US PREMIERE 15 October 1981 Redford
Theatre, Detroit Michigan
For the US premiere the film was shown under its original shooting
title, 'The Book of the Dead'. The final reel was delivered to the
theatre by Raimi's close friend Ethan Coen who arrived from New
York just in time for the screening. Ethan's brother Joel had served
as an assistant editor onthe film. The Coen brothers would go on
to be Oscar winning film-makers themselves but not before collaborating
with Raimi again, firstly by co-scripting Raimi's second movie CRIMEWAVE
(1983), and then served again co-writing for the Coen's own project
THE HUDSUCKER PROXY (1994): Raimi also performed 2nd unit direction
on the movie.
Raimi
and Joel Coen
Replica
Premiere tickets
Raimi,
Campbell
and Tapert
Publicity
items in foyer
EUROPEAN
PREMIERE -- May 1982 Cannes International Film Festival
The film was most significantly taken to the Cannes Film Festival
in May of 1982. It was here that the film garnered the reputation
that was to follow it to this day thanks to the attention given
by horror/fantasy writer Stephen King who referred to the film as
"...ferociously original..."
and "...a black rainbow of horror...".
Here the film was bought for distribution by Films Around the World
representative Irvin Shapiro. With the film's commercial potential
now recognised, largely due to the quotes given by Stephen King,
the film's title was shortened to the more paletable 'The Evil Dead'.
US distribution was then subsequently sold to New Line Cinema.
UK PREMIERE -- October 1982 London
Film Festival
The first time the film was premiered under its new title of 'The
Evil Dead'.It recieved rave reviews for its originality and visual
style. This movie had a buzz around it before it came to Britain
thanks mainly to the quotes made by Stephen King in a review of
the film submitted to the November 1982 issue of 'Twilight Zone'
magazine. It was this article that carried the now famous quotes
that parade gracefully on almost every video cover and poster for
the film.
Click
the image to read the EVIL DEAD CD
inlay notes by Stephen King
You will need WinZip to download this file
Other Release
dates: WEST GERMAN NATIONWIDE RELEASE 10 February 1984 - General
Release
FRENCH NATIONWIDE RELEASE 24 August 1983 - General Release
