Evil Dead II (1987)

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers:

Sam Raimi (written by)
Scott Spiegel (written by)

Release Date:

13 March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Kiss Your Nerves Good-Bye!

Plot:

The lone survivor of an onslaught of flesh-possessing spirits holds up in a cabin with a group of strangers while the demons continue their attack.

Plot Keywords:

Cabin | Evil Dead | Demon | Book | Book Of The Dead

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Bruce Campbell	...	Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams
Sarah Berry	...	Annie Knowby
Dan Hicks	...	Jake
Kassie Wesley DePaiva	...	Bobbie Joe (as Kassie Wesley)
Ted Raimi	...	Possessed Henrietta (as Theodore Raimi)
Denise Bixler	...	Linda
Richard Domeier	...	Ed Getley
John Peakes	...	Professor Raymond Knowby
Lou Hancock	...	Henrietta Knowby
Snowy Winters	...	Dancer (dance sequence)
Sid Abrams	...	Fake Shemp
Josh Becker	...	Fake Shemp
Scott Spiegel	...	Fake Shemp
Thomas Kidd	...	Fake Shemp
Mitch Cantor	...	Fake Shemp
Jenny Griffith	...	Fake Shemp
William Preston Robertson	...	The Hand / The Dark Spirit / The Deer Head / The Enchanted Objects (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Elwood	...	Luggage Monkey (uncredited)
Sam Raimi	...	Medieval Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Raimi

Writing credits
Sam Raimi		(written by)
Scott Spiegel		(written by)

Produced by
Bruce Campbell	....	co-producer
Alex De Benedetti	....	executive producer
Irvin Shapiro	....	executive producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph LoDuca

Cinematography by
Peter Deming

Film Editing by
Kaye Davis

Art Direction by
Randy Bennett
Philip Duffin

Set Decoration by
Elizabeth Moore

Makeup Department
Wendy Bell	....	makeup artist
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Shannon Shea	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Mark Shostrom	....	special makeup design and creation
Aaron Sims	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Bryant Tausek	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Mike Trcic	....	special makeup effects unit crew
Tim Turner	....	detail sculpting assistant (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph C. Stillman	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
K. Siobhan Phelan	....	second assistant director
Joseph Winogradoff	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jerry Adams	....	carpenter
Andy Boswell	....	assistant to art director
Michael Burnett	....	sculptor
Johnna Butler	....	lead man
Reed Downy	....	carpenter
Tony Elwood	....	special props
Larry Fox	....	construction coordinator
Tony Gardner	....	sculpting
Wayne Gathins	....	carpenter
William Hamilton	....	set painter
Charles Lear	....	carpenter
Wayne Leonard	....	set dresser
Margaret Prentice	....	painting (as Margaret Beserra)
Scott Shamis	....	carpenter
Blanche Sindelar	....	property master
Steve Wang	....	sculptor
Bobby Maness	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Daniel Nalepka	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Voss Bonds Jr.	....	sound effects editor (as John V. Bonds Jr.)
Thomas Bush	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Dickeson	....	foley artist
Kevin Hill	....	sound effects editor
Tom Morrison	....	sound mixer
Drew Neumann	....	additional synthesized sound effects (as Drew Newmann)
Yvonne Preble	....	assistant sound editor
Chris Rabideau	....	dialogue editor
Cindy Rabideau	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Schatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Sheranian	....	sound effects editor
Julie Spears	....	foley artist
John W. Walter	....	boom operator (as John Walter)
Brian E. Wedewer	....	sound effects editor (as Brian Wedewer)
David John West	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David West)
David John West	....	supervising sound editor (as David West)
David Lewis Yewdall	....	additional sound effects (as David Yewdall)

