Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Army of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A stunning 4K UHD in a beautiful steelbook release.

Army of Darkness is the time-traveling third entry in the Evil Dead horror franchise created by Sam Raimi. Executive produced Dino De Laurentiis (Barbarella, Flash Gordon), Army of Darkness has an impressive sense of scale and ambition – far exceeding a typical horror sequel. While Evil Dead 2 is regarded by many as the best horror film of all time, Army of Darkness is often cited as being a “fan favorite” for its unusual blend of adventure and horror creating a groovy time at the movies. Starring Bruce Campbell’s chin (true-fans will understand!), Army of Darkness is a must-see classic for genre enthusiasts.  

Ash (Bruce Campbell) grabs his “boomstick” and returns for high-octane adventure when the ordinary S-Mart employee finds himself tossed through time as he lands in eerie Medieval times. Ash becomes a slave and is escorted to Arthur’s castle to slave away his days. Yet Ash has another secret card: a rip-roaring chainsaw.

As Ash fights for freedom and becomes involved in a romantic lingo with the stunning Sheila (Embeth Davidtz), the fight against the villainous Deadites ensues. Can Ash kick these demons to the curb and find a passage way back through time to be the best S-Mart employee of “all time”? Hail to the king, baby!

Has there ever been a better “B Movie” star than Bruce Campbell? Campbell is one of the greatest leading men (or supporting players) in the history of genre filmmaking. The collaborations between Campbell and director Sam Raimi are obviously some of the most important roles in the actor’s career and no other role is more iconic than Ash.

The Evil Dead lead role is one that Campbell sunk his teeth into with a remarkable sense of energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes an actor seems born to play a role (for being so perfect in the part) and this is one of those rare examples of the casting being pitch-perfect – so much so you can’t imagine any other actor in the same role. Campbell gives Army of Darkness his all and is the perfect hero for the over-the-top horror-adventure.

"Hail to the king, baby."

Army of Darkness is an ambitious follow-up to Evil Dead 2. The production looks remarkable and better than a third-outing in a horror franchise usually ever receives.  The production design by Anton Tremblay (Ticks, Spaced Invaders) creates a space of old-fashioned adventure (the kind seen during classic movie serials). The art direction by Aram Allan (Return of the Living Dead III, Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy) also aids the style of filmmaking.

The cinematography by Bill Pope (Spider-Man 2, The Matrix) is fantastic and one of the highlights of Army of Darkness. Pope is one of the most gifted cinematographers in the industry and the efforts displayed on Army of Darkness help the filmmaking to feel even more epic and large-in-scale. The production has a grim aesthetic with plenty of punch that feels like a perfect match to the horror within The Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2.

The costumes by Ida Gearon (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, The Return of Superfly) are terrific and are perfect for Ash and Sheila. Gearon did a great job with the designs on Army of Darkness and these characters come to life with more gusto as a result. Outstanding.

Composer Joseph LoDuca (Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) provided Army of Darkness with a great score to follow-up the original score for Evil Dead 2. LoDuca is the master of the Evil Dead world and Army of Darkness has the right ingredients for terror and mayhem. The score has enormous fun with the time-travel concept and provides the perfect backdrop to the groovy scenes Ash finds himself tossed in to. A great score for an iconic movie.

Director Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Spider-Man) created a perfect finale to the original Evil Dead trilogy. Raimi is one of the most creative filmmakers in Hollywood and the sense of ambition on display with Army of Darkness gives audiences a taste of what would come as an action-director with Spider-Man. Raimi penned the script alongside brother Ivan Raimi and there is plenty of comedy gold for Evil Dead fans (with an onslaught of great one-liners). Unlike The Evil Dead (which brought grueling horror) or Evil Dead 2 (a perfect combination of horror and comedy), Army of Darkness brings adventure, comedy, and horror to the table in equal measure. The results are enormously entertaining. Army of Darkness is an essential genre classic.

Army of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD from Shout Factory, Army of Darkness is presented in 2160p HEVC / H.265 in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release offers a HDR presentation in either HDR10 standard or Dolby Vision. The 4K scan is exceptional and the print benefits from the higher resolution. Shot on film, Army of Darkness is a native 4K presentation (and is not simply an upscale encode).

