Army of Darkness (1992)

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Sam Raimi (written by) &
Ivan Raimi (written by)

Release Date:

19 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

He's a 20th century guy, trapped in the middle ages.

Plot:

A man is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., where he must battle an army of the dead and retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.

Plot Keywords:

Battle | Necronomicon | 1300s | Book | Kingdom

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Bruce Campbell	...	Ash
Embeth Davidtz	...	Sheila
Marcus Gilbert	...	Lord Arthur
Ian Abercrombie	...	Wiseman
Richard Grove	...	Duke Henry the Red
Timothy Patrick Quill	...	Blacksmith
Michael Earl Reid	...	Gold Tooth
Bridget Fonda	...	Linda
Patricia Tallman	...	Possessed Witch
Ted Raimi	...	Cowardly Warrior / Second Supportive Villager / S-Mart Clerk (as Theodore Raimi)
Deke Anderson	...	Mini-Ash #2
Bruce Thomas	...	Mini-Ash #3
Sara Shearer	...	Old Woman
Shiva Gordon	...	Pit Deadite #1
Billy Bryan	...	Pit Bitch
Nadine Grycan	...	Winged Deadite
Bill Moseley	...	Deadite Captain
Micheal Kenney	...	Henry's Man
Andy Bale	...	Lieutenant #1
Robert Brent Lappin	...	Lieutenant #2
Rad Milo	...	Tower Guard
Brad Bradbury	...	Chief Archer
Sol Abrams	...	Fake Shemp
Lorraine Axeman	...	Fake Shemp
Josh Becker	...	Fake Shemp
Sheri Burke	...	Fake Shemp
Don Campbell	...	Fake Shemp
Charlie Campbell	...	Fake Shemp
Harley Cokeliss	...	Fake Shemp
Ken Jepson	...	Fake Shemp
William Lustig	...	Fake Shemp
David O'Malley	...	Fake Shemp
David Pollison	...	Fake Shemp
Ivan Raimi	...	Fake Shemp
Bernard Rose	...	Fake Shemp
Bill Vincent	...	Fake Shemp
Chris Webster	...	Fake Shemp
Ron Zwang	...	Fake Shemp
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
J Michael Briggs	...	Horseback Warrior (uncredited)
Eric Clarke	...	Deadite (uncredited)
Angela Featherstone	...	Girl in S-Mart (uncredited)
Patricia Anne Isgate	...	Peasant Woman (uncredited)
Kevin O'Hara	...	Deadite (uncredited)
Courtney Pakiz	...	Deadite (uncredited)
Sam Raimi	...	Knight in Sweatshirt and Sneakers (uncredited)
Monique Yates Jr.	...	Graveyard Wench (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Raimi

Writing credits (WGA)
Sam Raimi		(written by) &
Ivan Raimi		(written by)

Produced by
Bruce Campbell	....	co-producer
Dino De Laurentiis	....	executive producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph LoDuca

Cinematography by
Bill Pope

Film Editing by
Sonny Baskin
Bob Murawski
Sam Raimi		(as R.O.C. Sandstorm)

Casting by
Ira Belgrade

Production Design by
Anthony Tremblay		(as Tony Tremblay)

Art Direction by
Aram Allan

Set Decoration by
Michele Poulik

Costume Design by
Ida Gearon

Makeup Department
Rebecca Alling	....	assistant hair stylist
Max Alvarez	....	hair technician: Alterian Studios
Jeri Baker	....	key hair stylist
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects
William Butler	....	effects crew
Camille Calvet	....	makeup supervisor
Trevor Cripps	....	special makeup effects artist
Jim Eustermann	....	assistant makeup artist: Alterian Studios
Bruce Spaulding Fuller	....	makeup artist: Alterian Studios
Tony Gardner	....	character makeup
Tony Gardner	....	makeup effects: Ash, Sheila, Evil Ash, Evil Sheila
Anne Hieronymus	....	key makeup artist
Karen Keener	....	assistant makeup artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects
Jim McPherson	....	Ash likeness sculptor
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects
Scott Oshita	....	special makeup effects artist
Tom Williamson	....	dental prosthetics
Julie M. Woods	....	second hair stylist (as Julie Woods)
Timothy Huizing	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Gary Chandler	....	post-production supervisor
Eric Gruendemann	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Addington	....	second assistant director
Lennie Appelquist	....	additional second assistant director
John Cameron	....	first assistant director
Steve Coatney	....	second second assistant director
Robert Hume	....	assistant director: second unit
Doug Lefler	....	second unit director (as Doug Leffler)
Heather Ling	....	assistant director: Introvision International, Inc.

