In the past few years, we’ve had ‘Rolling Roadshows’ for a few films like ‘Repo!’ or ‘Trick ‘r Treat’, but never for an older film. Anything that isn’t recent has been shown as a Fathom event to varying results (most notably the full-frame DVD showing of ‘Poltergeist’ and the wonderful Rifftrax version of ‘Plan 9 From Outer Space’). Grindhouse Releasing just sent word that they’ve secured the right to show 35mm prints of The Evil Dead across the country, with venues and dates to come soon. If this takes off, hopefully this will make way for other classics to be brought back to the big screen on a circuit level. Read on to see the press release.
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Grindhouse Releasing is bringing Sam Raimi’s original horror classic THE EVIL DEAD back to the big screen as a midnight movie.

Raimi and producers Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell gave the go-ahead for a series of EVIL DEAD revival screenings to Grindhouse Releasing partner Bob Murawski, the film editor of Raimi’s SPIDER MAN 1, 2 & 3, DRAG ME TO HELL and the EVIL DEAD sequel ARMY OF DARKNESS. The tour will take place across North America in 2010.

Stephen King hailed THE EVIL DEAD as “the most ferociously original film of the year” when the film premiered in 1981. Shot in Michigan and Tennessee, Raimi’s low-budget debut was released independently with a self-imposed ‘No One Under 17’ rating for its graphic violence and gore.

THE EVIL DEAD launched Raimi and Tapert’s careers and made star Bruce Campbell a cult movie icon, spawning two hit sequels: EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN and ARMY OF DARKNESS. The EVIL DEAD trilogy has become a fan phenomenon, ranked among the most popular and acclaimed cult horror movies of all time.

A special screening of the EVIL DEAD trilogy sold out L.A.’s New Beverly Cinema this summer.

With a remake reportedly in the works, this theatrical release gives fans a chance to experience the original as it was intended to be seen.

“Nothing can prepare an audience for what they are about to see, because nothing punishes an audience like EVIL DEAD – especially on the big screen,” says Bruce Campbell. “I’m really glad it’s back. People are gonna be hurt.”

Formed by actor/director Sage Stallone and Murawski, Grindhouse Releasing restores and distributes classic horror and exploitation films. The company teamed with Quentin Tarantino in the ’90s to revive Lucio Fulci’s Italian horror classic THE BEYOND.

A similar theatrical break is planned for THE EVIL DEAD, with midnight screenings in select theaters in the U.S. and Canada. According to David Szulkin, head of theatrical distribution for Grindhouse Releasing, the Landmark Theaters chain will play the movie in several cities.

Dates and venues will be announced at GrindhouseReleasing.com. For bookings, contact David Szulkin at info@grindhousereleasing.com.