Being one of the most famous cult film franchises in the world, it's no surprise that Evil Dead has a fanbase as varied and outlandish as the films themselves, and soon, those fans will star in a film of their own. Hail to the Deadites, an Evil Dead documentary focused on the franchise's dedicated followers, will be premiering next month as part of the Fantasia International Film Festivals virtual show beginning on the 20th of August.
A guided look into the world of Evil Dead superfans, Hail to the Deadites is chock-full of interviews with some of the franchise's biggest fans, wackiest personalities, and even includes familiar faces like Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell. The documentary seeks to be an investigation into the ever-growing fanbase of a franchise that has risen far beyond its creators' expectations, and transformed into a cultural phenomenon in its own right.
Don't go in expecting a deep dive on the making of the films however; Hail to the Deadites is narrow in its focus on the fans. Filmmaker Steve Villeneuve has made it clear that the documentary will not feature any footage from the actual films, and that this was a deliberate choice: "This is what I’ve been aiming for since day one, I’m really proud to say that everything you will see or hear in this documentary was created by the fans."
This is not the first documentary to explore the nature and concept of fandoms and how they interact with their favorite properties. Famously, The People Vs. George Lucas explored the push and pull relationship between an artist's original vision and the fans' love for that franchise. Bruce Campbell himself made a similar short film titled Fanalysis which also gave Evil Dead fans a turn in the spotlight. And then there's Trekkies.
Despite the occasional stumble, the Evil Dead brand is still going strong between the recently finished Ash Vs. Evil Dead series, and the planned film Evil Dead Rise. Until the next film finally releases, Hail to the Deadites should give Evil Dead fans yet another fun look into their favorite films from a slightly different perspective.
Hail to the Deadites will premiere virtually in August as part of the Fantasia International Film Festival starting August 20th.
Source: Comicbook.com