Overview

This hilarious horror-comedy ran for 3 seasons and is a spinoff/sequel to Sam Raimi’s cult classic Evil Dead trilogy. Ash vs Evil Dead was highly reviewed by fans and critics alike, and fan petitions to renew the series launched after its cancellation. The series aired on Starz and now streams on Netflix. If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, Preacher or Stranger Things, you’ll love Ash vs Evil Dead.

Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash in the series, with Lucy Lawless, Ray Santiago and Dana DeLorenzo also starring.

Premise

Decades after his original zombie-slaying adventures, Ash Williams lives in a trailer park, works a dead-end job and spends his evenings getting drunk in bars. Struggling with PTSD, Ash has tried to destroy the infamous Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (The Book of the Dead) many times, but ends up looking after it when his attempts prove fruitless.

However, Ash soon finds himself plunged back into his old life of gruesome adventures. When the Evil Dead begin to rise across Ash’s new hometown of Elk Grove, Ash is stopped from fleeing by his friends – and picks up his chainsaw for another battle.

Cast and characters

• Bruce Campbell – Ash Williams
• Ray Santiago – Pablo Simon Bolivar
• Dana DeLorenzo – Kelly Maxwell
• Lucy Lawless – Ruby Knowby
• Jill Marie Jones – Amanda Fisher
• Arielle Carver-O’Neill – Brandy Barr
• Lee Majors – Brock Williams
• Ted Raimi – Chet Kaminski
• Michelle Hurd – Linda B. Emery
• Stephen Lovatt – Sheriff Thomas Emery
• Lindsay Farris – Dalton
• Samara Weaving – Heather
• Hemky Madera – El Brujo
• Lee Majors – Brock Williams
• Joel Tobeck – Baal
• Emilia Burns – Zoë
• Katrina Hobbs – Candace Barr
• Samantha Young – Natalie
• Rebekkah Farrell – Linda
• Ellen Sandweiss – Cheryl Williams
• Nicholas Hope – Professor Raymond Knowby
• Jeffrey Thomas – Stanley Gibson

Filming locations

Ash vs Evil Dead is set in Michigan in the US, but was filmed entirely in New Zealand. A talented art department helped transform Auckland, New Zealand into the fictional town of Elk Grove. Elk Grove’s main street was built inside Avondale warehouse – with another warehouse in Mount Wellington, and even a carpark in Penrose, also transformed into Elk Grove locations. The town of Tuakau, Kingseat psychiatric hospital and Woodhill Forest were all used for on-location shooting.

Production

The series was originally conceived as another Evil Dead movie by Sam and Ted Raimi. Due to funding issues, the Raimi brothers instead wrote the project as a TV show, which found a home on Starz. Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi and Tom Spezialy co-wrote the pilot, with Sam Raimi directing. Robert Tapert, who produced the original films, co-produced the series with Sam Raimi, star Bruce Campbell and Craig DiGregorio. Sam Raimi announced the series at San Diego Comic-Con in 2014.

Unfortunately, legal problems with Universal Pictures prevented the events from the third Evil Dead movie (Army of Darkness) being acknowledged in season 1. The issue was eventually resolved in time for season 2.

Starz Originals and Renaissance Pictures produced the series, with Lionsgate Television acting as distributor.

Episodes and reception

Ash vs Evil Dead began in 2015 and ran for 3 seasons until 2018. It has received plenty of critical acclaim, with a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 99%. Fans also loved the series, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 94% audience score. Many reviews praised the show for its gore, comedy and boldness. The series was nominated for 16 awards total and won 6, including a Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television for Bruce Campbell in 2016.