The Evil Dead (1981)

100% of critics liked it
(47 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(170,269 ratings)

This auspicious feature debut from Sam Raimi -- shot on 16mm in the woods of Tennesse for around $350,000 -- secured the young director's cult status as a creative force to be reckoned with. The nominal plot involves five vacationing college kids -- Ash (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend Linda (Betsy… More This auspicious feature debut from Sam Raimi -- shot on 16mm in the woods of Tennesse for around $350,000 -- secured the young director's cult status as a creative force to be reckoned with. The nominal plot involves five vacationing college kids -- Ash (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend Linda (Betsy Baker), and their classmates Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss), Scott (Hal Delrich) and Shelly (Sarah York) -- making an unplanned stopover in an abandoned mountain cabin surrounded by impenetrable woods. Before settling in for the night, they come across an ancient-looking occult tome filled with dense hieroglyphics and macabre illustrations, a dagger fashioned from human bones, and a reel-to-reel tape recorder. The taped message, dictated by a professor of archaeology, describes the contents of the Sumerian "Book of the Dead," filled with incantations used to bring otherworldly demons to life, giving them license to possess the living. The message goes on to explain that those possessed by these demons can only be stopped by total bodily dismemberment. When played among the group later that evening, the professor's recorded translations of the ritual chants traumatize the strangely prescient Shelly ... and simultaneously release an ominous presence from the depths of the forest. The evil spirits take to their dirty work with gusto, first assuming control of Shelly and transforming her into a cackling, murderous hag with superhuman strength; the others imprison her in the fruit cellar and chain the trapdoor shut. The spirits then begin to possess the other women, including Linda -- who immediately turns on Ash with a barrage of punches and sadistic taunts. Unable to bring himself to chop up his lover's corpse, Ash gives her a more customary burial in the woods -- which proves to be a big mistake. As the others succumb to demonic influence, Ash's horrific predicament becomes increasingly grim until, when all hope seems lost, he stumbles upon a final, desperate solution to the ghoulish onslaught ... well, maybe not. Despite the shoestring production values, Raimi has fashioned a tight, lightning-paced fever dream of a movie, filled with operatic overacting and outrageously gory effects that give the project a comic-book feel. Based on an earlier 8mm short titled Within the Woods, this feature version was fraught with distribution difficulties before finding its first audience overseas. After considerable word of mouth (and a glowing endorsement from horror author Stephen King), the film became a hit on home video, where it achieved further notoriety thanks to its highly-publicized banning in Britain amid the notorious "Video Nasties" censorship campaign. Raimi, along with producer Robert Tapert, writer Scott Spiegel and much of the same crew, cranked up the story's comic aspects several dozen notches for the rollicking semi-remake, Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Written By: Sam Raimi
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror

In Theaters: Oct 15, 1981 Wide
On DVD: Jan 19, 1999
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Pat Graham, Chicago Reader
Sam Raimi directed this 1983 horror feature fresh out of film school, and his anything-for-an-effect enthusiasm pays off in lots of formally inventive bits.
Variety Staff, Variety
While injecting considerable black humor, neophyte Detroit-based writer-director Sam Raimi maintains suspense and a nightmarish mood in between the showy outbursts of special effects gore and graphic violence which are staples of modern horror pictures.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
To say that the Evil Dead movies are not for everyone is an understatement. A strong stomach is required.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
It's Raimi's keen eye (and ear) for audiovisual intoxication that makes this creeper a home run.
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet
Everyone tries to make a horror flick this way. Few succeed like Raimi did.
Steve Biodrowski, Cinefantastique
If you want to savor the gory goodness of "The Evil Dead" on home video, with every burst pustule and glob of blood as clear and sharp as the day it was filmed, then the Blu-ray disc is the way to go.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media
Horror masterpiece is gory, but silly. For older teens only.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
In the league of "Night of the Living Dead" and "Jaws" where it continues to be immortal and outlive other horror classics in the face of changing movie going sentiment...
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
No serious subtext to be found here, just vigorous love and respect for the simultaneous horror and humor inherent to the genre.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An inspired gross-out horror pic.
Kevin Carr, Film School Rejects
fans of the film - and novices who make it through the reels without throwing up yet wanting more - will find a lot to love in here
Lucius Gore, ESplatter
No, they don't make 'em like this anymore, folks.
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... one of the most entertaining American horror films of the 1980s, a stylish roller coaster starring a bloody, battered, lantern-jawed Bruce Campbell.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Director Sam Raimi attacks the movie with a brutal kind of kinetic creativity, moving the camera in truly unique patterns.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
The Evil Dead's no-holds-barred resourcefulness places it among the masterpieces of the genre.
, Empire Magazine
If you can overlook the mostly lame-o acting, cheeseball effects and fumbling drama, there's enough fledgling genius here to fill another thousand horror movies.
, Film4
Energetic, original and icky, Raimi's splat-stick debut is a tight little horror classic that deserves its cult reputation, despite the best efforts of the censors.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Not for the faint of heart or those uninitiated in the ways of modern horror, it's a hoot for fans of the genre.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
There's no greater collectible for an Evil Dead fan than this very box set.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

