FAQ

This film is an adaptation of the 1981 film The Evil Dead (1981), which was originally written and directed by Sam Raimi. Raimi serves as a producer and creative constant on this film.

Leading up to the film's release there was some fan debate as to whether this may actually be a spin-off or sequel that is set within the continuity of Sam Raimi's original Evil Dead films, with a different set of characters tormented by the same demons from the original films. However, the film is actually a re-imagining of the story of the first two films. There are many continuity elements that directly contradict things from the original films, such as the owner of the cabin, how the Book of the Dead reacts to fire, and the way in which the demon possession occurs and reacts in people. However, both Evil Dead II (1987) (1987) and Army of Darkness (1992) (1992) purposefully contradicted story elements from each previous film, so anything is possible in future sequels. Director Fede Alvarez stated in an interview that it was kept deliberately ambiguous. All of the coincidences between the original movies and the new one suggest a remake. Yet, since the cabin survived at the end of Evil Dead II, it is possible that the new movie simply takes place 30 years later, ownership of the cabin has changed, and the demonic book has magically re-manifested itself back in the cabin to force a new generation of youngsters into a similar series of events. Bruce Campbell said at WonderCon 2013 that he hopes for a crossover movie between his character and the surviving character of Evil Dead (2013).

During the end credits the voice recorder audio of Professor Knowby explaining his discovery of the Book of the Dead from the original film is played. There is also a short scene after the credits.

Yes, but not within the film's story. He appears after the end credits, in a dark, nondescript location, turns to the camera and says, "Groovy."

No, it does not mean that. The idea that, when a remake or reboot is made, it prevents the original series from continuing is understandable because that is how it normally happens. In fact, there is an Evil Dead TV series, Ash vs Evil Dead (2015), which premiered on Starz, on October 31st, 2015, and stars Bruce Campbell as Ash. It is a continuation of the original Evil Dead trilogy.

Yes. Apart from the basic plot elements and setting, there are quite a few moments that are directly inspired by iconic scenes from the original trilogy, and often pay (comic) respect to them. These include (but are probably not limited to): (1) When the car arrives at the cabin, you can vaguely hear "Join us!", a sound clip lifted from Evil Dead II. The entire recording of professor Knowby from this movie can be heard during the credits as well. (2) The iconic Oldsmobile Delta 88, which director Sam Raimi has included in every Evil Dead film can be seen as the car where Mia is sitting on in the beginning. (3) A girl raped by the trees famously occurred in Evil Dead as well. (4) The picture of the Abomination rising from the ground in the book strongly resembles the movie poster of the original Evil Dead. The picture of a woman cutting of the flesh from her head resembles the poster of Evil Dead II (which featured a skull with eyes). Finally, Ash' dismembered hand giving the middle finger from Evil Dead II can be seen in a picture in the book as well. (5) The iconic point-of-view shots of the "evil" flying through the woods from the original trilogy return. The phrase "I'll swallow your soul" from the original trilogy is re-phrased as "I'll feast on your soul". (6) After being bitten in the hand, Natalie saws off her arm with an electric knife, mirroring Ash getting bitten in the hand and subsequently sawing it off with a chainsaw in Evil Dead II. (7) David and Eric's conversation about "Everything's gonna be fine" resembles the scene in Evil Dead II where Ash has a talk with his mirror image. (8) David hears Mia singing a lullaby they learned as kids from inside the cellar. The same thing happened in Evil Dead II with Annie and her possessed mother. (9) There was a notoriously poor effect of lightning striking a tree in Evil Dead, which Raimi had removed from some versions of the film. The scene returns properly in the new movie. (10) David enters the shed, seeing the chainsaw but ignores it. Ash did the same in Evil Dead II, only he did pick it up. (11) The scene of David burying Mia is reminiscent of the scene in Army of Darkness where Ash talks to Bad Ash while burying him. (12) Mia loses her hand, and saws the Abomination in half with the chainsaw. In Evil Dead II. Ash also lost his hand, and used the chainsaw to saw Linda's head in II. (13) Ash from the original trilogy makes a post-credit appearance, saying his signature line "Groovy!"

It was announced pretty early that they did not intend to hold back on violence, an R-rating being the goal. And they kept their word. In fact, the movie was so drastic the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rated it NC-17. Problematic for the theatrical version though which is why Alvarez had to make alterations until the movie was finally rated R (for strong bloody violence and gore, some sexual content and language). An unrated version was announced for Blu-ray/DVD but it has never been released, at least not on one of these media. On the QT, an extended cut of Evil Dead aired in January 2015 on the British "Channel 4". Besides additional plot scenes, there is more violence, as well. Among other things, the MPAA cuts have been reversed and the infamous chainsaw scene from the trailer is back in the movie, too.