Army of Darkness (1992)

Army of Darkness (1992) is the third installment in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy, taking a sharp left turn from its horror roots into fantasy-horror-comedy territory. Starring the ever-charismatic Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, the film is a cult classic that mixes slapstick, horror, and medieval mayhem with chainsaws, boomsticks, and one very fed-up time traveler.

Detailed Summary

From Cabin to Catapult: Ash in the Middle Ages

The movie picks up right where Evil Dead II ends—Ash is sucked through a time portal and wakes up in 1300 AD, chained and mistaken for an enemy. He’s dragged to a medieval castle run by Lord Arthur, who believes Ash to be a spy for a rival lord, Henry the Red. After killing a Deadite (an undead creature) in a pit—complete with acrobatics, wisecracks, and a chainsaw-hand tag team—Ash earns the crowd’s respect and is released.

He quickly asserts himself as a not-so-humble “chosen one” who might help them defeat the Deadites once and for all. But, of course, he just wants to get home.

The Quest for the Necronomicon

Ash is told that to return to his own time, he must retrieve the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, the Book of the Dead. He sets off on a quest, facing harpies, haunted forests, and a series of Three Stooges-style gags involving miniature versions of himself. During the journey, he comes across three books and must choose the correct one.

To retrieve the real Necronomicon without triggering its evil, he must say the words: “Klaatu Barada Nikto.” Naturally, Ash botches the incantation, mumbling and winging the last word—which results in an army of skeletons rising from their graves, including an evil doppelgänger of Ash: Evil Ash.

Siege of the Deadites

Back at the castle, Ash reluctantly agrees to help the people defend themselves. He trains the villagers in the use of gunpowder and modern weaponry (because he conveniently read a chemistry book). As the undead siege begins, we get a battle scene that’s equal parts Jason and the Argonauts, Monty Python, and Three Musketeers—complete with exploding skeletons, a one-liner-heavy Ash, and Evil Ash leading the assault.

Ash and Evil Ash have a final duel at the top of the castle. It’s a practical-effects bonanza: flames, rope swings, impalements, and one-liners. In the end, Ash defeats Evil Ash by blowing him to pieces with a gunpowder bag and tossing his remains off the battlements.

Movie Ending

Ash is rewarded for his bravery and is given a potion to return to his time. But of course, being Ash, he messes it up. In the original theatrical ending, he makes it back to the S-Mart store in his own time, just as another Deadite attacks. Ash defeats it in heroic (and hilariously over-the-top) fashion, kisses a co-worker, and declares, “Hail to the king, baby.”

However, there’s also an alternate ending (more on that below) that paints a darker picture of Ash’s fate.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Army of Darkness does not have a post-credits scene in the traditional Marvel-era sense. However, the movie’s alternate ending (sometimes considered a post-credits-style bonus) has gained notoriety.

In the alternate ending, Ash drinks too much of the potion meant to transport him to his time, oversleeps in a cave, and wakes up in a post-apocalyptic future—shocked and horrified, screaming, “I slept too long!” It’s a bleak, ironic twist that Raimi originally wanted, but Universal deemed it too depressing for audiences.

Type of Movie

Army of Darkness is best classified as a fantasy horror comedy. It leans heavily into slapstick and dark comedy, veering away from the raw horror of the first Evil Dead. Think of it as Monty Python meets The Exorcist, with a dose of Ray Harryhausen skeleton action.

Cast

• Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams / Evil Ash
• Embeth Davidtz as Sheila
• Marcus Gilbert as Lord Arthur
• Ian Abercrombie as Wise Man
• Richard Grove as Duke Henry the Red

Bruce Campbell carries the entire film with his physical comedy, iconic chin, and absolute commitment to playing a cocky idiot with a heart of gold.

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Joseph LoDuca, a longtime collaborator with Sam Raimi. It mixes horror motifs with sweeping fantasy adventure themes. The end credits song, “March of the Dead,” was written by Danny Elfman, who was brought in to lend a grand, ghoulish flavor to the skeleton army scenes.