I am rating this movie for when I saw it in 1981. I just watched this again. If this was my first time I would have probably hated it...BUT. I know that back in 1981, this movie was awesome!! Crazy. Funny. Scary (yes, I was scared). This definitely has to be viewed now as a movie to… More
I am rating this movie for when I saw it in 1981. I just watched this again. If this was my first time I would have probably hated it...BUT. I know that back in 1981, this movie was awesome!! Crazy. Funny. Scary (yes, I was scared). This definitely has to be viewed now as a movie to just have fun with, and realize that it was some crazy, crazy, crazy stuff in 1981....
Dean !

A very good horror film for its time and easy to see why it became a cult film. It's very creepy and despite the low budget and simple plot is quite entertaining. The horror effects do look very poor and dated now, making it more funny than scary. The camera work is very good and… More
A very good horror film for its time and easy to see why it became a cult film. It's very creepy and despite the low budget and simple plot is quite entertaining. The horror effects do look very poor and dated now, making it more funny than scary. The camera work is very good and adds a great deal to the atmosphere of the film. Just would have been a bit better if it had more plot depth to it and the acting is far from great.
Christopher H

Sam Raimi's theatrical debut delivers a wildly original film that gives the right amount of gore, horror, suspense, and comedy. One moment, you'll be laughing and the next moment you'll be screaming in horror. The cinematography is kinetic and wild, giving a sense of… More
Sam Raimi's theatrical debut delivers a wildly original film that gives the right amount of gore, horror, suspense, and comedy. One moment, you'll be laughing and the next moment you'll be screaming in horror. The cinematography is kinetic and wild, giving a sense of craziness, like one is losing their mind. The music and the home-made look of the cabin setting give a true sense of dread. The movie does use gore, a lot of gore, but it never gets to the point were it feels excessive. The cast serves their purpose although B-movie King Bruce Campbell stands out among the rest. Campbell gives a nice amount of charisma while still coming off as believable. Considering the films low budget, it is hard not to appreciate it. The Evil Dead shows that creativity and inspiration can transcend a low budget.
KJ P

The Evil Dead is one of the scariest films I have ever seen in my life. Definitely my choice for best horror of all time. It delivers on it's gruesome and disturbing chills throughout. I found myself covering my eyes at scenes, which I have never once done in a film before. From… More
The Evil Dead is one of the scariest films I have ever seen in my life. Definitely my choice for best horror of all time. It delivers on it's gruesome and disturbing chills throughout. I found myself covering my eyes at scenes, which I have never once done in a film before. From the gory realism, to the formalistic over-the-top chase sequences, to the cheesy but awesome dialogue, to the terrifying creatures, "The Evil Dead" stands alone in it's genre. I loved this movie from start to finish, and it is a movie that I will never forget!
Donna B

The movie may be a little cheesy but its old filming makes it extremly creepy and thrilling. It also has hints of humor when the main character gets drenched in blood (Which happens about 10 times.) There is always something happening when you think everything has calmed down, so… More
The movie may be a little cheesy but its old filming makes it extremly creepy and thrilling. It also has hints of humor when the main character gets drenched in blood (Which happens about 10 times.) There is always something happening when you think everything has calmed down, so don't even think about getting off the edge of your seat. The ending is a humongous cliff hanger on what happens in the second.
Kevin K