Special Effects by
Vern Hyde	....	special effects foreman
Dale Johnson	....	special effects assistant
Margaret Prentice	....	detail and painting (as Margaret Beserra)
Dave Thiry	....	special effects assistant
Tom Barkstedt	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Douglas Evan Hersh	....	special effects gaffer (uncredited)
Gary Jones	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
David Moenkhaus	....	special effects (uncredited)
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Daniel S. Noga	....	special effects cinematographer (uncredited)
Brian Joseph Ochab	....	stop motion animation assistant (uncredited)
Larry Odien	....	mechanical effects (uncredited)
Mike Tristano	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jim Aupperle	....	effects photography supervisor
James Belohovek	....	miniature supervisor (as James Belohobek)
Doug Beswick	....	stop motion animation
Yancy Calzada	....	stop motion armature
Robert Dyke	....	miniatures (as Bob Dyke)
Tom Hitchcock	....	miniatures
Bob Kayganich	....	matte painter
Rocky Mohoney	....	line-up
Larry Arpin	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Vicki L. Engel	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)
Joseph Thomas	....	animation cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
John Casino	....	stunts
Sandra Lee Gimpel	....	stunts (as Sandy Gimpel)
Gary Jensen	....	stunt coordinator
Debby Lynn Ross	....	stunts (as Debbie Lynn Ross)
Blanche Sindelar	....	stunts
Ben Jensen	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brigette Alexander	....	second assistant camera
Bob Brown	....	crane operator
Brendan Creadle	....	additional assistant camera
Mike Ditz	....	still photographer
Robert Duffin	....	gaffer
Chris English	....	electrician
Roy Gittens	....	grip
Tim Philo	....	director of photography: second unit
Billy Pierce	....	grip
Rubin Rodrigues	....	best boy (as Rubin Rodriguez)
Maribel Rodriguez	....	electrician
Hamid Shams	....	first assistant camera
Eugene D. Shlugleit	....	director of photography: night exterior photography (as Eugene Shlugleit)
Josh Steinberg	....	grip
Larry Steinberg	....	key grip
Joseph Wallikas	....	camera operator (as Joe Wallikas)
Sarah Berry	....	clapper girl (uncredited)

Animation Department
Rick Catizone	....	henrietta transformation and hand animation
Katherine Kean	....	animator: main titles (as Kathy Kean)
Larry Larson	....	animation photographer
Bill Notaro	....	mechanical designer
Tom Sullivan	....	animator
David Moenkhaus	....	animator (uncredited)
Brian Rae	....	assistant animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Brian Penikas	....	molds and casting
Samuel Warren	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vicki Graef	....	wardrober
Randall Ouzts	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Rob Anderson	....	apprentice editor
Paul Harris	....	assistant editor
Michael Jonascu	....	assistant editor
Dorothy Tapert	....	apprentice editor
Daniel S. Frisch	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Sheldon Newmann	....	music technical consultant
Chris Rabideau	....	music editor
Dennis J. Tini	....	conductor

Transportation Department
David Goodman	....	transportation

Other crew
Pam Billingsley	....	horse and riders provided by
Ricky Billingsley	....	horse and riders provided by
Andrea Brown	....	dance choreography
Teresa Burkept	....	foam fabricator: tree branch and rotten apple head
Michael Burnett	....	sculpting and detail
Cathy Carpentar	....	assistant accountant
Mary Ann Creamer	....	production assistant
Diane Dankwardt	....	production accountant
Elaine Dysinger	....	production coordinator
Tony Gardner	....	sculpting and detail
Pryor Gibson	....	location contact
David Goodman	....	studio manager
Ruth Jessup	....	production secretary
David Kindlon	....	mechanicals
Susan Labatt	....	dance choreography
Larry Odean	....	cosmetic contact lenses
Linda Ohman	....	caterer
Paul Ohman	....	caterer
Karalyn Parsons	....	production assistant
Davi Trotti	....	production assistant
Tam G. Warner	....	animated dance choreographer
Mark Bryan Wilson	....	foam fabricator: tree branch and rotten apple head (as Mark Wilson)
Michael D. McAllister	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
B.V. Hedrick	....	special thanks
Betty Huntley	....	special thanks
Harry Huntley	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
• Renaissance Pictures

Distributors

• Rosebud Communications Releasing (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rosebud Releasing Corporation (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1987) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Succéfilm AB (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS) (as "Uma Noite Alucinante 2")
• Gativideo (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Vestron Video International (1988) (Sweden) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Acme Effects
• Spectacular Effects International (special effects)

Other Companies

• Anivision  Henrietta transformation and hand animation
• Anson County Board of Commissioners  special thanks
• Anson County Board of Education  special thanks
• B/G/L Post Inc.  optical house
• Bon Bon  payroll services
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Costume Armor Inc.  armor
• Doug Beswick Productions Inc.  animated dance sequence and tree branch and rotten apple head
• Grace & Wild Studios Inc.  special thanks
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Harley Davidson Motorcycles  special thanks
• Henry Little and Company  special thanks
• Illuminations  miniatures
• International Casting Service  additional casting
• Investors of Evil Dead I  special thanks
• J-D-C America Inc.  camera systems
• Lu Lu's Lingerie  special thanks
• Magic Lantern  miniatures
• North Carolina National Guard  special thanks
• Pepsi-Cola Company  special thanks
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting
• Residents of Anson County  special thanks
• Rippy Oldsmobile  special thanks
• Travel Gallery  special thanks
• Vernors  special thanks
• West Productions  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn

