Everything You Need To Know About The World Of ‘Ash Vs. Evil Dead’ (Before It Premieres)

One of the biggest premieres of the fall is still on its way! Ash Vs. Evil Dead reunites fans with Ash Williams, the Book of the Dead, and an army of demonic spirits hellbent on destruction. While Ash and his adventures might be well-known to some people, we’re also aware that The Evil Dead franchise is the textbook definition of a “cult hit.” With that in mind, we’d like to help you study up in expectation of the big Halloween series premiere of Ash Vs. Evil Dead.

What is Ash Vs. Evil Dead anyway?

It’s a half-hour horror comedy series that follows Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell), his friends, allies, and enemies as they battle through a world under attack from ancient undead Sumerian spirits. In short, it’s a sequel to the influential Evil Dead trilogy.

Um…which movies are in the Evil Dead trilogy again?

The Evil Dead (1981), Evil Dead II (1987), and Army of Darkness (1992).

Hold on. I saw an Evil Dead movie a few years ago and it was not an old movie. It was brand new.

Yeah, that would be the 2013 remake starring Jane Levy. It’s sort of a reboot/continuation of the original trilogy and was designed to be a more traditional thriller. However, Ash Williams doesn’t appear in that film and the new series is a direct sequel to his earlier adventures.

So what makes Ash so special?

Nothing, really.

THEN WHY IS HE SUCH A BIG DEAL?

Ash Williams was the only survivor of a supernatural event that took place in a cabin in the woods in 1981. He, two of his friends, his girlfriend, and sister were all vacationing in the remote cabin for a weekend. They accidentally played a recording of an ancient Sumerian text called the Naturom Demonto (or the Necronomicon Ex Mortis that brought undead spirits upon them. Ash barely survived.

Ironically, it’s Ash’s lack of special skills or smarts that endear him to audiences. He blusters through these events and has adapted into the reluctant hero he is today.

Hold up. What’s the deal with the Naturom Demonto?

Well, it’s said to be a Sumerian version of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, but basically it’s a Necronomicon.

A Necro-what-upon?

The Necronomicon is a fictional book that the master of creepy horror, H.P. Lovecraft, made up. It’s basically a magical book that is super dangerous. It’s all about demons and demonic possession.

Oh. So, it’s like a Book of the Dead.

Yes. Precisely.

And if you read from it, the dead come back to life.

You got it.

But not nice dead people. Only evil dead. The kind of spirits that possess you and your loved ones and who want to kill everything.

That’s it exactly.

And that’s basically what Ash Vs. Evil Dead is about? The book comes back, the spirits come back, so Ash has to come back?

See? You don’t need me!

Wait! You said they played a recording of the book? Who would be so dumb as to read from such a dangerous tome?

That would be a Professor Knowby. He stayed at the cabin before Ash and his friends. (And it’s been strongly hinted that Lucy Lawless’s new character on Ash Vs. Evil Dead is a member of the Knowbly clan.)

What happened to him?

We don’t really know. We do discover in Evil Dead II that his wife became possessed and he was forced to kill her. Also, in that sequel, we meet his daughter, Annie, and her boyfriend Ed Getley. The two have come to the cabin with more pages of the Necronomicon and assume that Ash murdered the Professor and his wife. Then they realize that people have been possessed by evil spirits and they team up with Ash.

What happens to Annie?

Uh, she dies, but before she does, she lets loose another incantation that sends Ash to medieval times. That’s the setting for Army of Darkness.

Wow, Ash gets around.

He certainly does.

But what about his chainsaw hand?

In The Evil Dead Ash’s girlfriend bites his hand, so in Evil Dead II, his hand becomes demonically possessed. To save himself from…his hand…he cuts it off. Soon, he affixes the chainsaw to help him battle the undead.

Sounds fun.

It is.

So when does the new show come out?

As we said up top, it’s coming out on Halloween, i.e. Saturday, October 31, at 9 PM ET.

[Watch Ash Vs. Evil Dead on STARZ Play]

Where can I stream the rest of the franchise?

The first two are streaming on STARZ Play. Army of Darkness is available on VOD.

[Watch The Evil Dead on STARZ Play]

[Watch Evil Dead II on STARZ Play]

[Where to Stream Army of Darkness]

For more on Ash Vs. Evil Dead, click here. 

Like what you see? Follow Decider on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation, and sign up for our email newsletters to be the first to know about streaming movies and TV news!

[Photos: Everett Collection]