Starting in 1982 with Sam Raimi directing The Evil Dead, the adventures of Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) battling the dead have entertained generations of horror movie fans. But the true steam that keeps the locomotive to Hell rollin’ on down the tracks is dedicated fans. The documentary Hail to the Deadites explores the love and commitment these superfans—the self-proclaimed “Deadites”—have expressed for this series.
Written and directed by Steve Villeneuve, this film discovers that being a hardcore fan is not a trial one must face alone but is almost a ubiquitous expression of passion shared across the country and globe. Villeneuve goes from horror con to horror con, traversing hotel hallways and ballrooms decked out with cosplayers, merch vendors, and celebrity panels, finding these Deadites and capturing their love on film.
We get treated to a slew of different faces, some covered in prosthetics and blood, some dressed casually, all proud of their fandom. These fan stories range from recalling their first experience seeing these films (specifically, which installment came to them first) to passing their interest down to their children.
Horror movies can indeed be a family pastime if introduced carefully. Villeneuve and his camera become invited guests into their homes to see the intimate collections of toys, props, photos, and artwork that have been cultivated over many years. The personal anecdotal stories, however, are the high points.
It is quite pleasing to see Adam King, a young and nearly dead-ringer Ash cosplayer, secure a crowdfunded trip to meet the mighty Bruce Campbell. This somber yet heartwarming story about a father naming his son Ash made me choke up a little. There are no spoilers here, though.
The interviews with the ever-charming and gregarious Bruce Campbell and various members of the cast and crew give the documentary some extra clout and muscle. Stars such as Betsy Baker, Richard Domeier, and Theresa Tilly from The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II remark their surprise at the longevity and popularity the franchise has gained. Their tales of the feedback loop given to them by the fans are warm.
RELATED: ‘Aliens’ is Still a Masterpiece of Tension, Dread and Horror
The production of Hail to the Deadites is noteworthy in its uniqueness. In lieu of inserted shots of actual film footage (I assume for copyright reasons), we get jovial-in-their-own-way rotoscoped and claymation recreations of critical and violent scenes from each of the films. These are super entertaining. They make fun vignettes between different beats of the film. The soundtrack is such a blast, too. The song choices are silly homages to the series with such titles as “It’s a Trick, Get an Axe” and “Blues Campbell.”
It is this extreme level of conviction that these fans have that makes this movie special. It’s a showcase about the fans, for the fans, funded (via IndieGo) by the fans. This may be the only fault I can give Hail to the Deadites. It revels in its niche tapestry so much that it can be a challenge to draw outsiders to it.
That aside, if you are a fan of one, two, or all entries in the Evil Dead franchise, you will get something out of this documentary. Most importantly, if you are a fan, you can see yourself here. The biggest strength Villeneuve pulls off is connecting the dots on a family that many didn’t know existed.
I especially like the segment surrounding the Evil Dead musical. I desperately need to catch a showing of that as soon as possible. From all of the blood splatter, shotguns, and make-up effects that have become the uniform of the Deadites, what shines through the most here is the human spirit and connection.
To sum up my feelings watching this, I’ve got one word.
Groovy.
Hail to the Deadites is available on Digital and On Demand on July 27th from Shout! Studios.
