The Evil Dead: Ultimate Edition

by Stefan Halley

Sure you own a copy but it’s not as cool as this one.

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Evil Dead - The Ultimate Edition

What’s that?  You’ve already got a copy of Evil Dead.  But this is the Ultimate Edition.  Forget the special edition, regular edition and limited edition. This is the one you have to have.  By my count, this is the fifth edition of Evil Dead released on DVD.  So what makes this movie so special that it needs this many versions on DVD?  Sure it’s a great movie that mixes graphic horror with comic book zaniness but five versions of the film?  Please let this truly be the Ultimate Edition for a while.

Before he became Spider-Man director Sam Raimi, he was low budget 16mm shoestring budget Sam Raimi.  Raimi took a bunch of his friends out in the woods and slapped together one of the best cult movies of all time.  Keeping the plot simple, five friends venture out to an old cabin in the woods for a fun weekend only to unlock the horrors of the spirit world onto the mortal plane.  Soon everyone is possessed by demons and it’s up to one lone survivor to keep the evil from taking over the world. 

Raimi shows right from the start that he has the chops to be a great director.  Instead of being a by the numbers predictable film, Evil Dead redefines the genre and launches hundreds of clone films over the next twenty years.  But Raimi didn’t do it alone.  Bruce Campbell carries the film with manic intensity.  It’s hard to imagine the film without him.  It wouldn’t have worked with anyone else in the lead. 

So you’ve already bought Evil Dead and this three disc edition is looking really good.  The question is, is it worth your money?  The answer is, hell yeah.  I know the latex limited edition looks cool and the scream is awesome but it doesn’t give you the wealth of material that the Ultimate Edition does.  Disc one has a commentary track with Raimi and producer Robert Taper.  This is a carry over from previous editions but if you haven’t heard it before, you’ll want to check it out.  “One By One We Will Take You: The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead” is the first all new extra feature.  Clocking in at almost an hour, the documentary is filled with behind the scenes footage and interviews with Raimi, Joe Bob Briggs, Eli Roth, Tom Sullivan, Ellen Sandweiss, Robert Tapert and a score of others.  This is a great documentary covers lots of material from censorship problems to the reason why part two became more comedic.

Disc two contains the previously released audio commentary with Bruce Campbell.  “The Evil Dead: Treasures from the Cutting Room Floor” is an hour of deleted scenes and alternate takes.  It’s pretty rough footage but for completist, it’s great to have. 

Disc three is nothing but extra material.  Starting with the new featurette “Life After Death: The Ladies of The Evil Dead” features Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly and Betsy Baker explaining how they were embarrassed about the film but eventually came to love it as it achieve cult status.  It’s mostly interview footage but there is some convention footage and clips from the Evil Dead cast reunion. “The Ladies of The Evil Dead Meet Bruce Campbell” has Bruce sitting down with the female leads and discussing their experiences in making the movie. 

“Unconventional” reunites Campbell, Ted Raimi, Tapert and the three women at a convention where they sit and talk about their experiences doing conventions around the globe.  “At the Drive In” has Chicago film critic Dann Gire introducing the film to a group of rabid fans at the Flashback Weekend convention where the cast show up to give out some DVDs to fans who can answer questions about the film.  “Reunion Panel” has Steve Propoky introducing the cast and crew at the Flashback Weekend convention for a question and answer panel session. There isn’t anything new here but it’s fun to see the cast interact with their fan base.  Carried over from the Limited Edition is “Discovering The Evil Dead”. Rounding out the disc are some make-up tests, TV spots a still gallery, a poster and memorabilia gallery and the original theatrical trailer. 

Whew…if you’ve never owned a copy of The Evil Dead, then stop waiting and get this one.  It’s excellent.  If you’ve already purchased a copy of The Evil Dead, put it away and pick this edition up. It’s a great collection of material and you won’t be disappointed…well at least not until the 30th anniversary edition comes out.