Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 14, 2023

When people talk of the “Evil Dead” franchise, they usually reference the top players in the series, with director Sam Raimi, producer Rob Tapert, and star Bruce Campbell understandably credited for creative successes. 2018’s “Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist” seeks to add another name to the list: Tom Sullivan. The man responsible for makeup effects and design work on 1981’s “The Evil Dead,” Sullivan’s imagination helped to define the horror show the production was pursuing, bringing life to grisly imagery and haunting moments. Director Ryan Meade doesn’t have much more than an appreciation for Sullivan to help put together this low-budget documentary, but that’s enough to charm. “Invaluable” isn’t a sharply made picture, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm for the subject, and the “Evil Dead” fanbase is treated to a tour of inspiration and location, with Sullivan reflecting on his early achievements, surprising turns of life, and the endurance of the brand name.

Sullivan was raised in Michigan, enjoying an average childhood, and one with a common source of inspiration. After a television broadcast of 1933’s “King Kong,” Sullivan was hooked on the idea of creating special effects and stop-motion animation, filling his youthful days with attempts to master the artform, learning about the details of the process, studying the work of Ray Harryhausen. School brought him into the world of filmmaking, meeting fellow student Sam Raimi, who also shared a love of cinema and production, creating his own shorts with his friends and family. “Invaluable” explores this casual relationship that developed into something more, with Bruce Campbell often the star of these efforts, which didn’t necessarily charm viewers, but offered the gang hope for a moviemaking future.

Sullivan is the focus of “Invaluable,” but Meade isn’t about to ignore the wonderful history of “The Evil Dead,” soon following the development of the production, which began life as the short, “Within the Woods.” Created to work on horror ideas and generate proof-of-concept evidence to take to possible investors, “Within the Woods” was a major undertaking for the gang, who had big dreams to generate something wild, only to come up against the realities of making movies, which requires immense patience and planning. Sullivan was part of the team, graduating from designing posters for Raimi’s other projects to playing an integral part in the look of “The Evil Dead” (initially titled “Book of the Dead”), designing the look of the deadites and personally creating the Necronomicon.

“Invaluable” examines the making of “The Evil Dead,” with interviewees (including Campbell, Tapert, Josh Becker, Betsy Baker, Ellen Sandweiss, Ted Raimi, and Tim Philo) joining Sullivan in his memories of the shoot, which took place in Michigan, while time at the cabin brought the team to rural Tennessee. These were strange days for Sullivan, who was promoted to makeup effects master without much in the way of practice, helping to transform the cast into ghoulish demons, also handling the creation of body parts and appliances, adding necessary gore to the picture. Time with these people is always wonderful (Campbell is a natural raconteur), and revisiting “The Evil Dead” brings Sullivan to life, even venturing out to original locations, including the remains of the cabin in the Tennessee woods, offering a few strong warnings that fans aren’t welcome on the property.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Invaluable" deals with a documentary that's been captured on commercial grade cameras of the day. Resolution isn't really in the cards for the most part, with the viewing experience mostly offering a softer sense of frame information. Interview footage ranges in quality, but intense artifacting is mostly avoided. Colors are also varied, depending on camera technology, but nothing seems off here, with primaries appealing for the most part. Source is in good condition.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM mix handled interview footage with clarity, preserving various interviewees and their locations, with some captured during convention hours, competing with crowd noise. Musical offerings are sharp, supporting montages and moods with defined instrumentation.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (48:17, SD) is an unedited conversation with "Evil Dead" cinematographer Tim Philo, billed here as the "unsung hero" of the production. Philo examines the formative years of his career and his creative interests. Talk of the "Evil Dead" experience dominates, with the interviewee offering a number of anecdotes and loose memories, and he highlights technical challenges.

• "In the Spotlight" (50:31, SD) is a 1989 episode of a Michigan cable access program, with hosts J. Horton and Kyle Pierson welcoming Tom Sullivan to the show. While the guest is willing to discuss his "Evil Dead" experience, exploring his special time with the horror franchise, he's also armed with props, sharing the details of his amazing creations. And if you're a high school student thinking about your future, there's an ad for the Hill Vocational Center, promoting growth in the field of dentistry.

• "Cosmos Locos" (29:52, SD) is a 2011 short film by director Ryan Meade.

• "Bong Fly" (18:58, HD) is a 2013 short film by director Ryan Meade.

• Behind the Scenes (10:29, SD) is a look at the making of "Bong Fly."

• "Other Men's Careers" (77:00, HD) is a documentary directed by Ryan Meade, examining the life and times of filmmaker Josh Becker. Interviewees include Ted Raimi, Rob Tapert, Sheldon Lettich, Lucy Lawless, Bruce Campbell, Tom Sullivan, and Joe LoDuca. Becker's early years are recalled, tracking the development of his love of movies, eventually joining classmates Campbell, Scott Spiegel, and Sam Raimi, with this neighborhood group eventually combining forces to make their own cinematic achievements. Short films and the "Evil Dead" experience is recalled, with Becker moving on to his own endeavors, including 1985's "Thou Shalt Not Kill…Unless" and "Lunatics: A Love Story." Also explored is Becker's battle with alcoholism, which contributed to the stalling of his career and the struggles in his life.

• Extended Interview (6:34, SD) provides more time with Josh Becker.

• Bonus Interviews (SD) include "The Cry of Cthulhu" (2:17), "Boobie" (:54), and "Turkey or Chicken" (1:27).

• Image Gallery (4:04) collects personal pictures and convention appearance photos from Tom Sullivan.

• And Trailer #1 (3:26, SD) and Trailer #2 (3:29, SD) are included.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Evil Dead" (and its sequels) changed Sullivan's life, and the film explores his time on the convention circuit, allowing fans a chance to see the props in person, also sharing his personal art. There's more to Sullivan than just all things Raimi, and Meade gets into the details of trauma and personal struggles, but he saves such information for the end of the picture, slamming some reality on the tail end of this endeavor. A little tonal unsteadiness aside, "Invaluable" is an interesting examination of artistry and relationships, with Sullivan finding his way into a project with few expectations, only to become a cult hit that's endured for over 40 years, still spawning sequels and spin-offs. "Invaluable" helps to understand Sullivan's place in the mix, with his contributions helping "Evil Dead" remain memorable to the fans, keeping his art alive.