Editorials
5 Reasons You Should Be Watching “Ash vs Evil Dead”
When Army of Darkness released theatrically in theaters in 1993, it was technically a bomb, earning only $4.4 million opening weekend on an $11 million budget. The relentless fan following would amass in the decades that followed, but the reality is that Ash vs Evil Dead is a rare gift. The trio behind the original Evil Dead trilogy, Bruce Campbell, Sam Raimi, and Rob Tapert, reunited to unleash the biggest love letter possible to fans; a brilliantly paced series that not only keeps continuity of previous films in high regard, but folds in new mythology and expands the universe in mind-blowing ways.
In breaking with the previous seasons’ premiere dates coinciding with the Halloween period, season 3 is scheduled to commence on Starz on February 25. It’s a move that’s stirred up series-ending rumors, but I tend to think of it as kismet, since it falls very close to Army of Darkness’ 30th anniversary. So you now have fair warning to catch up ahead of the premiere (season 1 and 2 are now available on Netflix, you primitive screwheads). Ash vs Evil Dead is an absolute must watch, and here’s five reasons why:
Ash is foretold in an ancient book
Ashley J. Williams fate was forever intertwined with the Necronomicon and Kandarian Demons when he and his friends played the tape recorder at that cabin in the woods decades ago. Yet, at the end of Evil Dead II, the reveal that Ash was the chosen one to defeat the deadites, as foretold in an ancient book, raised questions that still haven’t quite been answered. Why Ash? What exactly is the prophecy in full? Season 3 promises to provide answers, finally.
We love seeing Ash in compromising positions
Ash fighting deadites is a cornerstone of the entire franchise; Ash has dismembered, sliced, and bludgeoned his way through piles of the evil dead over the years. Yet the cast and crew still manage to find the most creative ways for Ash to go head to head with Kandarian evil. Sometimes even head to rectum. How do you top that? Perhaps by turning Ash into an evil puppet? Never doubt that Raimi and the writers will always find a way to top even the most outlandish of demonic battles.
The Ghostbeaters
Admittedly, prior to the inaugural season premiere, I was skeptical to learn that Ash would have partners in crime. Ashley J. Williams was always a bit of a lone wolf, whether through his selfishness or through his inability to keep loved ones safe, he just worked better alone. Until we got to know Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), and then I learned just how wrong my skepticism was. Not only has it been fun to see how their relationship with Ash has changed him, but now it’s hard to picture this world without them in it. Pablo as the heart, and Kelly as the fiery brains, the trio balance each other out in ways that lends depth to a series and emotional investment.
The nods and throwbacks to the original trilogy
For a series that spans nearly four decades and now exists in a fast-paced series, the Evil Dead universe has grown exponentially vast. There are new levels of demons to contend with beyond the deadites. Yet, the cast and crew behind the series never ever forget its roots, paying homage in both small and epic-scaled ways often. To do that while keeping it fresh is an impressive feat. From the return of Ellen Sandweiss as Cheryl in season 2, the return of Henrietta, to keeping the minute details of the original cabin in place during the season 1 climax, Ash vs Evil Dead knows how to fan service better than any other.
It’s the only way to get more seasons
Duh. It took a long time to get a follow up to Army of Darkness, and that’s because the theatrical release didn’t perform well. So I look at this as the last chance to find out what happens in Ash’s long winding story. Whether that means this is the final season or there’s a still a couple more left to tell ultimately depends on whether we support the show. It’s a small, obvious thing, but it’s worth it.
A new month means a new guide as titles are added (and dropped) from streaming services. Let’s unpack the most exciting titles that are available to watch on Tubi in July 2026.
New to Tubi July Horror Films
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Premise: Searching for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.
- Why Watch It? Let’s be frank: Director Renny Harlin has made some absolute dogs in the last few years (the less said about The Strangers trilogy the better, though this year’s Deep Water was actually ok). Deep Blue Sea remains one of the Finnish director’s best contemporary efforts, though. Between the great cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Stellan Skarsgård, Michael Rapaport, LL Cool J, Thomas Jane, and Jane’s sleeveless wetsuit), the ridiculous premise, and that damn/dumb song (“My hat is like a shark’s fin”), you basically can’t go wrong with Deep Blue Sea. It’s one of two great shark films gliding onto Tubi this month, so why not stay out of the water and watch this instead?