Art Department
Aram Allan	....	construction coordinator
Greg Bartkus	....	assistant property master
Greg Bartkus	....	set dresser
Barbara A. Bordo	....	scenic artist
Michael Courville	....	property master
Sean Falkner	....	prop painter
Sean Falkner	....	sculptor
Charlotte Garnell-Scheide	....	assistant property master
Peter M. Gurski	....	leadperson
Jane Kilkenny	....	model builder
Doug Lefler	....	storyboard artist
Kevin Scott Mack	....	scenic artist
James Mayeda	....	storyboard artist
Dan Platt	....	sculptor
Renee Prince	....	scenic artist
John Snow	....	lead scenic artist
Charles Wood	....	assistant art director
John Lant	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Warren E. Riggs	....	prop painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Boggess	....	assistant sound effects editor
Jim Brookshire	....	dialogue editor
Lance Brown	....	sound designer
Lance Brown	....	sound effects editor
Kenneth R. Burton	....	adr editor (as Ken Burton)
John Chalfant	....	assistant sound editor
Craig Clark	....	adr supervisor
Linda Corbin	....	foley mixer
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
Rick Freeman	....	dialogue editor
Tim Gedemer	....	sound effects editor
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	foley editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Larry Goodwin	....	sound effects editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Alan Howarth	....	sound designer
Alan Howarth	....	sound supervisor
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Jobe	....	adr recordist
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Brad Knopf	....	boom operator
Anne Laing	....	sound apprentice
Jack Levy	....	sound effects editor
Roger Mende	....	sound effects
Paul Menichini	....	sound editor
Paul Menichini	....	sound effects editor
William Mings	....	sound effects
George Nemzer	....	sound effects editor
Brian Risner	....	adr editor
Brian Risner	....	sound editor
Miguel Rivera	....	adr editor
Al Rizzo	....	sound mixer
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Cathie Speakman	....	sound editor
Gayle Wesley	....	assistant sound editor
Steven D. Williams	....	sound supervisor (as Steve Williams)
Michael Faba	....	boom operator: additional photography (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Brent Armstrong	....	sculptor and model maker: K. N. B. EFX Group
Gary F. Bentley	....	pyrotechnician (as Gary Bentley)
Jared Bentley	....	special effects crew
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group
John Bisson	....	sculptor and model maker: K. N. B. EFX Group
Roger Borelli	....	sculptor: "Evil Shella", Alterian Studios
William Bryan	....	foam fabricator: K.N.B. EFX Group
John Calpin	....	fiberglass fabrication: Alterian Studios
Danny Cangemi	....	pyrotechnician (as Dan Cangemi)
Andy Clement	....	sculptor and model maker: K. N. B. EFX Group
Thomas R. Dickens	....	special effects
Jeff Edwards	....	mechanical department: K.N.B. EFX Group
Michael Faba	....	special effects technician
Steve Fink	....	special effects makeup
Bruce Spaulding Fuller	....	sculptor and applicator: "Evil Ash", Alterian Studios
Tony Gardner	....	makeup effects: "Ash" & "Shella", Alterian Studios
Mark Goldberg	....	mechanical department: K.N.B. EFX Group
Mark Goldberg	....	mechanical designer: Alterian Studios
Vance Hartwell	....	skeletal assistant: Alterian Studios
John Henny Jr.	....	shop coordinator: Alterian Studios
Vern Hyde	....	mechanical effects supervisor
Garrett Immel	....	prosthetic makeup applicator: Alterian Studios
Gary Jones	....	mechanical effects foreman
Gary Jones	....	special effects foreman
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group
Susan Mallon	....	special makeup effects coordinator: K.N.B. EFX Group
Karen Mason	....	seamstress: K.N.B. EFX Group
Jim McPherson	....	likeness sculptor: Alterian Studios
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects supervisor: K.N.B. EFX Group
Becky Ochoa	....	hair technician: Alterian Studios
Carolyn Oros	....	foam cosmetics: Alterian Studios
Carolyn Oros	....	special effects makeup
Gary Pawlowski	....	molds: Alterian Studios
David Penikas	....	mechanical designer: Alterian Studios
Mark Rappaport	....	mechanical department: K.N.B. EFX Group
Tanya Ridenour	....	special effects
James Rohland	....	molds: Alterian Studios
Paul Sciacca	....	sculptor and model maker: K. N. B. EFX Group
David Smith	....	sculptor and model maker: K. N. B. EFX Group
Greg Solomon	....	foam technician: Alterian Studios
Bill Sturgeon	....	creature foreman
Bill Sturgeon	....	skeleton and project foreman: "Evil Ash", Alterian Studios
