The Competition...
We recently ran a competition to help us find the UK's biggest Evil Dead fan , to celebrate the release of the new film.
Our inbox was flooded with everything from deadite tattoos, to fan art, to whopping great stacks of merch, but we've whittled down the best entries right here, leading up to the winner who'll receive a piece of personalised Evil Dead artwork.
So, read on to check out the best entries in our search for the ultimate fan, featuring their photographic evidence and personal statements of fandom...
Runner-Up: Rick Preskey
“Well, I’ve loved the films since I was a teenager and decided that some Evil Dead ink would look lovely on me!”
Runner-Up: Richard Poole
"My frequently used Ash costume (complete with fake chin!) plus my evil Ash friend.
“I also own all three films, the Evil Dead handbook and Bruce’s autobiographies, a signed set of film cells and posters plus my very own deadite (straps onto your back so that you can take him with you when battling evil!). Groovy!”
Runner-Up: Aaron Trevelyan
“I accidentally bumped into Bruce Campbell on a trip to New York. We were walking through JFK airport in 2004. Oh my! It was him, the man, the legend!
“All our cameras were in our luggage but I shook his hand. That hand didn’t get washed for 4 months!!! It was dirty and smelled but I persevered! The particles of Bruce festered in my hand. It disgusted everyone I came into contact with.
“I think this dedication and perseverance shows that Evil Dead means everything to me!"
Runner-Up: Peter Dunphy
“Stephen King called Evil Dead “the ultimate experience in grueling terror” so I wrote to him about my admiration for his work and Evil Dead (seen 100+ times).
“I also wrote to Sam Raimi, about how he inspired me to want to make a horror movie. Graham Humphrey’s Evil Dead poster is amazing, such vivid colours. His inspiration came from the music of The Cramps and The Gun Club.
“In my photo you can see my priceless 1982 Fangoria featuring the first coverage of Evil Dead on its cover, my postcard from Stephen King, and my letter from Sam Raimi.”
Runner-Up: Elbmek Galjermek
“Because I pay homage to the all powerful and mighty chin: All hail BRUCE GROOVY OVERLORD!”
Runner-Up: Paul Lynch
“I got into Evil Dead when my cool auntie lent it to me when i was 9 years old! Haha! She said I could borrow any film I wanted from her collection, I saw all the videos in her living room, hundreds of them, the Evil Dead font on the spine stood out a mile.”
Runner-Up: Justin Paul
“I’ve been the greatest Evil Dead fan since I can remember. I’ve seen each film a hundred times. I’ve seen the Evil Dead musical at New World Stages on premiere night, just to meet Bruce Campbell! I snuck into the 2007 Spider-Man 3 premiere (Queens, NY) and pretended I was part of the press just to get my Evil Dead 2 original poster signed by Sam Raimi.
“I’ve dressed up as Ash in college and performed his famous Army Of Darkness opening scene while sputtering Dry Ice Smoke from behind my table! Today I’m a theatrical designer! The Evil Dead series has been such a huge inspiration on my work. I’ve attached an original one sheet variant I designed for the film - Groovy!”
Runner-Up: Sean Gooding
“A few years ago I owned a very large Evil Dead Collection, these pictures were from the height of my collecting days, I still own the full-scale replica of Ash’s chainsaw from Evil Dead 2 , I also have a tattoo of Ash on my arm and have done some Evil Dead fan art. Enjoy.”
Winner: Michael Witch
“I first saw Evil Dead on video back in ‘83 when I was 13 years old. Ever since, I’ve been a fan and I’m 42 now.
“I’ve collected over 80 variations on Part 1, waited 12 hours outside the Spider-Man 2 premiere to meet Sam Raimi, met Bruce Campbell twice and the ladies of The Evil Dead .
“I own a screen-used book of the dead from Evil Dead 2 plus various screen-used costumes from Army Of Darkness (see picture), and an Evil Dead half sleeve tattoo that took 11 hours to complete.”
