In the realm of fictional worlds filled with danger and chaos, the notion of an "Army of Darkness" sits at the apex of malevolence. The concept of an army comprised entirely of dark and sinister beings is enough to send shivers down one's spine. Imagining the collaboration of malevolent forces creates a scenario of potential devastation and despair. This sinister gathering of forces instills fear and foreboding in the hearts of the innocent. The Army of Darkness is often portrayed as an unstoppable force, relentlessly pursuing its goal of spreading darkness and destruction. The very thought of facing such a formidable force seems insurmountable, as it conjures images of hordes of undead, fearsome creatures, and powerful sorcery.
Most people who knew anything about film knew this coming into Army of Darkness. But I sure didn't.
It s also possible now that Evil Dead had gone big budget and had the backing of Dino De Laurentiis, there was a raft of studio interference and expectation that Raimi wasn t ready for. In a previous era when the City That Never Sleeps was a bit dirtier and far more dangerous, roving street gangs tussle for every block of turf in the South Bronx.
The very thought of facing such a formidable force seems insurmountable, as it conjures images of hordes of undead, fearsome creatures, and powerful sorcery. These armies may be led by nefarious characters who embody the darkness itself. These leaders possess an unmatched malevolence that allows them to manipulate and control the forces of darkness to achieve their wicked ambitions.
This Week in Genre History: Army of Darkness lost the box office battle but won the war to become a cult classic
Welcome to This Week in Genre History, where Tim Grierson and Will Leitch, the hosts of the Grierson & Leitch podcast, take turns looking back at the world's greatest, craziest, most infamous genre movies on the week that they were first released.
I was working at a movie theater in the middle of small-town Central Illinois back in 1993, my senior year of high school, when a movie starring no one I'd ever heard of was suddenly booked in our sleepy little theater. And here is my confession to you, wise, cool SYFY WIRE reader: Until I was upstairs splicing the reels together for Army of Darkness, I had no idea who Sam Raimi was, let alone what in the world Evil Dead was… let alone that there were two Evil Deads. Not all of us were raised in cool video stores, you know.
But what was remarkable about Army of Darkness, even to a teenager who knew nothing about any of this, is how in on the joke I felt watching it for the first time. There was obviously a joke to the whole thing, the sort of giddy horror-film nerd-dom that has driven Ash's adventures for several decades now. But to watch the film back then, for the first time, without even knowing there were previous films, was to feel let in on a cool secret. I was watching the third film in a series I had no idea had ever existed, and it felt like it was made just for me. As the film turns, remarkably, 27 years old this year, it still feels like it sprouted straight from the subconscious.
Why was it a big deal at the time? We all know the story of Evil Dead by now, yes? You are reading this on SYFY WIRE, after all. Evil Dead (actually The Evil Dead) was a project Raimi and his childhood best friend Bruce Campbell created together. Campbell ended up getting the starring role in the film, playing Ash, the leader of a group of Michigan State students who were attacked by demonic somethings, just because he was also a producer and therefore the only guy who would stick around for all of filming. (Raimi ended up getting editing help from a young editor's assistant named Joel Coen.) Stephen King ended up seeing the film out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival and helped get it distribution, which led to the film being a surprising cult hit and bringing about the sequel, Evil Dead 2.
Most people who knew anything about film knew this coming into Army of Darkness. But I sure didn't.
To be fair to ignorant high school me, it is worth remembering that, for all the cult love for Evil Dead 2, it was anything but a hit. It ended up making back its budget and then some, but only after slowly building up status as a midnight movie and true horror fan obsession. People who loved Evil Dead 2 wanted a sequel, desperately, but this was before you could point to Twitter clout and Reddit groups for fan enthusiasm.
Raimi, because he wanted a bigger budget this time, had to scrounge up money the old-fashioned way: Get it from Dino De Laurentiis. The infamous producer had partly financed Evil Dead 2, on the recommendation of Stephen King, and Raimi convinced him they could go even bigger on the next one. De Laurentiis happened to owe Universal Pictures a couple of films on a deal, so he made Army of Darkness one of them.
That was the good news. The bad news was that what Raimi was making was so weird, and so directly related to those previous two films (which, remember, almost nobody on earth, including me, had seen), that Universal was generally baffled upon watching it. So they took it over, and next thing you knew, there was a new ending, and somehow Bridget Fonda showed up. And the movie was pushed to the wasteland of February. So now it was compromised — reshot and dumped into a month full of bad movies. Who says big budgets are positive?
