Hi all!

Today I am ranking The Evil Dead franchise! Let me just say, it has been a real treat. There isn’t one bad film. I think I cracked the code on what makes a perfect Evil Dead movie. It must have a solid blend of horror and camp. This series doesn’t stick to one specific formula, but it always involves the Necronomicon (The Book of the Dead), a plethora of Deadites and tons of gore. Please note, I will not be covering the television show. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Spoilers Ahead! 

1.) Evil Dead II (1987) 

In first place, we have Evil Dead II. This was everything the original Evil Dead wished it could be and more. As mentioned above, it has the perfect blend of camp and horror, with laugh-out-loud moments and creepy special effects. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), returns to the original cabin, but this time, the plot jumps straight to the point. After discovering an audiotape left by a college professor, containing voices reading from the Book of the Dead, Ash’s girlfriend Linda becomes possessed by evil spirits, as does his hand. Ash soon discovers there is no escaping the woods. It’s a manic, wild ride culminating in a cliffhanger. I can see why Sam Raimi’s sequel has become so beloved since its inception.

2.) Evil Dead Rise (2023)

In second place, we have Evil Dead Rise. Check out my spoiler-free review here. The film follows a woman who finds herself in the fight for her life, when an ancient book gives birth to bloodthirsty demons, running amok in a Los Angeles apartment building. From the opening scene, this movie was a non-stop ride of gore, scares and demonic activity. It had a mix of humour and genuine scares, making it an ideal Evil Dead instalment.

3.) The Evil Dead (1981) 

In third place, we have The Evil Dead – the original from 1981. Ashley “Ash” Williams, his girlfriend and three pals, journey to a cabin in the woods for a fun night away. There, they find an old book (the Necronomicon), whose text reawakens the dead when read aloud. The friends must fight for their lives or become one of the Deadites. Ash watches the people he loves become possessed, forcing him to make a difficult decision before daybreak, in order to save his own life. I really liked this movie but not as much as the other two mentioned above. I’m also not a huge fan of the sexual assault scene with the trees. That did not age well. All in all, it paved the way for better instalments to come.

4.) Evil Dead (2013)

In fourth place, we have the Evil Dead remake from 2013. It follows Mia, a drug addict determined to kick the habit. She asks her brother, his girlfriend, and their friends to help her through the detoxing process at their family’s remote forest cabin. When one of them finds a mysterious Book of the Dead, an ancient demon is awakened. All hell breaks loose when the malevolent entity possesses Mia. This movie is excellent. I thought it was so well done. I remember being genuinely scared the first time I watched it. It’s intense and disgusting. In fact, this instalment hit the record for using the most fake blood in cinematic history at 50,000 gallons! However, it is pure darkness, without any sort of levity or balance. It doesn’t have that perfect blend, hence its position on my list.

5.) Army of Darkness (1992)

Last, but certainly not least, we have Army of Darkness. This is the third and final instalment in the original Evil Dead trilogy. Picking up where the sequel left off, Ash is transported back to the medieval days, where he is captured by the dreaded Lord Arthur. Aided by a deadly chainsaw that has become his only friend, Ash is sent on a perilous mission to recover the Book of the Dead – a demonic tome that gives its owner the power to summon an army of ghouls. Where the remake was all darkness, Army of Darkness is all camp. In fact, it’s not really a horror film. It’s more of an adventure comedy. It’s also quite short. I truly enjoyed it, but compared to the rest, it deserves fifth place. 

Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank this franchise? 

Peace & Love xoxo