[Bruce Campbell, left, and Sam Raimi, right, on the set of Evil Dead; photo via Jake Dee at joblo.com]
If someone asked me which director I admired the most, it really wouldn’t be any of the big-shots like Hitchcock or Kubrick. It wouldn’t be Kurosawa or Godard. And even though he directed my favorite film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mr. Spielberg doesn’t top my list, either (he’s close, though). The director to whom I give mad props to is Sam Raimi.
The thing is, unless you’re a nerd like me (and I mean “knowing-which-cameras-were-used-to-make-lightsaber-props” level of nerd), Sam Raimi is a name that is most likely unknown to you, even if you do know (and maybe love!) his movies. He directed the Evil Dead franchise and the original Spider-Man trilogy. The public knows the movies, but not the director, and that’s unfortunate; the man’s behind-the-scenes journey is just as fascinating as his films.
A native of Michigan, Raimi grew up making short movies (usually Three Stooges slapstick bits) with his buddies, one of whom was actor Bruce Campbell—now the handsome face of B-Movies. Already having a few Super 8 films under their belt by the 1970s, Raimi, Campbell, and Rob Tapert, their producer, decided to make their first full-length feature.
Seeing that all the kids at the drive-ins loved horror pictures, the trio decided to transition away from comedy to make Evil Dead, the cult film where Bruce Campbell must fight off his possessed friends in an abandoned cabin. In order to raise the $350,000 necessary for production, Raimi and his friends first made a prototype version of the movie. The 30 minute short, called Within the Woods, was then shown to local investors as a type of preview of the future project, but their sheer tenacity alone was rarely enough to convince people to invest in the gore-filled extravaganza. Despite hanging up bedsheets to project their short film in the produce aisle, Detroit merchants often declined.
Once the $350,000 was raised, Raimi and his crew found a cabin in Tennessee, in which the film would be made. Having a limited budget already, the crew was forced to sleep in the cabin in uncomfortable, cold, and cramped conditions.
On-screen, filming was also difficult, as the inexperience of everyone involved strained production. Filming often occurred throughout the night and into the morning; Bruce Campbell noted how he “…always wanted to see what shade of grey Sam was in the morning.” The long filming hours took a mental toll on the cast and crew.
Also, Raimi had to compensate for creepy, demonic effects with chump change. Cornered creatively, he accomplished the special effects in a very creative way. The gallons of blood used were made out of Karo Syrup. Twitching, “severed” hands of dismembered zombies were actually those of other actors underneath the floorboards. And, perhaps most impressive, Raimi mounted the camera on top of a large block of a 2×4 and ran around with it. This invention lent The Evil Dead its tracking shots, meant to emulate a demonic spirit rushing toward victims.
Despite completing the picture in 1980, Raimi also struggled with getting the film distributed; its over-the-top, gruesome, bloody violence, combined with its no-name director proved problematic for mainstream distribution. Yet, it was screened at Cannes and attracted the attention of Stephen King, who raved it was the, “…most ferociously original film of the year.” This led to further attention to British, and eventually American, distributors. The film eventually made over $2.5 million. And the movie, guys, is frightening, gross, and awesomely gory.
This is the gist of what Sam Raimi and Co. had to go through in order to get Evil Dead made. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a more impressive success story than Sam Raimi breaking into the industry. And, unnaturally, it wasn’t by accident. Raimi literally put his blood, sweat, and tears into the film and stood tall despite adversity looming every step of the way. That sounds like the end to a cheesy ‘90s sitcom, but I have intense respect for him, Campbell, and Tapert because they went out into the world and built what they have with their own hands. In terms of the film industry, I can’t think of anything more inspiring.
MARK BAUTISTA | Peanut Butter Enthusiast | KXSU Arts Reporter