Grade: A- (91%) "The Evil Dead" might be one of the most weirdest/goriest/sickening movies I have ever seen in my life. There is a whole lot of gore in this film that probably defines "excess gore" in film making. It might be one of the weirdest films just due… More
Grade: A- (91%) "The Evil Dead" might be one of the most weirdest/goriest/sickening movies I have ever seen in my life. There is a whole lot of gore in this film that probably defines "excess gore" in film making. It might be one of the weirdest films just due to one scene with a character and tree branches (people who have seen the movie will completely understand). "The Evil Dead" follows a group of friends who decide to spent a weekend in an old cabin in the middle of the woods away from civilization. Some of you can probably see what is about to unfold. A floor door opens all of the sudden and they find a book covered in human skin that will soon be called "The Book of the Dead" by a tape recorder. But when the tape speaks a magical spell from the book, the group begin to be infected and turned into zombies. Then a gore fest occurs for the rest of the film. Whatever you can think of, most of it will be in this film. Whether it's gouging out eyes or dismembering zombies, you will find it in this film. The film is disgusting but funny as well. The extremely violent executions are disturbing as well as funny to watch. The movie can be quite eerie at times. One scene is just the main character beating the crap out of the zombie while it just giggles and laughs for no apparent reason. With all this you are probably asking yourself if this is a good movie? Well even though I can't fully explain why, "The Evil Dead" is a great movie. Not for one second was I not entertained by this horror flick. Once the zombies come, this becomes a nonstop thrill ride that will shake you and make you sick to your stomach and in the end you'll be asking to watch the sequels. Saying that this is not a movie for everyone is a huge understatement. "The Evil Dead" requires a really strong stomach to watch through it fully. This is not a movie for anyone under the age of 13. This is a film that could make you sick by the gallons of zombie gore. Hell, even the non-gory scenes will disgust you; it gets that heavy. With all this "criticism" on the gore, "The Evil Dead" is a great movie to watch. Its fun, sometimes laughable and always disgusting. If you are a true horror fan, you should watch this film the next chance you get. Just make sure you have a bucket as a precaution, you never know.
Dean M

Director Sam Raimi's cult-classic and low-budget zombie flick is good and scary. His camera work is truly masterful. By using fast camera work and aggressive shots, Raimi has created an eerie world that is sometimes hard to look at but too entertaining to turn away from. His… More
Director Sam Raimi's cult-classic and low-budget zombie flick is good and scary. His camera work is truly masterful. By using fast camera work and aggressive shots, Raimi has created an eerie world that is sometimes hard to look at but too entertaining to turn away from. His style from behind the camera is absolutely unmistakable. The special effects are as laughable as they were in the rest of the series, but there's something to be said for a film that takes its chances and goes to the extreme in lieu of lacking resources. The acting is terrible, but again in that way that it's so obviously bad that it's hard to tell were the actors just plain bad or were they doing that deliberately to serve the purpose of mocking the genre. Bruce Campbell's introduction into the world of abused heroes is interesting since his character is actually less of a chauvinist in this one than he ultimately became famous for. But it works, and the horror on his face when his friend has no reservations about chopping up his possessed girlfriend is actually believable.
Matt G

Sam Raimi appears early in the film as the fisherman, keep your eyes out!
Sergio G

I keep a very vivid image of a demon flying around the living room and counting cards. I was 8 years old. Thanks cousins!
Steven C

There is a very specific audience for "The Evil Dead" and I am certainly not it. While I completely understand the appeal of Sam Raimi's gross out opus, I couldn't find it any more unlikable- and I've had to sit through it twice. "The Evil Dead," and… More
There is a very specific audience for "The Evil Dead" and I am certainly not it. While I completely understand the appeal of Sam Raimi's gross out opus, I couldn't find it any more unlikable- and I've had to sit through it twice. "The Evil Dead," and it's equally obnoxious sequels, are beloved films, there is no disputing that, so I won't bother with a full fledged deconstruction, but I will say this, I have never seen a nastier, noisier, numbskull of a horror picture. Yuck!
Tsubaki S

Good of course, but the problem is i saw this after seeing the sequels, and while this was fun the sequels are just even more fun, more polished, with better dialogue, better pacing and so on. This is still a testament of how creativity can't be replaced with sophisticated… More
Good of course, but the problem is i saw this after seeing the sequels, and while this was fun the sequels are just even more fun, more polished, with better dialogue, better pacing and so on. This is still a testament of how creativity can't be replaced with sophisticated special effects, or big movie stars. Ain't that right Sam?
AJ V

