The Difficulties in Making The Original Evil Dead
Share
To create the movie, Raimi and his team used a variety of practical effects and techniques, including stop-motion animation, prosthetics, and fake blood. They also used a number of creative camera angles and movements, including a signature "shaky cam" technique that became a hallmark of the film.
The story of The Evil Dead follows five college students who travel to a remote cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway, only to accidentally unleash demonic spirits that possess them one by one. The film is known for its intense gore and violence, as well as its dark humor and imaginative special effects.
The production of The Evil Dead was notoriously difficult, with the cast and crew facing numerous challenges during the shoot. Some of the troubles they encountered include:
-
Low budget: The filmmakers had a very limited budget, which meant they had to be resourceful and creative with their special effects and filming techniques.
-
Harsh filming conditions: The movie was filmed in a remote cabin in the woods of Tennessee, which meant the crew had to deal with extreme weather conditions, lack of amenities and equipment, and long working hours.
-
Injuries: Several cast members were injured during the production, including Bruce Campbell who suffered a broken jaw when he was hit by a piece of equipment during a fight scene. Ellen Sandweiss was also injured when she was accidentally stabbed with a pencil during a scene.
-
Special effects mishaps: The film relied heavily on practical effects, which meant that some of the more complex scenes took multiple takes and were prone to mishaps. For example, during one scene where a character's head is decapitated, the special effects team accidentally used too much fake blood, causing the entire set to become slippery and difficult to work on.
Despite these challenges, the cast and crew persevered, and the film became a cult classic and a landmark in the horror genre.