Matsune Suzuki	....	story board
Wayne Toth	....	mechanical department: K.N.B. EFX Group
John Travers	....	editorial supervisor: Introvision
Mark Villalobos	....	stop-motion puppet construction
Trevor Cripps	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Richard Miranda	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Mark William Robinson	....	special makeup effects assistant: "Evil Ash", Alterian Studios (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Christopher Briles	....	visual effects cameraman
Heather Davis Baker	....	rotoscope artist
Chris Dawson	....	motion control camera operator
Chris Dawson	....	visual effects editorial
Mark Gutterud	....	assistant cameraman
Robert Habros	....	optical supervisor
Dave Hettmer	....	miniature mechanical effects
Adam Hill	....	modelmaker: Introvision
Pete Kleinow	....	stop motion supervisor (as Peter Kleinow)
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects supervisor: Perpetual Motion Studios
John P. Mesa	....	visual effects cameraman
William Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor
Gregory Nic Nicholson	....	motion control operator
Huck Penzell	....	optical compositing
Eugene P. Rizzardi	....	model supervisor (as Gene Rizzardi)
Tom Sullivan	....	Book of the Dead creator and animator
John Travers	....	editorial supervisor: front projection plates, Introvision
Gary Young	....	model builder
Omei Eaglerider	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Warren Manser	....	visual effects illustrator (uncredited)
Warren E. Riggs	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts
Richard L. Blackwell	....	stunts (as Richard Blackwell)
Chuck Borden	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.	....	stunts
BJ Davis	....	horse stunts
BJ Davis	....	stunt double: Bruce Campbell
Yannick Derrien	....	stunts
Christopher Doyle	....	stunt coordinator (as Chris Doyle)
Dick Hancock	....	stunts
Bill Hart	....	stunts
Donna Keegan	....	stunts
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunts (as Maria Kelly)
Steven Lambert	....	stunts (as Steven Hal Lambert)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Ken Lesco	....	stunts
Jack Lilley	....	stunts
Kent W. Luttrell	....	stunts
Dennis Madalone	....	stunts
'Wild' Bill Mock	....	stunts (as 'Wild Bill' Mock)
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Bruce W. Morgan	....	stunts (as Bruce Morgan)
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Keith Morrison	....	stunts
John Nowak	....	stunts
Janet Lee Orcutt	....	stunts
Christian Page	....	stunts
Louis Roth	....	stunts
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts
John Sistrunk	....	stunts
Tim Trella	....	stunts
Christopher J. Tuck	....	stunts
Jack Verbois	....	stunts
Brian J. Williams	....	stunts (as Brian John Williams)
Tony Lee Boggs	....	stunt actor (uncredited)
Robert Chapin	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ken Arlidge	....	director of photography: second unit
Dana Arnold	....	lighting technician
Todd Braden	....	musco lighting technician
G. Smokey Campbell	....	lighting technician
Dante Cardone	....	gaffer: second unit
Carolyn Chen	....	second assistant camera
Dhamarata Dhiensuwana	....	grip
Andrea Dietrich	....	photographer: second unit
Warren Eig	....	electrician
Mark Gambino	....	key grip: second unit
David Garcia	....	camera loader
James J. Gilson	....	gaffer
Kurt Grossi	....	best boy grip
Anthony D. Guzman	....	lighting technician
John Martens	....	best boy electric
Tony Mazzucchi	....	key grip
William Mesa	....	photographer: second unit
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
Brett Nerem	....	electrician
Billy Pierson	....	dolly grip
Gregor Tavenner	....	first assistant camera
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician: second unit
Ron Turowski	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Joel Unangst	....	gaffer
Tom Webb	....	musco lighting technician
Jamie Young	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Julie Calman	....	extras casting
Diana Carroll	....	extras casting
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marisa Aboitiz	....	set costumer
Jill Halbreich	....	wardrobe assistant
Dena Matranga	....	set costumer
Leslie Daniel Rainer	....	assistant costume designer
Karyn Wagner	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Shelley Adajian	....	trainee editorial assistant
Jody Fedele	....	first assistant editor
Doug Haines	....	editorial supervisor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Steve Johnson	....	digital colorist
David Parmenter	....	negative cutter (as Dave Parmenter)