One of the best horror films of the 80s! It's gory and horrific, and it's so over the top, it's hilarious as well. I love it, and if you like horror movies you'll love it too.
danny d

a sort of paranormal/zombie hybrid, raimi's cult classic is loved by those it appeals to, but its really just an average film. a few scares and an entertaining premise, but it doesnt do enough to stand out from a typical and watered down genre.
Lewis C

"We're gonna get you. We're gonna get you." The Evil Dead is ultra low-budget, ultra gory, and ultra entertaining. I recently saw the Night of the Demons remake, which has a similar premise to this movie, (group of young people trapped in a house with demons and… More
"We're gonna get you. We're gonna get you." The Evil Dead is ultra low-budget, ultra gory, and ultra entertaining. I recently saw the Night of the Demons remake, which has a similar premise to this movie, (group of young people trapped in a house with demons and forced to try to survive until dawn) and I hated it. It's impressive how Evil Dead did right what Night of the Demons failed at miserably so many years later (and with the advantage of a bigger budget, I'm sure). As the number of survivors in this horror flick fall to one, Ash (Bruce Campbell) is driven close to madness as he's forced to fight off the nightmarish attacks of his former friends, who have all become possessed Deadites. The demon-like creatures aren't content with just trying to kill him, they seem to take great joy in torturing him mentally as much as possible The special effects and make-up are extremely well done. The Deadites all look quite gruesome, and there's a great sense of foreboding atmosphere before they even appear. It bears repeating how great all this looks, considering how low of a budget it had. Even if it wasn't as entertaining as it is, it still would be worth seeing just as an example of what can be done with creativity and not very much money.
Martin S

Hey...it was fun...It's starts out with a creepy tension...nice lightning effects and it's even a bit scary.....then they just go nuts...party time in the cabin....It's a different movie...and that's good
Spencer S

No one knows whether it's funny or scary in origin. I only found the absurdity funny, as do most. The scenes are primitive, the plot laughable, and the acting really does mirror humor.
Lorenzo v

"We're going to get you. We're going to get you. Not another peep. Time to go to sleep." Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons. <center>"We're going to get you. We're going to get you. Not another peep. Time to go to sleep." Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons. <center>REVIEW</center> This is the ultimate horror movie for teenage boys and a good place to get a horror obsession off the ground. It is well shot with a plethora of crazy angles and wacky point of view shots, it ladles the blood on thick, it has the King of Goofy (Bruce Campbell) in the lead role, and it's not afraid to be nasty. The special effects are more enjoyable than realistic and the rural setting works a treat. The film, shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm, had a big technical influence on many directors and broke new ground in terms of horror-comedy. Campbell, as usual, delivers a tongue in cheek performance and wants us to have as much fun as he's having. Director Raimi went on to very big things ("Spiderman", for example) and followed this up with a more technically polished sequel. My only complaint is that Raimi steers well clear of any female nudity. He should have known that teenage boys eat that stuff up. Bigger boys don't mind it, either.
Jeff "

1981's The Evil Dead is a phenomenal achievement in the Zombie genre. This is one creepy zombie film that returns to the essence of pure zombie films such as Night Of The Living Dead. The film is dark and gloomy, and you never quite see the evil thats lurking about. The Evil Dead… More
1981's The Evil Dead is a phenomenal achievement in the Zombie genre. This is one creepy zombie film that returns to the essence of pure zombie films such as Night Of The Living Dead. The film is dark and gloomy, and you never quite see the evil thats lurking about. The Evil Dead is without a doubt director Sam Raimi's greatest achievement as a director as it was shot on a minimal budget, yet the special effects techniques used are done so well. I admire this film for it's creativity and it's pacing to create tension and scares. When the scariest scenes happen, you are already emotionally drained from the previous tense moments. The Evil Dead is definitely a classic horror film that should belong alongside Classics such as The Exorcist and Halloween.
Tim S

Dontcha love the video nasties? I can't tell which film was more influential, Evil Dead or Evil Dead 2. This is one I can't sit down and watch ALL the time, because it's hard to sit through due to how straight-forward it is in relentless horror. There are definitely… More
Dontcha love the video nasties? I can't tell which film was more influential, Evil Dead or Evil Dead 2. This is one I can't sit down and watch ALL the time, because it's hard to sit through due to how straight-forward it is in relentless horror. There are definitely some comic moments to it, but the first in the series is a gruelling piece of cinema.
Dead A

I watched this when I was a kid and I remember being scared at that time.