is the campy, disgusting and ultimately enjoyable original that started it all. A couple of guys with three female companions and some beer set off into the rural Tennessee woods to a creepy old cabin. The terror that resides there is ancient, and soon vows to possess each and every one of them before the night is through. Raimi relies on old-fashioned special effects (stop motion, claymation, cheap but grotesque makeup, etc.), eerie sound and music, and a kinetic camera on a shoestring budget (five actors on one location) to carry the day, and scores a big hit for independent horror everywhere.