Filming Locations

• Acton, California: Used for the castle and desert scenes.
• IntroVision Studios in Hollywood: Many of the effects shots, miniatures, and set work were done here.

The medieval environments feel like a B-movie version of Excalibur, with Raimi’s signature low-budget charm oozing through every smoke-filled castle hallway and papier-mâché skeleton.

Awards and Nominations

While Army of Darkness wasn’t a major awards darling, it earned cult recognition:

• Saturn Award Nomination – Best Horror Film (1993)
• Fangoria Chainsaw Award – Best Actor (Bruce Campbell)

Its legacy is stronger in midnight movie circles than in award ceremonies.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The skeleton army was brought to life using a mix of stop-motion, puppetry, and costumed actors—an homage to Ray Harryhausen.
• The film’s budget was significantly cut by Universal, leading Raimi to rewrite the ending and reduce some effects.
• Bruce Campbell performed most of his own stunts and suffered multiple injuries.
• Raimi insisted on practical effects whenever possible, giving the film a delightfully tactile look.
• The studio demanded a happier ending (hence the S-Mart version), but Raimi originally preferred the apocalyptic one.

Inspirations and References

• Based on the characters from The Evil Dead series.
• Heavy inspiration from Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion fantasy films (Jason and the Argonauts, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad).
• The incantation “Klaatu Barada Nikto” is lifted from The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).
• Ash’s character channels elements of classic pulp heroes and the overconfidence of 1950s B-movie leads.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• Alternate Ending: Ash oversleeps and wakes up in a destroyed, post-apocalyptic Earth.
• Deleted Scenes: Several comedic bits were trimmed, including an extended fight between Ash and Evil Ash, and a scene where villagers react to Ash building gunpowder.

These were mostly cut to streamline the movie and improve pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There have been comic book adaptations, but no original novels. However, novelizations of the film expand on some lore, especially around the Deadites and the potion. Most notably, the book gives more insight into Ash’s thoughts and fills in gaps glossed over in the movie.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Ash fighting the “little Ashes” in the windmill.
• The skeleton army siege with catapults and boomsticks.
• Ash assembling his “boomstick” shotgun and chainsaw-hand at the blacksmith’s.
• The final fight with Evil Ash.

Iconic Quotes

• “This is my boomstick!”
• “Good. Bad. I’m the guy with the gun.”
• “Hail to the king, baby.”
• “Klaatu… Barada… Necktie?… Nickel?… It’s definitely an ‘N’ word.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The three Necronomicons are a nod to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, referencing the wrong cup/wrong book gag.
• The chemistry book Ash uses is marked “High School,” a callback to his low-education, everyman background.
• The S-Mart name is a play on low-budget chain stores and foreshadows the mundane world Ash is dying to return to.
• Sam Raimi’s brother Ted Raimi appears in multiple small roles, including an S-Mart employee.

Trivia

• The working title was Evil Dead III: Army of Darkness, but “Evil Dead” was dropped from the official title for broader marketing.
• Bruce Campbell wore a mechanical harness for the chainsaw hand. It malfunctioned often.
• The film was heavily censored to avoid an NC-17 rating, cutting out more gruesome effects.
• Raimi and Campbell originally pitched a time-traveling Evil Dead sequel back in the mid-‘80s, but funding didn’t materialize until after Evil Dead II became a cult hit.

Why Watch?

Watch Army of Darkness if you:

• Love your horror with a side of ridiculous humor.
• Enjoy campy, practical effects and over-the-top one-liners.
• Want a film that embraces being low-budget and turns it into a creative advantage.
• Like watching one man battle an undead army with sarcasm and DIY explosives.

Director’s Other Movies

• The Evil Dead (1981)
• Evil Dead II (1987)
• Darkman (1990)
• Drag Me to Hell (2009)
• Spider-Man (2002)
• Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• Spider-Man 3 (2007)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Evil Dead II (1987)
• Dead Alive (1992)
• Re-Animator (1985)
• Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)
• Beetlejuice (1988)
• Shaun of the Dead (2004)
• Big Trouble in Little China (1986)