Within the Woods – JOHNNY HAS THE KEYS

So, after editing and listening to our podcast episode about The Evil Dead I realized there were some things that I had left out – things I wanted to mention or talk about. (And this after recording for over two hours–Ha!). So, I thought I’d do a follow-up blog with the rest of my notes.

As the podcast said, I was a Fake Shemp on the shoot – working with Sam, Rob, and Bruce, along with my friend Wynn Thompson (notice the spelling) and my girlfriend Barbara. We worked for the last month of shooting not expecting anything other than the opportunity to work on a movie. We were surprised as anyone when we actually saw our names in the credits! (Although, Wynn’s was misspelled. His actual name is Wyndell Thompson, but he is credited as Wendall Thomas).

Continue reading “1979… Memories from the set of THE EVIL DEAD” →

Episode 23 “The Evil Dead”

In 1981, a little horror movie with a big bite was unleashed upon the world. Stephen King quickly cited the film as “the most ferociously original horror movie of the year,” and this cheap little indie grew to massive cult status, paving the way for many careers including Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. What is it about this cheap gore-fest–a movie that helped ignite the video-nasty scandal of the 1980s–that still resonates with ravenous horror hounds of today?

This is also a personal film for David and me in that it was made in our hometown of Morristown, Tennessee. It was filmed on our friend, Wynn’s property, and David and he actually worked on the production, credited as “Fake Shemps.” Join us as we discuss our memories from the set and the premiere. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys takes you back in time to a tiny cabin in the Tennessee woods and the demonic forces summoned from the pages of an ancient tome, transforming those who possess it into The Evil Dead.

Continue reading “Ep. 01-23: The Evil Dead (1981)” →