The Michigan References in the 1981 Film “The Evil Dead” (Plus Actual Shooting Locations)
One of the biggest cult films of all time - and the favorite horror movie of many – is Sam Raimi’s 1981 film The Evil Dead.
Sam’s hometown is Royal Oak and he was geared up to film the movie here in Michigan. He began recruiting some of his family members and personal friends to be a part of the cast, including an old childhood buddy, Bruce Campbell. Bruce was made the ‘star’ of the film, because Raimi believed "he was the one that girls wanted to look at."
Sam scouted around for a suitable cabin to use as the “haunted dwelling in the woods” but came up empty. Using the Michigan Tourism guide flopped, so another place to shoot became necessary to find. They finally found the perfect place: Morristown, Tennessee. They discovered an old, abandoned cabin in the woods but still had to get permission from the landowner to use it. Upon entering, the cabin was reeking with inches of horse poop. It also needed electrical hookup.
Even though they had to shoot outside of Michigan, Sam was able to reference Michigan in many other ways throughout the movie.
1) The four people who make the trek to the cabin were MSU students.
2) Sam’s Michigan-made 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 is the car they’re driving throughout the film.
3) In the third film, Army of Darkness, Campbell’s character refers to his gun being made in a Remington factory in Grand Rapids (there doesn’t seem to be any proof there really was one).
Five of the cast members went to MSU including Raimi and Bruce Campbell, who ended up dropping out and failing to graduate.
It would have been cool if they had shot The Evil Dead here in Michigan, but that is not the case. However, for the fans of the film, I’ve included images of the actual shooting locations and matching them with the scenes from the movie. Take a look in the gallery below (thanks to Sean Clark)!
Shooting Locations for the 1981 Film "The Evil Dead"
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