• News

Bruce Campbell et al. celebrate “EVIL DEAD” in “HAIL TO THE DEADITES” trailer and poster

Fresh from its Audience Award-winning world-premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, the documentary is now headed for wider exposure.

The official trailer and new festival poster have been unveiled for HAIL TO THE DEADITES, directed by Steve Villeneuve. The synopsis: “Inspired by the 1983 classic’s cult following, HAIL TO THE DEADITES is a documentary about the fans of the EVIL DEAD franchise. Through interviews with the cast, crew, collectors, fans, freaks and geeks, HAIL TO THE DEADITES seeks to illuminate the darkest reaches of the EVIL DEAD franchise’s undying and still-growing popularity, a popularity that has spawned four films, a TV series, comic books and figurines, and surpassed even its creators’ wildest dreams. HAIL TO THE DEADITES puts the spotlight on the fans that cultivated and spread this groovy pop-culture infection! It celebrates those who’ve celebrated the films!”

In addition to EVIL DEAD devotees and journalists (including–full disclosure–this writer), the documentary also features interviews with the franchise’s cast members and crew such as Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly (a.k.a. Sarah York), Ellen Sandweiss, Richard DeManincor (a.k.a. Hal Delrich), Tom Sullivan, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva, Sarah Berry, Rick Domeier and Bill Moseley. HAIL TO THE DEADITES has been picked up for Canadian distribution by Indiecan Entertainment, with Raven Banner Entertainment handling international sales. In addition to its Fantasia berth, the doc also had its international premiere last month at London’s FrightFest, and will play forthcoming fests including the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, Ramaskrik Film Festival, Midwest Horrorfest, Nightmare Film Festival and South African Horrorfest.

Read More

Get The Grim Reader.
Rue Morgue's free newsletter.
Editor's notes.
Cultural insight.
Curated horror across film, books, music, and art.
First looks.
Select previews.
No algorithms.
Join Free

Advertisement

In Print Since 1997

Issue 232

Rue Morgue #232 Halloween 2026

Plus

Inside Rue Morgue #232 FEATURES How Weapons director Zach Cregger turned a lifelong obsession with Resident Evil into horror’s most anticipated reboot. Plus: A deep look at the Resident Evil video game franchise and its universe of novelizations, board and card games and more, and a look at Cregger’s long-awaited physical release of Barbarian, his…

Issue 231

Rue Morgue #231 Jul/Aug 2026

Plus

Inside Rue Morgue #231 – Summer Slasher Issue FEATURES Filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun’s TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA guts the slasher formula from the inside out, turning it into a romance about the horror of becoming who you were always meant to be. Plus! GILLIAN ANDERSON and HANNAH EINBINDER unpack Schoenbrun’s radical dismemberment of…

Issue 230

Rue Morgue #230 May/Jun 2026 – RARE

Plus

Inside Rue Morgue #230 FEATURES Filmmaker Curry Barker transforms a simple wish into a spiralling nightmare of love, possession, and bloodshed in his breakout feature OBSESSION. Plus: The story of Barker’s found-footage shocker MILK & SERIAL, which turned a micro-budget experiment into a viral horror breakout. Hollywood made it a monster. History tells a different…

Issue 229

Rue Morgue #229 Mar/Apr 2026

Plus

Inside Rue Morgue #229! FEATURES A nerve-shredding found-footage thriller built around sound, UNDERTONE signals the arrival of a terrifying new voice in Canada’s booming independent horror scene. Plus! Meet the new breed of independent Canadian horror filmmakers behind DREAM EATER, SWEETNESS, HANGASHORE, THE LAND OF NOD and THE CURSE OF GHOST ISLAND. Part post-punk, part…