In the past few years, we've had 'Rolling Roadshows' for a few films like 'Repo!' or 'Trick 'r Treat', but never for an older film. Anything that isn't recent has been shown as a Fathom event to varying results (most notably the full-frame DVD showing of 'Poltergeist' and the wonderful Rifftrax version of 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'). Grindhouse Releasing just sent word that they've secured the right to show 35mm prints of The Evil Dead across the country, with venues and dates to come soon. If this takes off, hopefully this will make way for other classics to be brought back to the big screen on a circuit level. Read on to see the press release.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Grindhouse Releasing is bringing Sam Raimi's original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD back to the big screen as a midnight movie.
Raimi and producers Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell gave the go-ahead for a series of EVIL DEAD revival screenings to Grindhouse Releasing partner Bob Murawski, the film editor of Raimi's SPIDER MAN 1, 2 & 3, DRAG ME TO HELL and the EVIL DEAD sequel ARMY OF DARKNESS. The tour will take place across North America in 2010.
Stephen King hailed THE EVIL DEAD as the most ferociously original film of the year when the film premiered in 1981. Shot in Michigan and Tennessee, Raimi's low-budget debut was released independently with a self-imposed 'No One Under 17' rating for its graphic violence and gore.
THE EVIL DEAD launched Raimi and Tapert's careers and made star Bruce Campbell a cult movie icon, spawning two hit sequels: EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN and ARMY OF DARKNESS. The EVIL DEAD trilogy has become a fan phenomenon, ranked among the most popular and acclaimed cult horror movies of all time.
A special screening of the EVIL DEAD trilogy sold out L.A.'s New Beverly Cinema this summer.
With a remake reportedly in the works, this theatrical release gives fans a chance to experience the original as it was intended to be seen.
"Nothing can prepare an audience for what they are about to see, because nothing punishes an audience like EVIL DEAD - especially on the big screen, says Bruce Campbell. I'm really glad it's back. People are gonna be hurt."
Formed by actor/director Sage Stallone and Murawski, Grindhouse Releasing restores and distributes classic horror and exploitation films. The company teamed with Quentin Tarantino in the '90s to revive Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic THE BEYOND.
A similar theatrical break is planned for THE EVIL DEAD, with midnight screenings in select theaters in the U.S. and Canada. According to David Szulkin, head of theatrical distribution for Grindhouse Releasing, the Landmark Theaters chain will play the movie in several cities.
Dates and venues will be announced at GrindhouseReleasing.com. For bookings, contact David Szulkin at info@grindhousereleasing.com.
EVIL DEAD is good. I remember seeing it at the drive-in when it first came out and being totally blown away by it. EVIL DEAD 2 is equally as good. ARMY OF DARKNESS was more camp/fantasy then Horror, but still a good time. I was hoping Raimi would do #4 while Bruce Campbell is still young enough to do it.
Kudos to EvilDeadFridaythe13thfan for being both the first to comment and the first NOT to read the actual post he was commenting on! To be fair, though, I clicked on the link expecting to read news of the long rumored remake, too. And while I'm generally optimistic and happy about remakes, I must confess it was nice to read that this is a return to theaters for the one and only, original THE EVIL DEAD. It would be awesome if this run would revive the midnight movie AND spur interest in a new EVIL DEAD film.
I boycott theaters due to I feel like I'm in someone else's living room. Cell phone's going, peeing in seats (AT SAW 6 I GOT MY MONEY BACK AND TOLD THEM OFF). We need the drive in's back man. Theaters rip you off, that's how I feel. You like paying for that????? Please straighten these kids up, WHEN I AM WATCHING THE DAMN MOVIE. I paid too. They also waste my time by previewing NO CELL PHONES. Why bother. I say BOYCOTT theaters who don't have these kids under control..EVIL DEAD RULES BUT
THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES. A HORROR FAN SINCE 9 years old (1969)WAKE UP USA PISSED OFF PRODUCTIONS.
I thought this was going to be about the musical. I remember a rumor about that being filmed for a movie. That might have been kind of cool,....to bad I fucking hate musicals. ED 4 would be much cooler (probably)
No disrespect meant to anyone, but the responses to this news item are really interesting. Despite all the remake/sequel hate on B-D, half the people commenting here would rather see a sequel than the original THE EVIL DEAD in theaters. And one guy chose this item as a venue for complaining about the way theaters are run. Legit complaints, to be sure, though I went to more than my share of drive-ins in the day and broken speakers, car horns, drunks acting like dumbasses, cold/wet weather, and poorly maintained prints of the films often had a similar affect on the moviegoing experience as today's cell phones and brat kids. I guess I must live in a quieter corner of the world, since I've been to thousands of movies in (often very crowded) theaters and had the experience genuinely ruined maybe two or three times. In any case, jackasses ruining a midnight screening of THE EVIL DEAD are likely to have troubke getting out of the theater alive.
