The Many Lives of the Evil Dead: Essays on the Cult Film Franchise
Edited by Ron Riekki and Jeffrey A. Sartain
One of the top-grossing independent films of all time, The Evil Dead (1981) sparked a worldwide cult following, resulting in sequels, remakes, musicals, comic books, conventions, video games, and a television series.
Examining the legacy of one of the all-time great horror films, this collection of new essays covers the franchise from a range of perspectives. Topics include The Evil Dead as punk rock cinema, the Deadites’ (demon-possessed undead) place in the American zombie tradition, the powers, and limitations of Deadites, evil as an effect, and the films’ satire of neoliberal individualism.
Buy NowThe Evil Dead (Cultographies)
By Kate Egan
Over the last twenty years, Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead (1981) has been celebrated as a rollercoaster ride of terror; a classic horror video hit; an exemplar of the 1980s cycle of tongue-in-cheek and excessively gory horror films; and as the film that introduced the now-iconic character of Ash (played by Bruce Campbell).
This study considers the range of factors that have contributed to the film’s continuingly evolving cult reputation – the story of the film’s gruelling production, its journey from Cannes to video and DVD, the film’s play with the conventions of the horror genre, and its status, for fans and critics alike, as one of the grungiest, gutsiest and most inventive films in horror movie history.
Buy NowThe Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi
By John Kenneth Muir
Following his highly successful An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (Applause), John Kenneth Muir now turns to the life and work of legendary cult-film director Sam Raimi. Raimi exploded on the movie scene in 1982, when he was 23 years old, with the audacious, independently produced horror film The Evil Dead. Re-igniting the horror genre to such a degree that Wes Craven credited Raimi on-screen in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Raimi went on to direct two Evil Dead sequels, his own comic-book superhero, Darkman, and an over-the-top, post-modern western, The Quick and the Dead. Raimi’s influence on other filmmakers continues to be enormous – from the “shaky cam” shots of the Coen brothers to the early oeuvre of Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, both of whom have been termed the “direct progeny” of Raimi’s works.In 2002, Raimi’s Spider-Man had the biggest opening weekend in history, earning more than $114 million at the box office. The Unseen Force also features a sneak peek at the much anticipated Spider-Man 2.
Included are 30 first-person accounts and interviews from a number of eclectic sources – from the cinematographers who shot Raimi’s early films to the producers, screenwriters, actors, special effects magicians and composers who collaborated to make his films the stuff of legend, earn mainstream success, and still be the focus of obsessive cult followings.
Buy NowThe Evil Dead Companion
By Bill Warren
Don’t you see, Ash, they’re alive!
Rigorously made on an almost absent budget in the backwoods of Tennessee, the film was a phenomenal success – the true definition of “cult film” — launching the careers of its director, Sam Raimi; producer, Bob Tapert; and star, Bruce Campbell. It also spawned two deliriously different and wildly inventive sequels, The Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn and Army of Darkness, which have won over legions of fright-fans around the globe.
At last, acclaimed film critic Bill Warren takes us on a no-holds-barred behind-the-scenes tour of the making of the three films, including exclusive interviews with key cast and crew; rare and previously unpublished photographs, storyboards, and concept sketches; harrowing tales of hardship, discomfort, and practical jokes; and much more. Enough to keep any puss-oozing deadite drooling through the night.
Buy NowBruce Campbell Books
The Cool Side of My Pillow: A Book of Essays
By Bruce Campbell
I wanted to write another book, but I had already yammered on about myself in two previous autobiographies, so it was time to mix things up. The Cool Side of my Pillow is a collection of essays. Don’t let that fancy word fool you. I’m not trying to get highbrow or rant myself blue, but there are experiences and observations outside of the entertainment industry that I feel are worth sharing. What’s it about? Mostly, things that matter to me, like putting in the effort, being honest and not treating the environment like it’s the enemy. Is it self-help? I hope not, but you will find musings about fame, mysterious carvings, UFOs and my general disdain of loud noises. Is it political? If it is, I’ll refund your money. There are no conspiracy theories in The Cool Side of my Pillow, just snarky humor and a sincere desire for us all to find peace on earth. I hope you like this book. It’s my first effort at “self-publishing,” so there won’t be any national book tour, marketing blitz or glowing reviews to get your attention – just me throwing it out to the “Inter-webs” and hoping you’ll find it.
