The Evil Dead: From The Evil Dead to Ash VS Evil Dead The progression of Evil Dead story lines

From The Evil Dead to Ash VS Evil Dead
The progression of Evil Dead story lines

At the time of writing this post Ash Vs Evil Dead (2015 -?)  is streaming on Netflix and I have been viewing it. While doing this I thought it will be fun to write about the Evil Dead film series.

The Evil Dead has four films and one TV show The Evil Dead (1981), The Evil Dead 2 (1987), Army of Darkness (1992), Evil Dead (2013) and Ash Vs Evil Dead (2015-?). 

Possible spoilers if you want to avoid skip to synopsis section.

The Evil Dead stories have changed over the years, but this is a condensed history.  It starts as a classic horror movie start a group of friends going to an isolated cabin where some of the group release demons which results in everybody at the cabin getting attacked/killed one by one, before ending with a final survivor, and an opening for a sequel.

The second part Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn begins with Ash Williams the last survivor dealing with the developments of the last film before having a fever dream/nightmare of some of the events from the first film. The film progresses to resolve most of the story lines as well as having more people fighting and getting killed by demons. The ending being the only story line left unresolved, and open for a third film.

The third part Army of Darkness goes from straight horror to horror comedy and takes place right where the second films ends; in medieval times. (Thu magic Ash has traveled space and time to land himself and his car in King Aurthur's Court). At this point Ash is no longer a regular guy in a horrific situation (much like the heroes of Die Hard, or Rambo with their third films). This one ends with an open ending for another film. However, that does not happen exactly.

A fourth film I is made which is a remake of the first Evil Dead (1982), without the Ash Williams charter (Bruce Campbell).  In spite of this two years after the remake, and twenty-three years after Army of Darkness, and thirty-three years after the first Evil Dead the Starz Channel made a TV series of Evil Dead titled Ash VS Evil Dead.

  

Ash VS Evil Dead ignores the remake and takes place about 30 years after the first three films The events of the first two films having taken place in 1982 after the time travel adventure. Ash returned to his present which would have been 1982. The show starts in 2015 and uses flashbacks, and lines referencing the earlier films. At this point Ash is basically superhuman although older and fed up with fighting he continues to fight the forces of Darkness with a few sidekicks that the series introduces. As of 2018 the show is on its 3rd season. 

The Synopsis section.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Five collage age friends go to a remote cabin for a vacation. At the cabin Ash and friends find the Necronomicon and audio recordings of it being translated. At which point the audio recording and book are both used releasing demons resulting in a fight for survival.  

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Evil Dead 2 picks up right where the first one ended. Ash the lone survivor meets with the professor’s daughter and some associates of the professor, then the new group fights for survival.  

Army of Darkness (1992)

The third film in the Evil Dead series; this picks up right after the second film ended. Ash has been sent back in time with his car. In the past he must rid the world of Demons and get back to the present. 

Evil Dead (2013)

A Group of five friends take a vacation in an isolated cabin in the woods, they find the Necronomicon, unleash demons and fight for survival. 

Ash VS Evil Dead (2015 - 2018)                  

This is a comedy horror TV show Taking place 30 years after the first 3 films. This starts with Ash having gotten back to the present has been hiding for 30 years. However, the book is again read from releasing more evil upon the world, resulting in Ash and a pair of sidekicks fighting and saving the world.