When it comes to ‘80shorrorfranchises, few were as creative, creepy and funny asThe Evil Dead. The wacky series, started by directorSam Raimi, just celebrated its theatrical return last year. WhileEvil Deadhasn’t been the hottest brand over the last four decades for merchandise, that hasn’t stoppedNECAfrom honoring the Deadites with some killer figures. Now, the popular toy company’s latest two-pack takes horror fans back to the very beginning of the Deadites’ reign.
The seven-inch scale Ultimate two-pack is of Bloody Ash and Cheryl. It’s a dreadful family reunion as the siblings face off against one another. Like the first film, Cheryl is possessed by theDeaditesand is looking very worse for wear.Bruce Campbell’s Ashis in his signature outfit fromTheEvil Deadand is completely drenched in blood. The figures also come with a Necronomicon full of accessories. This includes interchangeable heads and hands — one of Cheryl’s is holding a pencil — a bloody chainsaw, an axe, a shovel, fire poker, a sketch pad with a drawing of theNecronomicon, and a cross grave marker. While Ash has received a few figures in the past from NECA, of both the seven-inchUltimate scaleandTooney Terrorsvariety, this two-pack is chock-full of frightening detail. This includes an insane likeness to a young Campbell and each one of Cheryl’s heads displaying a different level of decay.
The originalEvil Deadis a simple yet chilling tale. A group of friends spends the night in an old log cabin in the woods. They find an old book, read from said book and accidentally awaken an ancient evil that starts possessing them one-by-one. While the later entries in thefranchisewere known for their expert blend of horror and comedy,The Evil Deadplayed more like acampy B-movie. One that didn’t take itself too seriously, but hadn’t established its unique comedic edge yet. This is a film all about Raimi’s thick atmosphere and inventive camera work.
The film is also unique in the context of the series, as Ash isn’t really the center of the film until the third act. He’s not the “hero” we would come to know inEvil Dead 2andArmy of Darkness. In the first film, he’s just a wimpy, selfish guy trying to survive, something Campbell is an expert at playing. He would appear again as Ash in the previously mentioned sequels, in an end credit cameo inEvil Dead(2013), and star in his own short-lived TV showAsh vs The Evil Dead. The actor would also voice Ash in 2022’sEvil Dead: The Video Gameand have avoice cameoas someone who may or may not be Ash inEvil Dead Rise. Campbell has since retired from playing Ash in live-action, but as theEvil Deaduniverse continues to expand on the big screen, the beloved horror icon is trying to get ananimated seriesmade starring everyone’s favorite chainsaw hand Deadite killer.
The Evil Deadis currently streaming on AMC+ while the latest film in the franchise,Evil Dead Rise, is possessingMax. NECA’s BloodyAshand Cheryl Ultimate two-pack is for pre-order now at retailers likeEntertainment Earthfor $69.99 USD. The figures are set to ship in January 2025.
The Evil Dead
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