Regards,
Bruce Campbell
Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor – Requiem for Ash Edition
By Bruce Campbell with Craig Sanborn
Hail to the Chin is the new raucous and sardonic memoir from Bruce Campbell, a follow-up to the New York Times bestselling If Chins Could Kill. It’s been 15 years since his first memoir but Bruce is still living the dream as a “B” movie king in an “A” movie world.
His roles have been as varied as they are numerous–from the Spider-Man movies to his self-referential My Name is Bruce to the #1 show Burn Notice and his STARZ hit series Ash vs Evil Dead. Bruce covers the professional and the personal with stories about his quickly canceled series Jack of All Trades, working on Sci-Fi Channel movies in Bulgaria and playing Santa Claus and Ronald Reagan as well as his move from Los Angeles to Oregon where he distills lavender and joins the local Elks club.
And now in this updated paperback, Bruce shares brand new stories from his life since the hardcover’s publication, including a requiem of Ash and details from his European book tour.
Hail to the Chin will be bursting with pictures and the signature humor that Bruce brought to If Chins Could Kill and will be devoured by his legions of fans across the country.
Buy NowHail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor
By Bruce Campebll with Craig Sanborn
It’s been 15 years since his first memoir but Bruce is still living the dream as a “B” movie king in an “A” movie world.
Bruce Campbell makes his triumphant return from where he left off in If Chins Could Kill with further hilarious, gut-wrenchingly honest confessions.
Bruce brings us through his life in the decade since his first memoir and his roles as varied as they are numerous- from his roles in the Spider-Man movies to his self-referential My Name is Bruce to his role on #1 show Burn Notice and his new STARZ hit series Ash vs Evil Dead.
Over the last 15 years, Bruce has become a regular on the Wizard World convention circuit, has created his @GroovyBruce twitter account with over 400,000 followers and a Facebook page with almost 250,000 likes. His profile and reach is lightyears beyond where it was for Chins.
Hail to the Chin will be bursting with pictures and the signature humor that Bruce brought to If Chins Could Kill and will be devoured by his legions of fans across the country.
Buy NowMake Love The Bruce Campbell Way
By Bruce Campbell
In this autobiographical novel, the King of B movie actors gives his legions of fans the inside view of his hilarious attempt to become an A list actor. Bruce imagines that he is cast in the big-budget film Lets Make Love. His Homeric attempt to break through the glass ceiling of B-grade genre fare is hampered by a vengeful studio executive and a production that becomes infected by something called the B movie virus, symptoms of which include excessive use of cheesy special effects, slapstick comedy, and projectile vomiting.
From a violent fistfight with a Buddhist to a life-altering stint in federal prison, this novel has it all. Including graphics, photo essays, newspaper clippings, and a chart (or two), Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way is a masterwork from one of Americas most sly entertainers.
Buy NowIf Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor
By Bruce Campbell
If Chins Could Kill is a delightfully irreverent, yet oddly touching, epic of ambition and disappointment, fame and anonymity, and lots of fake blood. Told in Bruce’s wry, sarcastic voice, it is a “Hollywood from the bleacher seats” look at his experiences in film and TV and at his status as a cult horror and sci-fi movie god.
This man with the face of a matinee idol and the heart of a Three Stooge first attracted what has grown into an enormous cult following as the star of Sam Raimi’s legendary Evil Dead trilogy of thriller-comedies. With tireless good humor and biting wit, Bruce acted, produced, and directed his way through a baker’s dozen of “B” horror films and space operas before finally enjoying mainstream stardom on prime-time TV.
