Top 10 Most Brutal Deaths in the Evil Dead Franchise

“Evil Dead II” (1987)
The “Evil Dead” franchise has a… let’s say “special” relationship with trees. While some non-death moments involving them are arguably more horrifying, this one proves they’re still a nasty way to go. In this pseudo remake / sequel to the first film, Bobby Joe runs off by herself in the woods, which is the last place you want to be if you’re alone. She’s accosted by demonic trees, which promptly wind around her with branches and vines. It’s perhaps the invasiveness as Bobby Joe gets wrapped up that gets us the most, but the impact at the end of her vine ride is what ultimately does her in.

“Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
The Starz TV series made sure to go big and bold with its many deaths, but it’s the really creative ones that stand out. Take for instance this scene, wherein a music room is filled with instruments of death. See what we did there? Ash’s introduction to his daughter Brandy is short-lived when her friend Rachel turns deadite. She makes deadly use of several musical instruments, even decapitating Ash’s baby mama with a cymbal. Candace may have been an old flame, but this incenses Ash enough to end the possessed teenager. He topples a harp over her before ground-pounding the strings through her face. She may have been killed by a harp, but Rachel definitely resembles that of an accordion afterwards.

“Evil Dead” (2013)
Abandoning the comedy angle entirely, Fede Álvarez’s 2013 update goes absolutely savage with its setpieces, and it is glorious. This one sees five friends hole up in a cabin in the woods (of course) to help Mia kick a bad habit. Unfortunately, Mia ends up passing along an even deadlier strain to Olivia, who does not take it well. She’s plagued by visions in the mirror, before she decides to give herself a close shave with a glass shard. Eric finds her in this state, but doesn’t have much time to process before she’s upon him and going to town. A cracked toilet seat gives Eric the opportunity to bash his friend’s head in, but try explaining all that to the others.

“​​Army of Darkness” (1992)
Bruce Campbell steals the show every time he suits up as Ash Williams. And this time, he even manages to steal the show from himself. In this third film, Ash sprouts a wicked and zany doppelganger. He manages to take apart his evil adversary, but a botched spell ultimately brings it back to life. Now a rotting mess, Evil Ash exerts big-bad energy by rounding up an army of the dead. He and Good Ash have one last showdown, which sees the latter char his foe down to a skeletal husk. As if Evil Ash needed to be cooked more, Good Ash flings him off a catapult stocked with lit gunpowder, making for quite the medieval fireworks show.

“Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
It wouldn’t be a Sam Raimi project without a ‘70s-era Oldsmobile popping up somewhere, but this time Ash’s trusty set of wheels is front and bloody center. In Season 2, the Delta - as it’s affectionately called - gets lifted by some teenagers before becoming possessed by the evil. Putting Stephen King’s Christine to shame, the Delta has quite the nasty streak, dispatching transgressive teens in a myriad of ways. From flinging hubcaps to burning rubber on someone’s face, there’s no end to the way the Delta can make someone hurt. Heck, it even takes out Ash’s dad right as they’re about to make up. You owe the Six Million Dollar Man an apology.

“Evil Dead” (2013)
It’s hard to say what exactly does Eric in, as he gets banged up constantly in this movie. But never is it anything short of brutal. It all starts with him being mirrored and syringed repeatedly by the aforementioned Olivia, and it only gets worse when the other ladies get possessed, too. Despite being down an arm, the deadite Natalie makes good use of a nail gun before using a crowbar on Eric. As if that’s not bad enough, evil Mia manages to get a boxcutter in before Eric’s pretty much had it. He ultimately expires by David’s side, only to come back himself as an undead ghoulie. David blows them both up, at which point Eric can finally, finally, rest in peace.

“The Evil Dead” (1981)
You’d be remiss for thinking the low-budget original is any less gruesome. Take for instance Shelly, who doesn’t get nearly the same treatment as Cheryl when she too becomes a deadite. After the possessed Cheryl is locked in the basement, Shelly is accosted and taken by the evil. She subsequently attacks her boyfriend Scotty, only to end up face-first in the nearby fireplace. A vicious struggle ensues, which sees Shelly losing a hand and much more. While a young Ash uncharacteristically cowers in the corner, Scotty is forced to ax Shelly a question. Well, assuming the question is how many other limbs he can remove with an ax. We, uh… we think you got her, Scotty.

“Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
Much like Lee Majors as Ash’s daddy, casting Sam Raimi’s brother Ted as Ash’s childhood friend was a stroke of genius. But not as genius as sending him off in brutal fashion. Back in the day, Chet and Ash’s sister Cheryl had something of a thing. But she broke his heart when she, you know, died. Now Cheryl’s back from the dead, and ready to break Chet’s heart all over again. A trip to the Williams family home was bound to bring up some old demons, but Chet gets the wrong end of the stick when he butts into a fight between siblings. The deadite Cheryl uses Chet as a human shield, before going all Mola Ram on him and taking out his heart.

“Evil Dead II” (1987)
“Evil Dead II” is a landmark of the horror genre, often praised for its impressively kooky practical effects. And it doesn’t get any kookier than the deadite Henrietta Knowby. The first person to be transformed by the Necronomicon after it’s read aloud in the cabin, Henrietta resurfaces in the second movie after Ash goes into the basement. She subsequently attacks her daughter Annie, but Ash soon reenters the fight, prompting Henrietta to go all “gooseneck.” It’s an iconic moment. And what’s a long neck good for if not running a chainsaw through it? Even after all this, Henrietta refuses to die, prompting Ash to make good use of his boomstick.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Knight, “Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
This Unnamed Grunt Gets More Than a Little off the Top

Linda, “Evil Dead II” (1987)
Ash Having to Put Down His Girlfriend Is Also Emotionally Brutal

Cougie, “Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
That’s One Way to Kill a Demonic Mascot

Natalie, “Evil Dead” (2013)
She Uses an Electric Carving Knife on Herself & Still Becomes a Deadite

Ashy Slashy, “Ash vs Evil Dead” (2015-18)
A Fitting End to a Terrifying Little Muppet

“Evil Dead” (2013)
The finale of the 2013 movie goes full operatic with its violence. So much so that we can barely show it here. But we’d be lying if we said anyone else in the franchise has a more brutal demise than the Abomination. Upon David’s death, the Taker of Souls gets its fifth, prompting the Abomination to rise, a demonic creature resembling Mia. It puts Mia through the absolute ringer, cornering her in a workshed and turning a car over on her hand. However, once Mia got her hands on that chainsaw - well, the other one, anyway - we knew it’d be used to deadly effect. Sure enough, the Abomination claims it will feast on Mia’s soul, prompting an iconic clapback and a complete bloodbath.