Tickets for an upcoming Evil Dead II watch party with Bruce Campbell that includes live commentary are now on sale. The Sam Raimi horror classic arrived in theatres in 1987, and despite a somewhat low-key release schedule, it still managed to make a positive impact on audiences and critics alike. Since then, the franchise has grown to include four feature films.
Without the arrival of Evil Dead II, however, it’s arguable that the famed horror franchise wouldn’t be what it is today. The film doubled down on many of the story elements from Raimi’s original 1979 The Evil Dead, and thanks to a much bigger budget, it was able to build a wider fanbase. Even today, however, the franchise is largely seen as appealing primarily to a niche horror crowd. Still, whatever the mainstream opinion of the series, The Evil Dead remains one of the most important horror franchises of all time. It also continues to be a sound inspiration for aspiring filmmakers – as Raimi’s path to getting the first film made involved plenty of DIY ethics and the tiniest of budgets.
Like all franchises, it’s difficult for Evil Dead fans to pick the best entry in the series. That being said, Evil Dead II seems to have become the frontrunner in this battle, thanks to its numerous memorable moments and classic Ash dialogue. Now, nearly thirty-five years after the film was first released, Dread Central reports that a live viewing will take place on April 24th, with Campbell answering questions from fans as well as providing stories and memories from the film. Entry-level pricing, known as the “Basic Evil” package for the event, is $25, though prices do range substantially.
Altogether, the Evil Dead II live event offers five separate pricing tiers for fans. Beyond the aforementioned Basic Evil option (which includes only the film via livestream or VOD), there are also VIP, Super VIP, VIP Extreme, and Ultimate VIP packages. Fans who want more than to just view the film with Campbell’s commentary, Q&A, and storytelling should move fast, however. At present, the Super VIP option, which offers the film via livestream or VOD and an autographed event exclusive poster is sold out, as is the Ultimate VIP package, which includes livestream or VOD, an autographed poster, a 2-minute Zoom meet and greet with Campbell, and a one of a kind, autographed chainsaw.
When it comes to The Evil Dead franchise, fans are always ready for special events such as this. It’s not quite on the same level as a new Evil Dead film, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had watching Evil Dead II and listening to Campbell recount classic memories from that time. For some, $25 might be considered a bit steep just to watch the film and hear Campbell speak, but as the 62-year-old has already stated that he won’t be playing Ash again, events such as this represent an increasingly rare opportunity to learn about the classic horror series.
Source: Dread Central