Ranking Sam Raimi’s Best Horror Movies
From deadites to Zombie Strange, there’s a lot to cover…
Sam Raimi’s MCU movie might just be a sneaky sequel to one of his earlier works.
There are some things in life that are certain: Death, Taxes, and Sam Raimi will find a way to get that 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 into whatever movie he’s shooting. While his commitment to that car (and employing Bruce Campbell) is admirable, Sam Raimi’s true gift lies in the directing of horror movies.
He’s had a few changes in genre, but for those that know and love his work, Raimi truly flourishes as a director when something’s being disemboweled onscreen. There’s just something about his frenetic style, which combines extreme gore and goofy gags, that works best when he’s got Bruce Campbell fighting off his own possessed hand.
Let’s take a look at Raimi’s body of work, and see how the bodies stack up.
10. It’s Murder! (1977)
Technically an amateur film, It’s Murder! is Raimi’s first feature-length film, shot on Super 8 and using his family and friends (Yes, Bruce Campbell is in it). It’s the story of a man who’s killed and a detective trying to solve the mystery of just what happened.
It’s a bare-bones, low budget film with amateur performances. But you can see Raimi’s sense of humor and absurdity forming as he pieces together this ridiculous mystery.
It’s Murder! is available on YouTube if you search.
9. Crimewave (1985)
Victor Ajax (Reed Birney) is strapped into the electric chair, reflecting on the events that lead him there. The resulting story is a horrific comedy of errors that include accidental deaths, intentional murders, and a load of mistaken identity.
How could a movie co-scripted by the Coen Brothers go so wrong? Well, mostly studio interference. The movie, which is supposed to be a Coen-esque crime caper that blends absurdity and mystery, was taken from Raimi after going over budget. Raimi got no say on the edit nor the marketing, which soured him and Campbell (who acted as a co-producer) on the studio system.
Crimewave is rated PG-13 and is available on the Tubi or Plex apps.
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
While watching the love of his life marry another man, Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is distracted by a portal opening up in between dimensions and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) fleeing, being chased by a monster. Soon Doctor Strange must traverse the multiverse with America, trying to keep her and the universe as we know it safe.
I know this is technically a Marvel action movie, but let’s be real — Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a sneaky Evil Dead sequel. This is the first Raimi film in over a decade that actually felt like a Sam Raimi film. Raimi trademarks like whip pans, close ups on eyes, and fusion of horror and humor are all present. While the film itself is a middling entry in the MCU, it was still fun to watch Zombie Strange battle Wanda.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is rated PG-13 and available to stream on Disney+
7. The Evil Dead (1981)
When a group of Michigan State Students arrive at an isolated cabin in Tennessee, they’re ready for a relaxing stay. Sure, a couple creepy things happen, but they blithely ignore them. When a trap door in the floor blows open seemingly on its own, they decide to investigate.
Y’all: NEVER INVESTIGATE CREEPY TRAP DOORS THAT OPEN ON THEIR OWN.
They find a creepy book and a tape recording. Of course, one of them hits play. The recording summons an ancient evil and a relaxing weekend turns into a bloodbath.
Ah, the original. I’ll probably get flak for ranking this so low, but I promise I come here to praise Evil Dead, not shoot it with a boom stick. While this is the movie that brought the world Sam Raimi, it’s also got some limits in performance and budget. The humor and the guerilla filmmaking techniques are there, it’s still not quite the movie it could be. It’s no coincidence that Raimi chose to essentially remake it with a bigger budget a few years later. Still, it’s hard to argue with the movie that made Campbell and Raimi horror legends.
The Evil Dead is rated R and available to rent or buy from YouTube.
6. The Gift (2000)
In small-town Georgia, Annie Wilson (Cate Blanchett) supports her family through clairvoyant readings. Many of the town’s residents view her as a sham, or evil, but Annie’s gifts are real. When she begins getting horrible visions of a missing woman, she peaks the interest of her community. Annie must figure out who’s responsible for the girl’s disappearance before they find her.
You can’t beat the cast of this movie. Blanchett, Hilary Swank, Keanu Reeves, Kim Dickins, J.K. Simmons, and Katie Holms doing her best to smash that squeaky-clean Dawson’s Creek image. And while the film certainly lacks both the humor and the gore typically associated with Raimi as a director, I would argue it’s a satisfying whodunit. Most of this is due to the creepy cinematography and the committed performance of Blanchett. If anything, this movie proves that Raimi can still produce a watchable movie, even when a studio is hovering over him.
The Gift is rated R and is available on Showtime.
5. A Simple Plan (1998)
When three men stumble upon a plane crash containing a dead body and millions of dollars in cash, they decide to keep quiet. The idea is simple enough: They’ll take the money and stash it. When someone else finds the plane, the men will watch the news and if the money isn’t mentioned, they’ll split it and start spending.
But even simple plans are hard to follow.