This is awesome and actually the whole fun of this movie is seeing it on the big screen with a bunch of people. The movie going experience would only be better if people were excited, jumping, screaming, and all out reacting to the screen. That's what this movie is for.
THIS IS AN AWSOME IDEA!!! ... I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING THIS EVER SINCE THE FLOOD OF HORRIBLE REMAKES BEGAN FINDING THERE WAY ONTO THE SCREEN. HOPEFULLY THE MOVIE COMPANIES THEMSELVES WILL PICK UP ON THIS AND JUST RE-RELEASE THE ORIGINALS BACK AGAIN AND USE THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE SPEND ON THE REMAKE AND USE IT TO PROMOTE THE FILMS ... THE DVDS ARE ALREADY IN THE MARKET AND THE SELLS FOR THOSE WOULD WOULD BE HUGE BECAUSE FOLKS COULD BY IT AFTER SEEING THE FILM, BESIDES THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS COULD FINALLY SEE HOW SO MUCH BETTER THE ORIGINALS ARE OVER THE CRAPPY REMAKES.
I saw Army of Darkness in the theater but was waaaaay too young to see the original as it was meant to be. Although I always liked Dead By Dawn a little more.
Why go to cinema to watch something you already have? And no one weants a remake. #4 with and older Ash would be fun but Sam Raimi's to miserable to do Freddy vs Jason Vs Ash.
A local theater here in New Orleans has Midnight Movies on the weekend. I saw Evil Dead 2 a month or so back and last week they played Army of Darkness. Of course they just play the Bluray though a digital projector, but it's still pretty cool to see the movies on the big screen.
My theater playing Night of the Living Dead last Halloween, that was cool to see on the big screen even though it was through a DVD projector, still sweet to sit in a cinema with people and watch it.
The bad thing is, it's usually a bitch trying to find a movie theater that has midnight movie showings. The major chains are out of the question, and you have to really search hard for a good old-fashion non-chain theater for stuff like this. It's a sign of the times, though one of the more negative aspects of pimping out commercial Hollywood flicks. It's the Wal-Mart effect, but with smaller theaters vs mega-theater chains. And Drive-Ins were hot! I loved Drive-Ins(and miss them, cause most of the Drive-Ins around my area became defunct around mid-90s, and are only swap meets now). The only bitch I have about Drive-Ins are that when you come out of the snack bar, holding a bucket of popcorn and carton of sodas, walking into the night amongst rows and rows of cars, it's like trying to find your car in the Disneyland parking lot. All the damn cars look the same, and you miss a good chunk of the movie just trying to locate your car. But yeah, Drive-In double features kicked ass. I saw both Ghostbusters AND Gremlins in a double feature back in 84. That was the shit!
I would love to see this on the big screen. I would also pay big bucks to see Misery on the big screen. I've probably see it 40 times, but it came out to theaters two months before I was born :( Bring it on!
This circuit of screenings probably wont come anywhere near me, but i still think this is a cool idea. I would way rather see cool old movies restored and put back into circulation than stupid sequals and remakes. It worked for George Lucas with Star Wars.
This is an excellent idea! I had the pleasure of seeing The Evil Dead at a drive in {ahh i miss them) w/ Hooper's Eaten Alive. It was a memorable night! For those who do not feel this is a great film, just the first one, try ti place yourself i n the late 70's. When this film came out it was fresh and original and for us horror freaks a breath of clean dank air! This is in my top ten because of it's impact and it's greatness!
EVIL DEAD 1 and 2 are glorious examples of low budget done right! I wish all theaters had midnight horror line-ups. I remember great double features! Fuck yeah! And as for drive-ins, I will always remember those dusk-to-dawn blowouts w/ A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, ZOMBIE, DAWN OF THE DEAD, etc. Man, that was awesome! All for like 8 bucks a car-load!...
Comments Page 1 of 1 | You have to be logged in to comment! If you don't have an account register now for free! Your account allows you to post comments and reviews, upload videos and images, access or our forums, write personal blogs, and maintain your profile.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Grindhouse Releasing is bringing Sam Raimi's original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD back to the big screen as a midnight movie. 
Print Story
Send to a Friend