Music Department
Greg Buttars	....	music librarian
Leslie Buttars	....	music librarian
Danny Elfman	....	composer: theme "March of the Dead"
Larry Kenton	....	additional orchestrator
Douglas M. Lackey	....	music editor (as Doug Lackey)
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Gregg Nestor	....	music preparation
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Dennis S. Sands	....	score mixer
Tim Simonec	....	conductor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
Dennis J. Tini	....	choral conductor
Robert Townson	....	soundtrack producer

Transportation Department
Michael McDuffee	....	transportation coordinator (as Mike McDuffee)
Antonio Molina	....	driver

Other crew
Clark Acton	....	horse armor and saddles
Jennifer Grey Berkowitz	....	title designer (as Jennifer Berkowitz)
Paul Best	....	armorer
Kevin Brown	....	production assistant
Jan Bryant	....	assistant swordplay choreographer
Scott Buzz	....	production assistant
Hank Carlson	....	laboratory technician
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic
Schuyler Collins	....	chef
Ken Cornett	....	horse armor and saddles
Michael Deak	....	puppeteer
Geoffrey Donne	....	sword fighter
Bill Dubey	....	production assistant
Deanna Esmaeel	....	animal trainer
Dana Fredsti	....	sword fighter
Steve Garrett	....	location manager
Steve Gehrke	....	script supervisor
David Haft	....	laboratory technician
Trisha Hagan	....	assistant: Mr. Loduca
John Hart	....	special armor and weapons sculptor/designer
Vance Hartwell	....	puppeteer
Patti Hawn	....	unit publicist
Jeff Hedgecock	....	special armour and weapons designer
Mark Hofeling	....	laboratory technician
Bridget Hoffman	....	sword fighter (as Ruby Marlowe)
Vern Hyde	....	mechanical effects supervisor
Richard 'Jake' Jacobson	....	effects technician
John Lant	....	craft service
Scott Malchus	....	production assistant
Julianne Mazziotti	....	sword fighter
Robert Meyer Burnett	....	production assistant
Bill Murphree	....	horse armor and saddles
Anna-Lisa Nilsson	....	production coordinator
Kevin O'Hara	....	craft service
Wogbe Ofori	....	consultant: health and fitness
Wogbe Ofori	....	weight trainer: Bruce Campbell
Tony Patterson	....	set production assistant (as Luis A. 'Tony' Patterson)
David Pollison	....	assistant: Sam Raimi
Terry Prince	....	laboratory technician
Tom Prince	....	production executive
Chris Robbins	....	laboratory technician (as Christopher Robbins)
Vaughn Roberts	....	sword fighter
Dave Rodgers	....	boss wrangler (as Davey Rodgers)
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Kyle Silverman	....	production assistant
Carol Sonheim	....	wrangler
Dan Speaker	....	sword master
David Speaker	....	sword fighter (as David C. Speaker)
Edwin Stalter	....	location assistant
Bill Sturgeon	....	puppeteer
Brian Thomas	....	on-set armorer
Melanie Tooker	....	laboratory technician
Tim Turner	....	production assistant
Daniel Wheatcroft	....	studio executive
Tom Williamson	....	puppeteer
Donald York	....	wrangler
Bob Bergen	....	voice: special vocal effects (uncredited)
Hector Freeman	....	production staff (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dino De Laurentiis Company (as Dino De Laurentiis Communications)
• Renaissance Pictures
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Araba Films (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1993) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Guild Film Distribution (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (1993) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Canada (1993) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• CNR Film & Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cannes (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Finnkino Video (1993) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• Pony Canyon (1993) (Japan) (VHS)
• Studio S Entertainment (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Towa Video (1993) (Japan) (VHS)
• Towa Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Towa Video (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Screwhead Edition)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Screwhead Edition)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects) (as Kurtzman, Nicotero & Berger EFX Group)
• Introvision International (visual effects)
• Alterian (make-up effects: Ash & Sheila) (as Alterian Studios Inc.)
• Perpetual Motion Pictures (title animation & montage compositing)
• 24 Hour Post (optical compositing)

Other Companies

• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by (as Clairmont)
• Dave Parmenter & Associates  negative cutting (as Dave Parmenter & Assoc.)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Electric Melody Studios  digital audio editorial (as Electric Melody Studios Inc.)
• J&L Service  grip and electric equipment
• Post Master  sound transfers
• Skywalker Sound  post production and re-recording facility
• Skywalker Sound  sound post-production
• Summersalt Equi-Service Ltd.  horse wrangling
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

"Army of Darkness: The Ultimate Experience in Medieval Horror" - USA (closing credits title)
"Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness" - USA (closing credits title)
"Captain Supermarket" - Japan (English title) (imdb display title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and horror

Runtime:

81 min | 96 min (director's cut) | UK:86 min (approx)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 31844) | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Italy:T | Germany:18 (Special Edition DVD) | Brazil:16 | Finland:K-18 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

Cameo: [Bridget Fonda]As Linda.