This movie is usually classified as a thriller, but I would argue there’s some real horror to be found in Raimi’s view of humanity. This is a dark, cynical movie. Everyone in A Simple Plan seems hellbent to make the exact wrong choice every chance they get. Watching it unfold leaves you with a devastated, helpless feeling that’s hard to shake. It might not be Raimi’s scariest work, but it’s the one that’ll haunt you the longest.
A Simple Plan is rated R and available on HBOMax.
4. Darkman (1990)
After his attorney girlfriend Julie (Frances McDormand) discovers a conspiracy to illegally gentrify part of their city, Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is attacked by toughs sent to find the evidence Julie acquired. His hands are burned and his face is forced into acid. He’s presumed dead after the lab explodes, but survives his horrible injuries.
Luckily for Westlake, he’s been developing a synthetic skin. Unluckily, the synthetic skin is photo sensitive and disintegrates in light after only 99 minutes. Westlake decides to take his invention and make the best of it, using his synthetic skin to craft new identities for himself as he seeks revenge on those who wronged him.
This is the superhero movie Sam Raimi was always meant to make. It’s dark, a little gross, and has a wicked sense of humor. Neeson is great as an anti-hero stalking the streets wearing different people’s faces. The film blends the perfect amount of absurdity and fun with frightening elements. Unfortunately, this is another movie that could have been better, had Raimi been left alone. Universal Studios, frightened by some disastrous test audience ratings (at the time it was the lowest-rated movie Universal had ever test screened), forced Raimi to cut some elements from the film and gave control to an editor that Raimi didn’t agree with. The result is a film that has all the potential in the world, but could have been fantastic.
Darkman is rated R and available to rent of buy on your favorite VOD service.
3. Army of Darkness (1992)
After surviving demonic possession and a bloodbath at an isolated cabin, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) accidentally transports himself to Middle Ages. Finding himself stuck in the midst of a war with deadites and humans, Ash uses his modern know-how (which, let’s face it, is limited) to keep himself alive. Can Ash help end the conflict? And can he get himself back to his own time?
One part Monty Python, one part Ray Harryhausen epic, and one part gory horror movie, Army of Darkness is the most accessible of the Evil Dead trilogy. It leans a bit heavier on the comedy than the horror, but Raimi’s signature graphic violence is still present. This is also the movie that truly proves Campbell was robbed of a long career as an action star. He’s doing his best himbo impression as he cheeses his way through some truly impressive stunts. Raimi ran into troubles again with studio systems, with Universal not quite knowing what to do with the film or how to market it. Luckily for Raimi, the movie has developed a cult following which eventually gave it the success it deserved.
Army of Darkness is rated R and available to rent or buy on your favorite VOD service.
2. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is so close to having everything she ever wanted. Insecure that she’s not good enough for her professor boyfriend (Justin Long), Christine desperately wants a promotion at work. To impress her boss, Christine plays at being a tough guy, denying a begging woman a third extension on her mortgage.
Unfortunately for Christine, the woman she turns down is Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), a Roma woman who decides to curse Christine for shaming her publicly. At first, Christine dismisses the curse. But as creepy things begin to happen, she realizes that she must find a way to reverse the curse before she’s dragged into the fiery pit.
Honestly, I’m a little disappointed in my fellow millennials. This movie should have been a huge hit and get the love that a Scream or Saw enjoy. But even if it’s underappreciated, it’s still one of Raimi’s strongest films. A traditional slow-burn horror, Drag Me to Hell manages to embody everything that makes Raimi an interesting filmmaker. Despite the PG-13 rating, Raimi manages to cram plenty of gross-out stuff into the flick — the sheer amount of ooze is impressive. The movie is also darkly hilarious, with Lohman offering some truly impressive swings between manic comedy and genuine terror. If you haven’t seen this movie, it’s time to look it up. If you’ve seen it, it’s well worth the rewatch.
Drag Me to Hell is rated PG-13 and is available on Peacock.
1. Evil Dead II (1987)
A romantic weekend goes awry when Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) and his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) discover the Necronomicon in a seemingly abandoned cabin. A series of mishaps later and Ash has a dead girlfriend and a possessed hand trying to kill him. When a new group of people arrive at the cabin, he’s got a lot of explaining to do.
This movie has EVERYTHING. Gonzo tracking shots, whip pans, a delightfully loony performance by Bruce Campbell, shotguns welded hands, and so much gore you’re practically swimming in it. If you ever wanted to distill why Raimi has a devout fanbase, this movie is the reason. Yes, it’s basically a remake of the first film with a more refined story. It doesn’t matter. This movie is equal turns hilarious and horrifying and possesses the unique charm that has earned Raimi a cult following. Whether Ash is wrestling with his hand or a deadite is being dismembered, this is the gold standard for both Raimi movies and horror movies in general.
Evil Dead II is rated R and available via MovieSphere.
