Image: The Movie DB
Which director made The Evil Dead?
Brian DePalma
Wes Craven
Sam Raimi
Evil Dead was Sam Raimi's first feature film, which he's described as a kind of initiation. His brother, Ted, now an actor, was a stand-in during filming.
Ted Raimi
Advertisement
What year was Evil Dead released?
1981
Most of the film was made in 1980, when director Raimi was just 20 years old. He's a good example of the "just get started doing what you want to do" school of thought.
1984
1987
1988
Advertisement
In what state does The Evil Dead take place?
Massachusetts
MIchigan
Tennessee
Sam Raimi and several colleagues were from Michigan and wanted to film there. However, they couldn't find a suitable cabin and filming location in that state.
West Virginia
Advertisement
Other than Bruce Campbell, which now-famous actor appears?
Lucy Lawless
Michelle Pfeiffer
Tony Todd
there is no other big-name actor
Campbell was the film's only breakout star. It might not have helped that two of the actors had to use false names in order not to be penalized by the Screen Actors Guild.
Advertisement
What is the name of Bruce Campbell's character?
Ash
Ash Williams has become a cult figure. He anchors the Evil Dead franchise, most recently appearing in the Starz series, Ash Vs. Evil Dead.
Billy
Brisco
John
Advertisement
What's the name of the other man in the group?
Bob
Lenny
Josh
Scotty
While Ash is sensible and sensitive, Scotty's the type who jumps out and yells "Boo!" at tense moments. (There's one in every horror movie.)
Advertisement
Which of the girls is Ash's girlfriend?
Cheryl
Linda
Betsy Baker, who played Linda, got the job by answering a newspaper ad. Somewhat suspicious, she insisted on meeting the producers in public.
Shelly
Ash doesn't have a girlfriend
Advertisement
What foreboding event happens to the five youths on their way to the cabin?
they nearly hit a deer
they nearly hit a truck
their car gets caught in the planks of a bridge
both #2 and #3
A sign at the bridge claims it will bear three tons, but the car's wheel goes through. The near-miss with the truck came shortly beforehand.
Advertisement
What relationship is Cheryl to Ash?
his cousin
his sister
Cheryl was played by Ellen Sandweiss. She's been active in other Evil Dead franchise productions.
his ex-girlfriend
they're just friends
Advertisement
What happens to Cheryl as she's sketching the clock?
she gets a nosebleed
she falls into trancelike automatic writing
Cheryl's hand acts independently of her will, sketching a rough picture of a book with a face. At least, that's what it's supposed to be. To us, it looks like a grocery-bag mask.
she hears a scream from the woods
the light goes out, plunging her into darkness
Advertisement
What movie poster can be seen in the cellar?
Gone with the Wind
The Hills Have Eyes
It's popularly believed this was an homage to the Jaws poster visible in The Hills Have Eyes. That was supposedly Craven's way of suggesting his film was scarier than Jaws -- thus this Hills poster was Raimi's way of saying that his film would be more frightening yet.
Reservoir Dogs
Nosferatu
Advertisement
Who goes down to investigate the noises in the cellar?
Ash, then Scotty
Scotty, then Ash
Fairly typically, the guys go down while the nervous girls wait in the living room. Of course, Cheryl's going to spend a lot of time in the cellar, a bit later!
Ash and Linda
all three girls
Advertisement
What is the name of the book in the cellar?
De Rerum Naturae
Naturom Demonto
The Naturom is a version of the Necronomicon, which is a fictional book invented by H.P. Lovecraft. The book has become so notorious that many people believe it is real, requesting it at bookstores.
Necronomicon
the Satanic Bible
Advertisement
The guys bring a tape player up to the living room. What's on the tape?
a demonic voice
the confession of a murderer
the observations of an archaeologist
The archeologist has been in "the ruins of Candar" and is now recording his research. Sounds dull, but the kids keep listening anyway.
classic bluegrass music
Advertisement
According to the archaeologist, what was used for ink in the Naturom Demonto?
human blood
Not-so-fun fact: Human blood won't really work as ink. It beads, then flakes off when it dries. (We don't know this from personal experience, we swear.)
demon blood
liquefied ash from Roman crematoriums
sulfur from hell itself
Advertisement
Who recites the incantation that summons the demons?
Ash
Shelly
Scotty
the archaeologist, via audiotape
Naturally, the boundary-pushing Scotty just has to play the tape, even as the archaeologist starts reciting the forbidden words. Cheryl is upset and wants it turned off, but this happens too late.
Advertisement
What does Ash give Linda at the cabin?
an engagement ring
a silver necklace
The necklace makes several prominent appearances after the mayhem starts. It's a symbol of Ash's love and his unwillingness to kill his possessed girlfriend.
a photo album
a social disease
Advertisement
What happens to Cheryl when she goes into the woods?
she falls into a deep pit
she gets hopelessly lost
she becomes violently ill
she's raped by vines
The vines wrap around her wrists and ankles, tear off most of her clothes, and then -- well, you get it. This scene caused Raimi the most problems with censors and critics.
