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Sam Raimi – Fifty-Eight Years of Screams and Laughs!

Published

7 years ago

October 24, 2017

We’re here to celebrate Sam Raimi’s birthday. In fifty-eight years the man has certainly etched a niche upon the foundations of horror history. With one trilogy of movies alone Sam Raimi could have easily retired, sat back and lived off the ever-growing fandom of the Evil Dead franchise. But thankfully he wasn’t lazy.

Sam Raimi and the Evil Dead!

The first Evil Dead movie is proof of what one young man with a determined dream can accomplish.

Far from being a rich man, Sam Raimi was a simple film student who had to go door to door to local doctor and dentist offices to get funding for his little project – a small independent horror flick shot out in the woods called, Evil Dead. He quickly proved you don’t need a big budget as long as you have talent and a passion for what you’re doing, Sam Raimi not only made his horror film come to life, he brazenly cemented his legacy among horror fans for decades to come!

The Evil Dead was an immediate hit! But let’s be real, you don’t need me to tell you that. We all know what a success the movie was, and still continues to be today. I remember hearing how people ran out of the theaters screaming once the scares and gore of Evil Dead lit up the big screen. The dark incantations of H.P. Lovecraft’s greatest creation – the Necronomicon – were unleashed upon unsuspecting viewers and out of the shadows arose a legend to fight evil and send those nasty asshats right back to Hell. That legend was none other than his grooviness himself, Ash Williams.

Ash was brought to life by the one and only Bruce Campbell, a man who still to this day steps into Ash’s shoes to fight the legion of evil in Ash vs the Evil Dead.

For years there was talk about a fourth Evil Dead movie – or would it be a second Army of Darkness film? Then the age of the remakes befell us all, so it was no surprise to see the deadites get the reboot treatment. To be fair this is a rare remake I do really like. It went back to the original nightmarish quality the original movie had. For a lot of fans, Evil Dead is synonymous with slap-stick gags and laughs. And really, that’s ok. More people think of Evil Dead II or Army of Darkness when it comes to the movie legacy. But let’s not forget that the original movie was meant to be a serious horror film, one that sometimes is overlooked by the offshoot of its successful sequels.

So with the remake out people truly thought that was the end of any chance of any further sequels. If there were to be any continuation it would more than likely follow the remake. But little did we know what kind of treat Sam Raimi had in store for us! Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi teamed up again, dusted off the Necronomicon, got ready to unleash some groovy goodness and brought us Ash vs the Evil Dead, a series I certainly consider to be Evil Dead 3(4?).

I had the honor of meeting Bruce Campbell last week. He said that one of the good things about getting older was that it also meant Sam Raimi was older too and couldn’t hurt him as much. It really struck me that Campbell’s career is largely due to his friendship with Raimi. I’m not saying that without Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell wouldn’t have been a success. But we do have to admit, Campbell is one of the best gifts Raimi has given to us as fans. We love our Ash, a character created in the mind of a cool guy with a hilarious sense of humor.

Raimi And a Big Web!

Sam Raimi could easily go down in history just for the Evil Dead movies. But once again he proved the heights of his ambitions. Back in the early years of the Millennium audiences cheered as everyone’s favorite neighborhood Spider-Man swung into theaters and knocked our socks off. It’s said that today kids are clamoring over all the Marvel Studio films but don’t even realize that had it not been for Sam Raimi turning Spidey into a massive success there would be no Avengers films.

Just like his original passion to get Evil Dead onto the screen, so was his passion to bring his all-time favorite super-hero to life. Once again Raimi knocked on doors of studios and fought to make this movie happen. And wouldn’t you know it? It was another immediate success.

Sam Raimi is a dreamer who isn’t just content with sitting about and dreaming. He makes those dreams come true. He should be an inspiration to all aspiring artists, film makers and writers. Don’t be busy dreaming. Be busy with doing! Make dreams come true.

This has been Manic Exorcism. Happy Birthday to Sam Raimi! Thank you for all the laughs and screams!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

17 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.