Goofs:

Continuity: The sun is rising when the reinforcements arrive, but soon after it is dark again (caused by re-editing the sequence, which was originally written differently).

Quotes:

[first lines]
[opening monologue]
Ash:My name is Ash and I am a slave. Close as I can figure, the year is thirteen hundred A.D and I'm being dragged to my death. It wasn't always like this, I had a real life, once. A job.
Ash:[now Ash is in a flashback] Umm... Hardware aisle twelve, shop smart, shop S-Mart!
Ash:[back to monologue] I had a wonderful girlfriend Linda. Together we drove to a small cabin in the mountains. It seems an archeologist had come to this remote place to translate and study his latest find: Necronomiconexmortis. The Book of the Dead. Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, this ancient Samarian text contained bizarre burial rights, funeral incantations, and demon resurrection passages, it was never meant for the world of the living. The book awoke something dark in the woods, something evil.
[something crashes through the window of the cabin and Linda screams]
Ash:It took Linda. Then it came after me, it got into my hand and it went bad, so I lopped it off at the wrist.
[Ash is seen cutting off his hand]
Ash:But that didn't stop it, it came back big time.
Ash:[Ash gets pulled into the vortex holding onto the doorway] For God's sake how do you stop it?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Nostalgia Critic: Star Trek: Insurrection (#5.6)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

March Of The Dead

Ash returns with a whole lot of boomstick.

Ash is back, literally. Trapped back in the middle ages, the Evil Dead hero must not only do battle once again with the merciless deadites, he must also take on the savage Army of Darkness.

Bruce Campbell returns as Ash, the only surviving member of the first two Evil Dead movies. This story pretty much takes up where the last one left off, with our hero trapped in the dark ages. Only instead of being revered as a hero, Ash is beaten and shackled by an army of men who believe him to be a member of a rival army. Quickly Ash is put to the test by once again doing battle with an evil deadite when the army throws him in to a pit. However, what they didn't expect was for Ash to defeat the deadite, which he does, and thus they render him a salvation. Our hero is then brought back to their town, and asked to journey out in search of the illustrious Necronomicon, so the evil can be destroyed once and for all. Reluctantly he agrees, but just like Ash, instead of finding the book and destroying the evil, he finds the book and not only creates an evil Ash, but an entire army of undead skeletons. Now the real battle begins and it's up to the living to stop the dead.

Army of Darkness stars the excellent Bruce Campbell in the role that was tailor made for him, and once again, he does his job perfectly. Watching the punishment this poor man takes is really a reason to rent this movie in itself. He is really the main focus, and there isn't a lot of screen time for anyone else, except for Ash's maiden love interest played by Embeth Davidtz. But to the fans of these films ,I'm sure that's just the way they like it.

Also returning is Sam Raimi the director/writer who has carved his name in Hollywood with these movies. This is a great re-telling of sorts of the Jason and the Argonauts story, only with a little more schlock, however in some scenes, like the skeletons giving Ash three stooges treatment, there is a little too much schlock. Don't get me wrong though, the film is funny and does have some great one-liners, such as Ash introducing his sawed off shotgun as his "boomstick", and calling some of the men "primitive screw-heads". The effects are great, and the direction is superb, especially scenes of the Army of Darkness riding horseback and attacking the castle.

However, being a huge fan of zombie movies, I was hopping to see a few more deadites and a few less skeletons. Although I know Raimi did this on purpose so he could put a different spin on his story and keep it original. Of special note, on DVD there is the actual original ending that was not shown in theatres. It's a great ending that keeps a little more in tow with the story, and does an interesting job of setting itself up for a sequel.

Raimi, producer Rob Tapert, and co-writer Ivan Raimi, do a good job of putting this film together, and it is a lot of fun to watch. Although not as serious and as gory as the first two, this third installment definitely makes me thirst for another sequel. I do hope, however, that they go back to the style of the original films, cutting out a little of that schlock, and adding in a few more chills. So if you're in the mood for a horror trilogy, check out the first two Evil Dead movies and then get ready to take on the Army of Darkness.

Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10