Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II (also subtitled Dead by Dawn) is a 1987 American comedy horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, co-written by Scott Spiegel, and starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams.[1][2] The film serves as both a sequel to and loose remake of the 1981 low-budget horror The Evil Dead, following Ash as he returns to an isolated cabin in the Tennessee woods with his girlfriend Linda, only to unwittingly unleash malevolent Deadite demons through the recitation of passages from the ancient Necronomicon Ex-Mortis.[2][1] Blending visceral gore with slapstick humor, it depicts Ash's increasingly unhinged fight for survival against the supernatural forces, armed with a boomstick shotgun and eventually a chainsaw prosthetic.[2][1] Produced by Robert Tapert under Renaissance Pictures, Evil Dead II was filmed primarily in a replica cabin set built in a field outside Wadesboro, North Carolina, from May to September 1986.[3] With a budget of $3.5 million—significantly higher than the original film's $350,000—Raimi employed innovative practical effects, including stop-motion animation and elaborate gore sequences crafted by makeup artist Mark Shostrom, to amplify the film's over-the-top horror-comedy tone.[3] The cast includes Sarah Berry as Annie Knowby, Dan Hicks as Jake, and Kassie Wesley as Bobby Joe, with Ted Raimi (Sam's brother) in multiple roles, including the infamous "Henrietta" Deadite.[1] Despite initial distribution challenges, the film had its U.S. theatrical release on March 13, 1987, via Rosebud Releasing Corporation.[2][3] Upon release, Evil Dead II grossed approximately $5.9 million worldwide against its $3.5 million budget, achieving modest commercial success and establishing itself as a cult classic.[3] Critics praised its inventive direction, Bruce Campbell's charismatic performance, and the seamless fusion of horror and humor, earning an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 83 reviews, with the consensus noting it as "a wilder, wittier, and gore-filled sequel to Sam Raimi's beloved debut."[2] The film's reception solidified Raimi's reputation as a visionary filmmaker, influencing subsequent works in the genre and inspiring homages in films like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.[2] As the second installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead II expanded the lore of the Necronomicon and Ash's battles, paving the way for the 1992 sequel Army of Darkness and later adaptations including the Starz television series Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018) and the 2022 film Evil Dead Rise.[1] Its legacy endures through annual screenings, merchandise, and fan conventions, cementing its status as a cornerstone of 1980s horror cinema and a benchmark for the "splatter comedy" subgenre.[2][3]Premise and Characters
Plot
Ash Williams, portrayed by Bruce Campbell, and his girlfriend Linda arrive at a remote cabin in the Tennessee woods for a weekend vacation.[2] Once there, Ash discovers the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, an ancient book of the dead, along with a reel-to-reel tape recorder containing a recording made by Professor Raymond Knowby, who details his research on the book and recites passages from it.[4] When Ash plays the tape, the incantations summon malevolent forces from the book, awakening ancient demons that begin to possess the living and manifest in horrifying ways around the cabin.[2] Linda falls victim to the possession, transforming into a demonic entity, while other supernatural occurrences escalate, including animated trees and grotesque apparitions that trap Ash in a nightmarish struggle for survival.[5] Desperate to combat the evil, Ash arms himself with improvised weapons, such as a chainsaw and shotgun, and attempts to destroy the forces by any means necessary, including efforts to burn the book and tape.[4] As the demonic onslaught intensifies, additional characters, including Professor Knowby's daughter Annie and her companions, arrive at the cabin, complicating Ash's isolation and drawing them into the chaos of possessions and attacks.[5] The narrative builds to a climactic sequence involving a time-travel element that transports Ash to a medieval setting, where he must confront the lingering evil in a new era.[2] Throughout, the film blends visceral horror with slapstick comedy, highlighted by exaggerated physical gags and Ash's evolving role from an ordinary man to a reluctant hero battling the undead.[5]Cast
The principal cast of Evil Dead II (1987) consists of a tight-knit ensemble, many of whom were friends and collaborators of director Sam Raimi from his Michigan filmmaking circle, enabling the low-budget production's intimate and improvisational dynamic.[6]| Actor | Role | Notes on Character Function |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce Campbell | Ash Williams | The film's protagonist, a chainsaw-armed survivor combating demonic possession and supernatural threats in the isolated cabin.[7][8] |
| Sarah Berry | Annie Knowby | Daughter of Professor Knowby, who arrives at the cabin with companions and emerges as a key figure in unraveling the ancient evil's mystery.[7][8] |
| Dan Hicks | Jake | A local hunter and guide who joins the group, providing aid while injecting comic tension through his skepticism and bravado.[7][8] |
| Kassie Wesley | Bobby Joe | Jake's spirited girlfriend, entangled in the film's chaotic supernatural encounters and possessions.[7][8] |
| Denise Bixler | Linda | Ash's girlfriend, serving as the initial catalyst for the horror through her vulnerability to possession.[7][8] |
| John Peakes | Professor Raymond Knowby | The archaeologist whose taped recordings summon the demons; appears via audio (voice).[7][8] |
| Richard Domeier | Ed Getley | Annie's academic colleague, assisting in the investigation of the cabin's artifacts and the ensuing crisis.[7] |
| Lou Hancock | Henrietta Knowby | Professor Knowby's wife, whose transformation underscores the film's themes of familial horror and demonic corruption.[7][8] |
| Ted Raimi | Possessed Henrietta Knowby | Provides the physical performance for the monstrous, possessed version of Henrietta, enhancing the creature's grotesque presence (uncredited in some listings).[7][9] |