Evil Dead IV... Is Officially Happening
 

Yes, you read that thread title correctly; a fourth Evil Dead was announced recently and has now been confirmed by the B-Movie legend Bruce Campbell, who portrayed the tortured by Deadites (and abused by Sam Raimi) 'Ash' in the first three Evil Dead films.

I know of one fourmite who will be very excited by this news but what do the rest of you think?

Personally, I'm highly curious to see what comes of this development. The Evil Dead movies were some of my most watched VHS tapes during my childhood (I have fairly liberal parents) and I can remember eagerly browsing the shelves of my local indie video store, in the hope of spotting Evil Dead IV in the days of pre-Internet. Now many moons later, it's hard to believe that it's finally happening.

I hope for a return to the horror roots of the series, as opposed to the slap-stick shenanigans of the third entry "Army of Darkness" (aka The Medieval Dead). Although I would like for some of the over the top comedy of Evil Dead II to remain. Something of an inbetween of the first and second films would be my preference. Whatever may end up on screen, it's going to be a lot of fun watching Bruce return to his iconic role*.

* Those three so-so video games don't count.

Yeah, but it doesn't sound like Bruce will be in it. So I don't know about this one.

Oh man! You're right, it's unknown what role Bruce has in this, if any. Now I don't know what to think.

Oh well, at least we had Drag Me To Hell with it's subtle Ash cameo.

Uhh... remake? Is this gonna be a sequel or a remake? Because there's less chance that Bruce will be in it if it's a remake. Also, I don't like remakes, since it's basically a story repeat.

Also, I'd prefer the slapstick comedy of the second one. Not really a horror fan, me.

I'm not sure it works without Bruce. He's Man Incarnate.

First reaction: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Second reaction: ... Bruce had goddamn better be Ash.

Yeah... Bruce better be Ash or I will not even consider watching it... he kicks more ass now than he ever did then....

I'm as excited as one can be. I applauded Drag Me To Hell when it came out since I think it showed that Raimi can still make great movies. I'm actually excited about this even if both Raimi and Campbell won't be involved. :D

Thinking about this for a bit, I wonder how likely it is that they're trying to bring Ash back to the public eye so that they can make a certain long-awaited sequel to a certain long-awaited slasher mashup movie...

I'm assuming you're referring to Freddy Vs Jason Vs Ash, in which case...

NNNNOOOOooooooooooo!

Keep that shit for the comics.

If Bruce is in it, it can't fail. Like everything with Bruce in it.

However if he's not... :(

Well, I'm a pretty big Bruce fan. Read his books, followed him and his fanclub for years. He has long hinted and mentioned that a remake would NOT star him. Since he just pretty much confirmed it to be a remake.... bull honky. Sounds like a nail in the coffin to me.

It truly saddens me. Not just as a Bruce fan, but he WAS the series. Especially now, with all the zombie overkill movies around, he is what would have been the big draw. If he is not a part of it, I'm sorry Sam, but it would be just another zombie movie(yes, I know it's not in the traditional sense...I am very well familiar with the films, but dead people coming back and killing people falls into the category anyway no matter what the hook is). He should have done it 5 years ago when they were first discussing it. The genre has been dismembered by this point and I really don't think there is much interest in a reboot.

As much as I'd like to see them try it, I agree.

It would just be a mess. Movies have to deal with filming style, atmosphere, flow, staying true to the slight details revolving each legacy, dialogue, overall delivery. Things the comic world can stretch around. It's just too hard. I watched making of...s and documentaries surrounding Freddy VS Jason and they tried...they really really tried hard to deliver for both fans. You just tell in production interviews how tightly wound everyone was developing and shooting it to keep it a strong Freddy movie, a strong Jason movie and a strong overall film. The results were a little subpar but that's how it goes. It is almost hard to watch all the interviews. I was surprised how much the director believed in it and wanted everyone to be happy....it was just too big of a task for a decent length movie.

I didn't mind it, but the movie had a few big problems. Like Jason being afraid of water. He is ALWAYS going in the water(in fact he goes down drowning three[arguably four] times through the series) but from a film making perspective they were stuck...they needed Jason to be afraid of something and the only thing he would have been afraid of is disappointing his mother which is why the movie starts really. They couldnt have her yelling at him the whole movie...the point of the first film was how much she loved him and people would have complained if they wrecked that aspect.... they were just stuck in a spot of not being able to please everyone.

^ I think that's why I'd want to see it, actually. Their desire to make FvJ worth the years of speculation and wait made a somewhat shitty movie quite enjoyable. (just... never do CG blood again, guys)

It doesn't have to be FvJvA, either. It could be just be FvJ2, but with more of a Freddy slant. The first was way too focused on Jason for my liking, with Freddy waiting in the wings while the characters rehash his modus operandi for the billionth time.

I guess my point is that I want more Freddy. :p Actually, screw FvJ, I just want some new Nightmare movies that hearken back to the first three or four. That reboot... hoo boy. That didn't count. And I can imagine that it'd be harder and harder to convince Robert Englund to reprise his role with every passing day. Any tall guy with broad shoulders and good body language can be Jason (hell, I could be Jason), but I honestly believe that there is no replacement for Englund, and I think there's a lot of juice left in that character if done correctly.

To be honest, I've never watched the first film. No, sadly I've only watched the second and third film, because I've never been able to find a copy of the first. So, I don't really know the actual canonical relation between Evil Dead I and II.

Also, it's a reboot.

The second movie acts as if the first didn't happen. The first was Bruce in the cabin with a different cast. It wasnt as comedic. Evil Dead II is pretty much a remake of Evil Dead.

Still very much worth watching the first, though.

Very much so. It's great. The branch scene. Everything.