VHS Vault: The Evil Dead (1981)

"They got up on the wrong side of the grave."

Slide this one off the VHS shelf and brace yourself; cabin in the woods, creepy book, and a single tape that redefined low-budget terror. The Evil Dead (1981) is Sam Raimi’s first masterpiece: chaotic, bloody, and so raw it practically vibrates through your VCR.

Every squeaky floorboard and possessed scream makes it feel like you’re right there in the cabin, trapped with the Necronomicon and hoping to survive until dawn. It’s DIY horror at its finest and proof that a small budget can still unleash big nightmares.

Vault Fact File

• Title: The Evil Dead
• Year: 1981
• Director: Sam Raimi
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: R
• Tagline(s): “A wild, hair-raising shocker!” / “If you’re going to die of fright… die laughing!”
• Studio / Distribution: New Line Cinema
• Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Hal Delrich, Betsy Baker
• Fun Fact: Filmed in a Tennessee cabin over 12 days with almost no budget, Bruce Campbell had to fight tree roots and fake blood just to stay upright.
• Extra Trivia: The infamous “chainsaw hand” wasn’t in the first movie—that would come in Evil Dead II. But the original’s practical gore still makes fans queasy decades later.
• Legacy: Spawned a trilogy, a reboot, and turned Bruce Campbell into a horror icon. This is the tape every 80s horror fan dreams of finding at the rental store.

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

Rewind. From the possessed trees to the nonstop terror, The Evil Dead is a cult classic you can’t pass up. It’s raw, it’s insane, and it’s VHS horror at its most unhinged—perfect for late-night rewatching with the lights off.

⚡ Watch It

Get your hands on The Evil Dead (1981) on Amazon—rent, stream, or grab the Evil Dead Collection Blu-ray for all three films in one gore-filled package.

Original The Evil Dead Trailer

Back to the Vault: Want more spine-tingling terror? Check out Hellraiser (1987) or keep digging through the shadows of the VHS Vault.