Army of Darkness shows some of its age and doesn't look as crisp as modern films but the extra resolution and detail is readily apparent nonetheless and the 4K UHD presentation will be enormously satisfying for fans of the film. The high dynamic range implementation is one of the best elements of the presentation. The HDR was effectively utilized to great effect in several sequences in the film. The night skies and flames-of- fire during battle are perfect examples of how HDR can enhance a film and make it more enjoyable (with the colors appearing more vibrant). Film grain is left intact and the presentation is naturally filmic. Army of Darkness has never looked better and is an impressive 4K UHD upgrade.

Please Note: Army of Darkness is only presented in 4K UHD for the theatrical cut. Shout Factory was provided with these materials for Universal Studios. The only cut of the feature-film available with everything in 4K resolution was the theatrical cut. The four- disc set also includes the international edition, director's cut, and television cut. Given the varying source elements used for these cuts, it certainly is understandable that only the theatrical edition was provided on a new 4K UHD disc (and anyone familiar with the history of Army of Darkness on home media shouldn't be surprised – and it shouldn't deter anyone from a purchase).

Army of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo. The high- resolution audio is encoded in 24 bit depth. The lossless audio presentation is impressive and adds to the fun of the experience. The soundstage is engaging and exciting. The original score is well implemented in to the surround stage. Sound effects sound crisp and detailed – such as the shots from Ash's "boomstick" gun and the snarls of the Deadites. The DTS-HD Master Audio sounds terrific on the release. The 4K UHD doesn't include an Atmos mix but fans will certainly still find the options provided satisfactory.

Army of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 4K UHD steelbook edition includes collectible packaging. The art-work on the release is outstanding and has grown on me. The illustration is fantastic and a great tribute to Army of Darkness. The design certainly fits the film perfectly and is a great release for fans of the film. The release also includes an interesting "feature" (so to speak): unique disc art different from the standard 4K collectors edition. Each disc has outstanding key artwork and this edition is clearly a great release for fans.

Please Note: The 4K UHD disc contains no bonus features. The extensive supplemental package is provided across the other three discs in the four-disc package.

Disc 2: Theatrical Cut –

Medieval Times: The Making of Army of Darkness (HD, 1:36:34)

Original Ending (SD, 4:37)

Alternate Opening with commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell (SD, 2:58)

Deleted Scenes with commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell (SD, 11:06)

Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:03)

TV Spots (SD, 1:54)

U.S. Video Premiere (SD, 00:34)

Disc 3: Director's Cut –

Director's Cut audio commentary with director Sam Raimi, actor Bruce Campbell, and co-writer Ivan Raimi.

On-Set Video Footage Compilation (SD, 4:40)

Creating the Deadites Featurette (HD, 21:29)

Behind the Scenes Footage (from KNB Effects) (SD, 53:54)

Vintage "Making Of" Featurette (SD, 4:51)

Extended Interview Clips (SD, 5:02)

Disc 4: International Version & Television Version –

International Version (HD, 1:28:51) with DTS-HD Master Audio. (Please Note: the international version is the main selection for playback on disc four.)

Television Version (SD, 1:33:03)

International Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:08)

Still Galleries with Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Still Gallery of Props and Rare Photos

Storyboards (HD, 7:37)

The Men Behind the Army (SD, 18: 58)

Special Thanks (HD, 00:50)

Army of Darkness 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Army of Darkness is one of the best genre films of all time. The perfect combination of horror, comedy, and adventure makes it one of the most thrilling and memorable classics in cinema history. Director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) did a great job bringing his Evil Dead film trilogy to its conclusion with this cult classic. Star Bruce Campbell is perfect as Ash in Army of Darkness and demonstrates how exceptional he is in the fan-favorite role. The 4K UHD presentation is top-notch and a great upgrade in 2160p. The HDR is well implemented and the experience was even more engaging as a result.

While it is disappointing the 4K UHD disc only provides the theatrical cut, the four-disc set includes the director's cut, international cut, and television cut as bonus features on Blu-ray – alongside a plethora of featurettes and making-of material (including documentaries and audio commentaries). The director's cut is my personal favorite of the Army of Darkness versions available but the once-deleted footage isn't available in the same resolution. A 4K scan of the director's cut presentation is technically not possible. Shout Factory provides the 4K UHD of the theatrical cut based on the materials provided to them by Universal. Fans of Army of Darkness should find this to be the most definitive edition to date and a must-own for any true Evil Dead junkie. The steelbook edition is beautiful in hand and has a great illustration for the release. The artist responsible for the edition did an outstanding job. Highly recommended.