Sony Pictures Home Entertainment was kind enough to send us a review copy of the Blu-ray release of “The Evil Dead” written and directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy, Drag Me To Hell) and produced by Robert G. Tapert (Drag Me To Hell, The Grudge). Its cast features Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness), Ellen Sandweiss (My Name is Bruce), Hal Delrich (Crimewave), Betsy Baker (TV’s “Southland”, “E.R.”) and Sarah York (TV’s “Dangerous Women”).

Five Michigan State University students venture into the hills to spend a weekend at an isolated cabin. There they discover an ancient Sumerian text, known as the “Morturom Demonto”; roughly translated as “The Book of the Dead.” While searching the basement of the cabin, the students find and play a tape recording of demonic incantations from the book, unwittingly resurrecting slumbering demons that thirst for revenge. The characters are then possessed – one by one – by the spirits of the Book.

I could write chapters about how innovative and awesome this film is, how it paved the way for many classic horror films, but that has all been said before right? almost in perpetuity. Instead what makes this Blu-ray release special, is the hours and I mean HOURS of totally kick-ass bonus features. The cast and crew Picture-in-Picture commentary, really cool makeup tests and some never-before-seen footage, makes this release a must-have for those of us dead-heads! Here’s the complete bonus material and release details.

Blu-ray High Def Bonus Material:

– All New Commentary with Director Sam Raimi, Producer Rob Tapert, and actor Bruce Campbell
– Picture-in-Picture: Join Us! The Undying Legacy of The Evil Dead
– One by One We Will Take You: The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead
– Treasures from the Cutting Room Floor
– At the Drive-In
– Discovering Evil Dead
– Make-Up Test
– Ellen and Drama Teacher
– On-Stage Interview
– Make-up Test

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