- Streaming: July 1
Exorcist II: Heretic (1977)
- Premise: Reagan (Linda Blair), a girl once possessed by a demon, finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) investigates the death of the priest who performed her exorcism.
- Why Watch It? August sees the release of documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the troubled production of this sequel. The notoriety surrounding Heretic has undoubtedly kept plenty of horror fans away from the sequel, but this truly is a “seeing is believing” kind of film. Real talk: it’s undeniably a disaster, but the John Boorman film has also become a minor cult film. Don’t you want to see it to make up your own mind?
- Streaming: July 1
Hostel: Part III (2011)
- Premise: Four men attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas fall prey to the Elite Hunting Club, who are hosting a gruesome game show of torture.
- Why Watch It? What does Hostel look like without Eli Roth? Part III kinda answers the question. Technically Roth is still a writer, but he hands over the directorial reins to Scott Spiegel (best known for acting in Evil Dead films). The result is a film with a terrible pedigree; it’s also the first (and last) entry to skip theatres before the franchise was permanently shelved (until that TV show with Paul Giamatti shows up?). For some horror fans, however, there’s something exciting about a bad low-budget sequel. Just bear in mind that the Hostel: Part III‘s biggest star is Kip Pardue…so adjust your expectations accordingly before hitting play.
- Streaming: July 1
Insidious 1-3 (2010/2013/2015)
- Premise: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
- Why Watch It? It’s hard to believe that the sixth (!) Insidious movie is coming out in a month and a half, but James Wan and Leigh Whannell‘s other horror franchise has been steadily chugging along for sixteen years. It’s a shame that Tubi doesn’t have all five films available to watch, but in terms of quality, you can do far worse than the original trio. The first film is iconic, and the second is basically an extended coda (with some admittedly problematic stuff going on). I’ll go to bat for Whannell’s 2015 directorial debut, though: there’s a few banger sequences in that film that people slept on.
- Streaming: July 1
Man Finds Tape (2025)
- Premise: After finding mysterious video clips, siblings investigate the strange recordings and uncover a disturbing secret spreading through their Texas town.
- Why Watch It? Writer/directors Paul Gandersman and Peter S. Hall‘s well-received found footage film did an extensive tour of the festival circuit, so now is a great time to check out one of the most contemporary titles debuting on Tubi this month. Surely a title that hails from producers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring and The Endless) is worth a free look?
- Streaming: July 2
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- Premise: A depressed musician Adam (Tom Hiddleston) reunites with his lover Eve (Tilda Swinton). However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska).
- Why Watch It? This beautiful, melancholy vampire film is courtesy of writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who doesn’t often dabble in genre fare. As always, some will quibble if this artsy drama qualifies as horror, but the existential ennui of an eternal life certainly qualifies (bonus: there’s also something inherently sexy about watching Hiddleston and Swinton just lay about). Plus: if Leviticus has you hankering for more Wasikowska, this is an under the radar pick.
- Streaming: July 1
The Shallows (2016)
- Premise:A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.
- Why Watch It? What better time to watch a shark movie than July? The temperatures are soaring and the idea of escaping into the water is so tantalizing. This tight, contained thriller features a great performance by Lively (and that damn seagull!), but it’s the direction from genre fave Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan; the House of Wax remake) that keeps the movie clicking along like clockwork. At 86 minutes, this is a perfect summer flick.
- Streaming: July 1
Vacancy (2007)
- Premise: Stranded in an isolated motel, a couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) become the unsuspecting subjects of a snuff film.
- Why Watch It? I’m not going to pretend that this Nimród Antal-directed home invasion film is high art, but it is a good time. You’ll likely wish there were deeper characterizations for Wilson and Beckinsale’s David and Amy in Mark L. Smith‘s screenplay, but this mid-aughts thriller is tense, exciting, and just the right amount of grimy. Plus: another short runtime, clocking in at an expeditious 85 minutes!
- Streaming: July 1
July Tubi Originals
The One Next Door (2026)
- Premise: When a mysterious stranger moves in next door to Robert and Tabitha, boundaries are tested, loyalty is questioned, and danger comes for all.
- Streaming: July 10
I Know Where You Live (2026)
- Premise: Sarah thinks she’s found “the one” until his flaws emerge. When she pulls away, chilling threats suggest he’s watching her from inside her own home.
- Streaming: July 24
What’s your favorite from the list above? Will you check out the new Original? Sound off in the comments below
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