They got up on the wrong side of the grave.

Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Sam Raimi, Robert G. Tapert

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm all right now, Ashley! Come unlock this chain and let me out! I'm all right now! It's your sister Cheryl!" - Cheryl, possessed and attacking Ash

Why watch this? Raimi's bold film debut was scary, gory and sometimes a little funny.

Plot Summary: Five friends on a trip to a remote cabin in the woods discover an ancient text and audiotape in the basement. Unwittingly, they play the tape, which unleashes a demonic force that begins to possess them one by one. The sole survivor, Ash Williams, must then fight for his life against his now-monstrous friends as the evil presence besieges the cabin.

Dad's Preview: Sam Raimi had to basically beg, borrow and steal to get his first film made. Thank goodness for his dogged determination, and a little positive championing by horror writer Stephen King, who first saw the film at the Cannes Film Festival. This flick has become a modern horror classic, thanks to its impressive effects (on a very meager budget), unique camera angles and tons of creative ways to allow evil to torture, maim and possess some college students. Did I say it was graphically gory? Well, it is. Still today, it is banned in several countries. This horror film certainly made its mark, resulting in two direct sequels, a film reboot, and a television series. Director Raimi went on to direct three Spider-man films, and Bruce Campbell is a horror icon.

Renaissance Pictures; New Line Cinema