10 Best Evil Dead Moments
5. Deadite Cheryl’s Introduction
“One by one, we will take you…”
The Evil Dead
After a gratuitous scene involving a possessed tree, the group realises they’re stranded at the cabin for the night, with the only exit being a bridge that has been reduced to claw-like remains. To pass the time, Linda (Betsy Baker) and Shelly (Theresa Tilly) are casually playing a card game. What begins as a mundane moment quickly turns spine-tingling and sinister as Cheryl (Ellen Sandweiss) – Ash’s (Bruce Campbell) sister – is suddenly revealed to be possessed.
This is an extremely pivotal moment: the introduction of the Deadites – a mysterious, undead demonic force. They are characterised by grotesque bodily contortions, unsettling eyes, and an unrelenting desire to torment and kill the living. While the scene is devoted to exposition, it’s impact lies in its pacing. The tension builds gradually, beginning with a card game while the suspense looms. Cheryl begins acting strangely, talking in a deeper, hoarse voice and keeping to herself rather secretively. Things become increasingly disturbing as Cheryl – who is staring out of a window – begins guessing each card Shelly chooses. As her voice raises, the group becomes sceptical, culminating in Cheryl’s abrupt turn towards the camera, shockingly revealing Deadite Cheryl. While possessed, her ghostly white skin and pupil-less eyes give her a distinctive demeanor that eerily resembles a cross between a puppet and a rabid dog. After announcing that “one by one, we will take you” with a hellish voice, she falls to the floor, seemingly unconscious as everyone continues to watch in fear.
Cheryl Williams is an underrated character in the Evil Dead series. Though her and Ash’s bond isn’t explored until later in the franchise, her possession is still a devastating loss for him (and it’s the first of many tragedies he endures that night). Conversely, Deadite Cheryl steals the show as the original film’s most memorable antagonist. She mercilessly torments Ash, playing on his emotions and violently attacking others, such as her cringe-inducing stabbing of Linda’s ankle with a pencil. Above all, this scene marks a turning point in the film’s story, unleashing a darker tone, an unpredictable threat, and an underlying sense of hopelessness.
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4. Mia’s Triumph
“Feast on this.”
Evil Dead
While Fede Álvarez’s 2013 Evil Dead remake divides fans, its lead protagonist, Mia Allen (Jane Levy), is a fan-favourite character. Her defining moment comes in the heart-pounding final showdown against the Abomination – a grotesque, twisted reflection of herself. By this point, Mia has endured unspeakable things. She has been possessed, tormented, and lost her friends and brother, David (Shiloh Fernandez), to the Deadites. So, her climactic battle against the Abomination – set amidst some torrential raining blood – serves as an emotional triumph.
Mia’s confrontation with the Abomination symbolises her overcoming her literal and metaphorical demons, given that she was battling addiction before becoming possessed. When she courageously outsmarts the Abomination and kills it using a chainsaw, she becomes the ultimate survivor, cementing herself as one of the franchise’s greatest and most powerful characters. The combination of the excessive raining blood, the iconography of the chainsaw, and Mia’s cathartic one-liner of “Feast on this!” makes for an unforgettable conclusion to her journey.
After the intensity and horrors of the rest of the film, Mia’s final battle is a triumphant scene that effortlessly pays off her character’s journey. Featuring one of the goriest kills in the franchise, Mia’s visceral final blow is nothing short of liberating.
3. “Hail to the King Baby”
“Name’s Ash… Housewares.”
Army of Darkness
Following Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness doubled down on turning Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) into a confident, charismatic, borderline superhero. The film’s canon ending (there’s also an alternate ending) provides a fitting conclusion to Ash’s bombastic medieval adventure.
After returning to the present day, Ash resumes his mundane job at S-Mart, recounting his medieval adventure to an unimpressed Ted Raimi (director Sam Raimi’s brother). However, the peace is short-lived, since a Deadite followed him back, leading to an improvised battle. Ash vanquishes the Deadite in the most outrageous fashion possible – by using a moving trolley while rapidly firing a lever-action rifle, along with a barrage of one-liners.
After everything Ash has endured throughout the original trilogy, this moment feels cathartic, as it showcases his evolution from an everyman to a charismatic, fearless hero. One-liners such as “Name’s Ash… housewares” and “Come get some” are revered as timeless classics – as well as the fan-favourite “Hail to the king, baby.” While cheesy, these one-liners are fittingly over-the-top, perfectly capturing Army of Darkness’ signature spirit – a mix of humour, chaos, and action. Likewise, this scene encapsulates why Ash Williams is a beloved horror icon: he’s quotable, and Bruce Campbell’s charismatic performance is one of a kind.
Though the ending may be corny, it doesn’t overstay its welcome and concludes the original trilogy in a charmingly unexpected way. And, it’s far cheerier compared to the film’s original ending, which depicted Ash waking up in a post-apocalyptic future after oversleeping.