Advertisement
Why can't Ash take Cheryl back into town?
the fog is too thick
the bridge is out
The bridge is the last straw. Initially, the car won't start, and the fog is pretty thick -- but neither of those things deter Ash and Cheryl.
the car won't start
the others feel she's too hysterical to travel
Advertisement
What are Linda and Shelly doing just before Cheryl goes demonic?
testing Linda for ESP with playing cards
Shelly is indulging Linda, pretending she's right about the number and suit of the cards when she's not. Then Cheryl begins guessing accurately from across the room -- uh oh!
cleaning up after dinner
painting each other's nails
playing the guitar and singing
Advertisement
What does Cheryl stab Linda with?
a kitchen knife
a fireplace poker
a pencil
Linda's injury is the main reason Ash and Scotty don't try to leave the cabin. She can't walk on her injured leg, and there are no drivable routes with the bridge out.
a nail file
Advertisement
After failing to shoot Linda, how does Ash deal with her possession?
drags her outside
Yes, this will certainly work! It's not like the cabin doesn't have, like, three shattered windows already.
tries to exorcise her
locks her in the cellar with Cheryl
tries to reason with her
Advertisement
Ash tries to kill his girlfriend, Part 1: What's the first technique he considers?
shooting her with the shotgun
Ash levels the gun at her and says, "God forgive me." However, he can't pull the trigger.
stabbing her with a butcher knife
drowning her in the tub
burying her alive
Advertisement
Ash tries to kill his girlfriend, Part 2: What's the second method he considers?
burying her alive
burning her at the stake
dismembering her with a chainsaw
Ash chains her to a table, then fires up the saw. Why is it that long-unused cabins always have chainsaws with gasoline in the tank, ready to go?
stabbing her with a fireplace poker
Advertisement
Ash tries to kill his girlfriend, Part 3: What's the third method he considers (and actually tries)?
burial alive
If all this is starting to sound misogynistic, note that Bruce Campbell has said he felt bad about the scene where he repeatedly hits the possessed Linda, and Raimi later regretted the "vine rape" scene.
stabbing her with a fireplace poker
drowning her in the pond
beating her with a 2x4
Advertisement
Which two characters appear to be cured of their possession?
Linda and Cheryl
Linda first appears restored, then Cheryl pleads to be released from the cellar in her normal voice. Of course, it's all a ruse.
Cheryl and Scotty
Scotty and Shelly
Shelly and Linda
Advertisement
How does Ash finally destroy all his possessed friends?
he dismembers them
he says the incantation backward
he throws open the windows to the sunrise
he burns the book
Ash throws the book into the fire. This begins a lengthy sequence in which the possessed bodies fall apart and melt. Raimi had a bit too much fun with stop-motion animation here.
Advertisement
Does Ash survive the events of Evil Dead?
yes
no
it's inconclusive
Ash appears to be caught by the evil force at the film's end; at the car, he's rushed by a "monster POV cam." But they had to resurrect him -- otherwise there could be no franchise!
Advertisement
Which now-famous filmmaker helped edit the film?
Joel Coen
The film's main editor was Edna Paul. However, Coen was her assistant at the time.
Quentin Tarantino
Eli Roth
Wes Craven
Advertisement
Whose glowing endorsement helped attract a distributor?
Kim Newman
Gene Siskel
Stephen King
King was shown the film before its release. He called it "ferociously original," which went a long way to giving the film legs.
Pauline Kael
Advertisement
While the sequel was simply called Evil Dead 2, what was the third installment called?
Son of Evil Dead
The Book of the Dead
Ash and the Evil Dead
Army of Darkness
This installment sees Ash sent to the Middle Ages. There, he battles Deadites and woos a medieval lady.
Advertisement
What kind of car do the kids drive?
a Chevy Camaro
an Oldsmobile 88
The Oldsmobile is also seen in both sequels. According to IMDb, it's one of Sam Raimi's "director trademarks."
a Volkswagen Beetle
a Volkswagen bus
Advertisement
Sam Raimi and Evil Dead producer Rob Tapert collaborated on what tongue-in-cheek cult TV series?
Dollhouse
Firefly
G vs. E
Xena: Warrior Princess
Tapert married the series star, Lucy Lawless. Bruce Campbell had a recurring role as Autolycus, King of Thieves, and Raimi's brother Ted played series regular Joxer. They're a tight-knit crew!
Advertisement
Which of the following is NOT part of the Evil Dead franchise?
comic books
a musical
a TV series
they're all part of it
There was also a reboot in 2013. This was a loose remake of the original, directed by Fede Alvarez.
Advertisement
What kind of pendant is on Cheryl's necklace?
a Celtic knot
a cross
a magnifying glass
Ash's gift has a little magnifying glass at the end. Cheryl declares the necklace "beautiful," which is a little bit of a stretch, objectively speaking.
a promise ring
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
The Movie DB