Sam Raimi delivers his verdict on the evolution of the Evil Dead franchise

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Sam Raimi is one of the most influential horror directors of all time. He launched his career at just 21 years old with the groundbreaking Evil Dead series, writing and directing all three original films between 1981 and 1992. These movies redefined comedy-horror and showed audiences what the genre could be.

Since then, the Evil Dead series has continued with two more films: a 2013 reboot by Fede Álvarez and Evil Dead Rise in 2023. A third film, Evil Dead Burn, is scheduled to come out this summer.

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My role is the same as before,” he said. “I’m a producer, but my friend Robert Tapert handles all the filming and directs the project.

He explained that his role involves providing feedback on the script, editing, casting, and sound, but he isn’t directing the film. He sees himself as a supportive friend offering help. The new film is directed by Sébastien Vaniček, a French filmmaker who previously directed the 2023 horror film Infested. Raimi shared that he’s enjoying seeing a new generation of filmmakers bring their own creative vision to the franchise he originally created.

He found the whole process amazing. He described it like composing a short, simple tune – just six notes long – and then watching talented filmmakers transform it. They’d take that basic idea and build upon it, adding their own creative touches and taking the story in unexpected directions he hadn’t imagined.

“But you can still hear that little ditty in there sometimes!”

Sam Raimi hasn’t directed many original films recently. Over the last fifteen years, his directing work has been limited to the 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful and the 2022 Marvel movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

I was really excited to hear that Sam Raimi’s latest, Send Help, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, is a return to the thrilling, gory horror that first made him famous. And apparently, he had a blast making it! He actually said it was ‘fun tossing the blood again,’ which, as a longtime fan, is exactly what I wanted to hear.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning of many innovative ideas from one of the most unique filmmakers working today.

You can now see Send Help in UK cinemas, and Evil Dead Burn will be released on July 24th, 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed films of all kinds.

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2026-02-06 14:34