What was the impact? Like me, ordinary audiences saw this picture of an actor they'd never seen, promoting the third film of a series they'd never heard of, and were clueless as to what to think about it. But unlike me, they didn't work in a movie theater, so they didn't have to see it. So they didn't. The movie barely made it out of the gate its opening weekend, making only $4.4 million, finishing below The Crying Game and Aladdin, two movies that had been out for more than four months. Freaking Sommersby, widely considered a huge flop itself, finished ahead of it even though it had been out for three weeks. It vanished from theaters pretty quickly thereafter. The movie might have had a bigger budget, and it might have been released to more theaters than either of the first two Evil Deads were, but people just didn't know what to make of it.
The thing is, though: There were people, like me, who saw it and thought, "I have no idea what this is, but I want more of it." The movie ended up with a similar cult following to the first two Evil Dead movies, but larger. What's the old joke about the Velvet Underground? They didn't have that many fans, but every one of their fans started a band? That's how it felt with Army of Darkness. From what Universal considered a "flop" launched an industry. 12 years after the film came out, there was a role-playing game. Eight years afterward, there was a video game. And then there was a whole television program that ended up being bigger, and longer, than the movies themselves — decades later!
Has it held up? Perhaps not surprisingly, the stuff that Universal insisted on adding, particularly the extra "happier" ending, feels out-of-spirit with the rest of the film. (Though Raimi himself says he has grown the like the extra ending.) And it is incredibly bizarre to see Bridget Fonda show up.
But boy, the thing remains an absolute blast today. For a film that has essentially been meme'd to death over its nearly 30 years of life, it's still fresh, exciting, and hilarious. And I swear, I'll be thinking "Shop Smart: Shop S-Mart" every time I'm in a big box store the rest of my life.
That's maybe the final lesson of Army of Darkness. It was a film that Raimi and company made to finish off a film series, but it ended up launching something entirely new, and much bigger, and vaster. It didn't matter that the few people who saw Army of Darkness knew the whole story. They ended up filling in the rest with their imagination and seeking out the rest of the universe they'd missed. They ended up creating a whole new universe, of video games, of board games, of comic books, of television shows. That's smart. That's S-Mart.
Will Leitch is the co-host of The Grierson & Leitch Podcast, where he and Tim Grierson review films old and new. Follow them on Twitter or visit their site.
What follows then for a while is watching a man have a nervous breakdown. Campbell, in these scenes, is absolutely brilliant. He cries when the piano spookily starts to play the same tune he used to impress Linda. He shakes when he has to cleave Linda’s head in two when she comes back to get him and stumbles around shell-shocked. When everything in the cabin starts to laugh at him after he saws off his own hand, he starts to laugh too, and eventually scream in madness at the whole thing.
They instill fear and obedience in their minions, ensuring their unwavering loyalty and dedication to their cause. The Army of Darkness situates itself in various realms and genres, ranging from fantasy to horror and science fiction. Regardless of the setting, the theme remains consistent - a pervasive darkness that threatens to engulf all that is good and just. Within the army's ranks, one may find an assortment of beings - from vampires and demons to ghouls and witches. This diversity of creatures only further reinforces the potency and frightfulness of this army. Each individual entity possesses unique abilities and strengths, making the Army of Darkness an even more daunting enemy to face. Yet, amidst this darkness, hope may still arise. It is often through the bravery and resilience of a few valiant heroes that light can prevail. Their unwavering determination to combat the forces of darkness ensures a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. These heroes must face great trials and overcome their own inner demons to challenge the Army of Darkness. While the notion of an Army of Darkness may be terrifying, it serves as a vehicle for epic battles, deeper character development, and the triumph of good over evil. It encapsulates the eternal struggle between light and dark, showcasing the human capacity for courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable horrors. In conclusion, the Army of Darkness represents the embodiment of evil in its purest form. It serves as a constant threat, terrifying and instilling dread in the hearts of all who encounter it. However, within this darkness lies the potential for heroism and the triumph of light. The battle against the Army of Darkness is a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity and the power of hope..
Reviews for "The Army of Darkness in Popular Culture: How They've Inspired Movies and TV Shows"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "Army of Darkness". I found the storyline to be confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the plot. The humor fell flat for me as well; I didn't find it clever or funny. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Army of Darkness" was a complete waste of my time. The acting was terrible, especially Bruce Campbell's over-the-top performance. The special effects were cheesy and unimpressive, and the dialogue was incredibly corny. I couldn't wait for the movie to end, and it's definitely not something I would ever watch again.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As a fan of horror movies, I was excited to watch "Army of Darkness". However, I was severely disappointed. The film seemed to lack a coherent plot and relied too heavily on campy humor. The action sequences were lackluster, and the overall tone of the movie didn't resonate with me. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for a quality horror experience.
4. Michael - 1.5 stars - "Army of Darkness" is a prime example of a film that tries too hard to be funny and falls flat. The jokes were forced and often missed the mark. The storyline was convoluted and seemed more interested in showcasing random, over-the-top moments rather than establishing a solid narrative. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed by this film.