Hail to the deadites

“Evil Dead, the most ferociously original horror movie I have ever seen “– Stephen King

Although this edition of the Fantasia festival is virtual, the organizers of this one spoil the audience not only with excellent films but also with exciting documentaries such as Clapboard Jungle and Hail to the deadites. These two films show us what successful documentary films should be because they were not only created with care but also with a passion for their subject and this is felt in every shot.

Whether it is here different filmed encounters with Bruce Campbell (eternal Ash Williams) but also with people who are passionate about this cult saga. The different scenes shot during the numerous conventions around this film, or even around genre cinema, but also those of the musical show the film, show to what extent Sam Raimi's trilogy with Bruce Campbell not only revolutionized a whole section of world cinema but also became simply cult for many people whether they are collectors, cosplayers or simply passionate about cinema.

Evil Dead is a film saga created by Sam Raimi. It includes four feature films and a television series. This saga revolves around the cursed book Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, an ancient Sumerian work that will cause havoc (various possessions) among a group of friends who have gone on vacation to a cabin in a wooded area of Tennessee. The protagonist, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is the main character. He appears in every episode of the original trilogy, with the exception of his beloved Linda, who only appears in Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness during the prologues. The original trilogy includes The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992) written and directed by Sam Raimi, produced by Robert G. Tapert, and starring Bruce Campbell. The franchise has since expanded into other formats including video games, comic books, a musical and a television series. The franchise was resurrected in 2013 with Evil Dead which is both a complete reboot but also in a sense a continuation of the saga. The film is directed by Fede Álvarez and produced by Raimi, Campbell and Tapert. The television series Ash vs Evil Dead was broadcast in 2015 on the cable channel Starz, with Bruce Campbell taking over the role of Ash. It was produced by Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. It ran for three seasons until 2018.

The basic idea of Hail to the Deadites is a total immersion in the world of Evil Dead and above all a witness of our current society in which cinema plays an important role. The immersion is total, especially since for us the film saga occupies an important place in our hearts. Not only did it introduce us to a gifted director Sam Raimi (director of the first Spider-man trilogy (2002-2007), a cult western The Quick and the Dead (1995), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) and many other excellent films), but above all, it gave all its letters of nobility to horrific cinema. The numerous testimonies of the film are perfectly selected and even very moving (the one of the fathers who named his sick baby Ash and died prematurely gives us the weapons to the eyes). This documentary also confirms that Bruce Campbell is not only an excellent actor but also managed to keep his feet on the ground and is always present for his many fans.

Hail to the deadites is Steve Villeneuve's second documentary film after Under the scares (2010). While his first film had passed rather unnoticed, we can already bet that it should meet a better success as it shows a real investment in research and especially a sense of editing perfectly mastered. In spite of its short duration, Hail to the Deadites allows us to find many interviews of Bruce Campbell (whom we had the chance to interview thanks to OCS) but also gives the floor to many fans of the saga. Whether it is the numerous by-products, anecdotes about the shootings, the problems encountered but above all the enormous influence that this cinematic saga has had and continues to have. We can only advise you Hail to the Deadites and hope that this documentary film will be released in France.

Hail to the Deadites
Directed by Steve Villeneuve
Produced by Glen Alexander
Written by André Farant, Steve Villeneuve
Starring Chris Alexander, Betsy Baker, Sarah Berry, Bruce Campbell, Richard DeManincor, Michael Gingold, Danny Hicks, Bill Mosely, Ted Raimi, Ellen Sandweiss, Tom Sullivan, Theresa Tilly, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
Music by Ian Blumfield
Cinematography: William Dio
Edited by Steve Villeneuve
Running time: 78mns

Seen on August 25, 2020 (VOD Fantasia 2020)

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