Deeply earnest and fiercely funny, this book tells the story of an unlikely star who continues to lead a unique double life as cult movie icon and regular Joe.
Buy NowFilmmaking Books
I’m Rubber, You’re Glue The True Story of an 80s Monster Maker
By Shannon Shea
If you are a fan of creatures from 1980s cinema like ALIENS or PREDATOR, than this book is for you! This is a first-person account from creature-creator, Shannon Shea and includes chapters on genre favorites including, EVIL DEAD II, MONSTER SQUAD, and STAR TREK IV. Shannon recounts his experiences starting as a “Monster Kid” growing up in Louisiana, and then venturing out to Hollywood to follow his dream only to find himself on an adventure he never could have imagined.
Shannon Shea has worked as a Hollywood monster maker for over 30 years. A native New Orleanian, he migrated to the west coast in the early eighties to pursue his dream of working in motion picture special effects. He has contributed to such iconic films in his career including ALIENS, EVIL DEAD II, PREDATOR, DANCES WITH WOLVES, TERMINATOR II, JURASSIC PARK, PULP FICTION, DUSK TILL DAWN, SPY KIDS and many others!
In 2009, he began to blog about his career and attracted a large readership which led to him contributing columns to Film School Rejects. This led him to writing a draft of 7-time Academy Award winner, Rick Baker’s expansive biography.
Publisher Michael Key invited Shannon to contribute columns to Makeup Artist magazine where Shannon currently writes feature columns about other artists and crafts people.
Buy NowGoing Hollywood
By Josh Becker
Before Josh Becker made movies with some of the past giants of the silver screen like Anthony Quinn, Josh grew up making movies with some of the current giants of the silver screen, namely his childhood buddies Sam Raimi (of Spider-Man fame) and B-movie legend Bruce Campbell. Today Josh is a well respected film and tv director-writer, and the author of two other books.
When he left his home in Michigan in 1976 at the age of 17 and moved to Hollywood, all he knew was that he was pursuing his dream – to be in the film business. Arriving, he found that dreams don’t always work out like they do up on the silver screen. Gaining a foothold in this notoriously difficult line of work requires as much passion, luck and ambition as it does frustration, heartbreak and folly. GOING HOLLYWOOD is the true story of a driven young man willing to go to the ends of the earth in order to fulfill his dreams.
Buy NowRushes
By Josh Becker
Josh Becker is an internationally known director of “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules,” and a director-writer-producer of four critically acclaimed independent feature films, as well as three TV movies. Mr. Becker’s SyFy Channel film, “Alien Apocalypse,” starring Bruce Campbell, was SyFy’s highest-rated movie ever. He has directed such celebrated actors as: Anthony Quinn (two-time Oscar-winner), Lucy Lawless (“Xena,” “Spartacus”), Bruce Campbell (“Burn Notice,” “Evil Dead”), Stephen Baldwin (“The Usual Suspects”), Sam Raimi (“Spider-Man”) and Kevin Sorbo (“Hercules”).
Mr. Becker has written 39 screenplays, as well as three published books: “The Complete Guide to Low-Budget Feature filmmaking,” “Rushes,” and “Going Hollywood.” Mr. Becker has hosted his own popular movie website, Beckerfilms.com, for 13 years, and has been a proud member of the Director’s Guild of America for 18 years.
Buy NowThe Complete Guide to Low-Budget Filmmaking
By Josh Becker
Most books about film production assume that you have an idea and a script to shoot. Most screenwriting books are geared to how to write a script that you can sell to Hollywood (as though the authors of these books had the slightest clue) and do not take into consideration that you might be shooting the script yourself, possibly with your own money.
This book is about how to write a script properly that you can rationally shoot, how to shoot it, how to finish it, how to sell it and also how to get it shown.
Buy Now