Runtime:

84 min | Sweden:70 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2002) | Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (video rating) (cut) | Argentina:16 | USA:R (edited UMD version) | Portugal:M/18 | Netherlands:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Re-rated 2007) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Italy:VM18 (video rating) | UK:15 (2008) (re-rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2008) | Germany:16 (cut DVD version) | Sweden:18 (DVD rating) | Italy:T | Australia:R | Canada:R | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | Iceland:(Banned) | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R (edited for re-rating) | USA:Unrated | USA:X (original rating) | Norway:18 (video) (2002) | Norway:(Banned) (original rating) (1986-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

De Laurentiis Studios, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Professor Knowby's dead wife is said to be in the "fruit cellar," a reference to Psycho (1960).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the evil force is chasing Ash in the beginning of the movie, after Ash flies through his windshield, before you see the evil force go through the rear window of his vehicle, the evil force advances towards the car and part of the equipment used to shatter the window can be seen near the right side of the screen as the evil force advances.

Quotes:

Bobbie Joe: [pointing to an *empty* room] It's in there...
Ash: We'll all go in together.
Jake: Hell no! You're the curious one!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dog Soldiers (2002)

DIABOLICAL entertainment for the wicked!

"The Exorcist" made you feel respect and fear to the Devil. Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead II" makes fun of the Devil and demon possession. Although there are some really scary scenes, there are some really twisted funny situations that would leave you wondering "what the f*** just happened?!". The movie is funny for the wrong reasons. I eventually don't laugh about when a man is breaking himself dishes on the head. I don't think it's funny when a man is repeatedly beaten up by grotesque characters. I would never imagine a man getting eaten by a demon locked under a cellar and throwing gallons of blood! "Evil Dead II" makes it look hilarious in a wicked kind of way. For example, when Linda's head tells Ash that "she is being tormented, and suffering in hell; you can feel a little scared but the next scene has a corpse without a head holding a chainsaw. There's no time for logic here, just sit and enjoy!

It also has the ability to make you feel tense and I must say, scared. The combination of demon possessed people, EVIL sounds (I love the weird noise in the movie), wicked laughs and chanting ("dead by dawn!"), and intrepid camera angles are the perfect ingredients to make a sui generis Horror-Comedy movie. Watch out for the "A Farewell to Arms" joke, the whole situation with the evil hand, and the eye that gets in a woman's mouth!.

Sam Raimi went too far for the good reasons. He created an unbelievable and unforgettable work that has served as inspiration for many movies in recent years. The movie is easily one of the most visually stunning Horror movies of all time, for sure. Die hard fans of gore get an eye candy for an hour and a half. Raimi created a cult movie in all the sense of the world. "Groovy!". "Dead by Dawn" will never bore you because in every scene there's a feeling of uncertainty and that makes it even more interesting. There are no rules here.

The plot is as scary as you can imagine but it's held in such a way that it isn't taken very seriously. I mean, demon possession caused by the Necronomicon is something that happens in the real world. Not exactly with that book but it can happen via satanic books and rituals. Raimi takes it to a different level of humor mixed with gore.

Bruce Campbell deserves a special mention. He delivers a wicked, solid, and totally believable performance. Something you haven't seen before mainly because of the strange situations he goes through. His performance could be described as a "solo". Easily, one of the best performances of any actor in a Horror movie. Also, one of the characters that suffers the most in any movie! Ash is beaten up by demons, humans, objects, etc. Even possessed creatures make fun of him.

The gore here is great, glorious. You get decaps, mutilated bodies, a hand cut off, bleeding demons, etc. Blood spread all over the cabin is the common denominator. One of the goriest movies of all time.

Watch "Evil Dead II" to witness one of the most creative, brave, and goriest movies of all time. It delivers something for everyone. It has action, gore, spectacular camera angles, and some action! Check out Ash V.S. possessed Henrietta. * After it, phrases like "join us!", "swallow this!", and specially "groovy!" will be part of your daily vocabulary.

Recommended for every Horror fan in the world. This movie is an obligation to watch.