the Evil Dead (1981): VHS, Blu-ray, 4K & Collector Figures — The Complete Horror Collector’s Guide

The Evil Dead 1981 collector guide starts here.

I grew up on late 80s and 90s horror. It was everywhere when I was a kid. But Evil Dead 2013 was the film that sent me back to the source. That movie genuinely messed me up. I needed to understand where it came from.

That curiosity led me to Sam Raimi’s 1981 original and eventually down a rabbit hole that landed me hunting VHS tapes. The original Evil Dead VHS was one of the first tapes I added to my collection. So this one is personal.

THE VHS — STRAIGHT INTO THE CHAOS

When I finally tracked down my copy and popped it in, there’s no buildup. It just goes. No slow burn, no suspense building.. straight into the chaos.

That’s part of what makes it such a fascinating watch. Today’s horror films spend the first act earning your fear. The Evil Dead 1981 didn’t have that luxury. Or frankly didn’t care. You have to put yourself in the shoes of someone watching this in 1982 on a beat up VHS player with the lights off. That’s where this movie lives.

Coming from the 2013 remake.. which is relentless and polished! Watching the original feels like finding the raw nerve that everything else was built on.

The most sought after VHS release is the Thorn EMI white clamshell. It’s the early UK pressing with the iconic raised hand artwork and the Stephen King pull quote. These are fetching solid money depending on condition. A sealed copy is genuinely rare. If you find one at a reasonable price, grab it. Opened copies in good condition are more accessible but still worth having on the shelf.

eBay is your best bet for hunting Evil Dead 1981 VHS. Amazon rarely has original pressings worth owning.

🔗 Search Evil Dead VHS on eBay

THE BLU-RAY — THE EVERYDAY COLLECTOR PICK

For most collectors the Evil Dead 1981 4K UHD + Blu-ray is the sweet spot. Currently $49.99 on Amazon. It gives you a stunning transfer of a film shot on 16mm for around $375,000. The fact that it looks this good in 4K is almost miraculous.

Special features include filmmaker discussions on the legacy of the film, a documentary on the untold saga of Evil Dead and deleted scenes from the cutting room floor.

This is the edition you actually watch. Put it in, crank the volume and appreciate what Raimi pulled off with basically no money and a group of friends in the woods of Tennessee.

If you loved the 2013 version and want to understand its DNA.. this is it. Watch them back to back. You’ll see exactly how Fede Alvarez honored the source material.

🔗 Buy Evil Dead 4K UHD + Blu-ray on Amazon

THE ULTIMATE SET — THE GROOVY COLLECTION

If you want to go all in, the Evil Dead Groovy Collection Ultra HD Set is the holy grail.

11 discs. The entire franchise. Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness and Evil Dead Rise.. all in 4K Ultra HD with a premium box presentation. Currently around $160 on eBay. For what you’re getting, that’s not unreasonable.

This is a shelf centerpiece. The kind of box set people notice and ask about. If you want the complete picture in one box, this is it.

🔗 Find the Evil Dead Groovy Collection on eBay

THE FIGURES — WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING

This is where Evil Dead collecting gets deep fast.

NECA Ultimate Ash — 40th Anniversary 7″ Figure (~$35)

This is your entry point. NECA’s 40th Anniversary Ultimate Ash comes in the iconic Evil Dead box art packaging with multiple accessories.. chainsaw hand, boomstick, multiple head sculpts. Best bang for your buck in Evil Dead figures, full stop.

Watch out for knockoffs though. NECA figures have been heavily counterfeited. Some fakes are surprisingly close to the original. In some cases the paint on knockoffs is actually cleaner. Always buy from reputable sellers with strong feedback and check the packaging carefully.

Here is a video on how to spot a fake NECA:

Personal preference.. keep it in the box. The accessories are tiny. Once they’re out they disappear. I’ve lost more pieces than I care to admit. A sealed NECA looks great on the shelf and holds its value better.

🔗 Find NECA Ultimate Ash on eBay

NECA Ultimate Ash & Cheryl 2-Pack (~$60)

Want to step it up? The Ash and Cheryl 2-pack gives you both characters in one set. Around $60 on eBay. Fair for what it is.

Cheryl is criminally underrepresented in Evil Dead merch. This is one of the few chances to get her in figure form. Same rules apply.. buy sealed, verify it’s genuine NECA.

🔗 Find NECA Ash & Cheryl 2-Pack on eBay

Sideshow/Asmus Evil Dead: Dead By Dawn Ash 2 — Honorable Mention

Quick note.. this one is actually from Evil Dead 2, not the original. Still worth mentioning because it’s one of the best Ash figures ever made and if you’re going down the Evil Dead rabbit hole you’re going to end up at Evil Dead 2 anyway.

The Sideshow Asmus Ash Deluxe is stunning. 1/6 scale, fully articulated, incredible chainsaw and boomstick detail, Necronomicon base that’s a work of art on its own.

Worth the price it’s going for right now? Depends on your budget. For most collectors this lives on the wishlist.. mine included. When the price drops to the right number, and it will, this is a buy without hesitation. Until then, enjoy looking at it.

🔗 Find Sideshow Asmus Ash on eBay

THE COLLECTOR’S VERDICT

The Evil Dead (1981) is one of the most collectible horror properties out there. Every format tells a different part of the story. The raw VHS experience. The stunning 4K restoration. The decades of merch that followed a film nobody expected to become a legend.

If you found your way here through the 2013 remake, then welcome. The rabbit hole goes deep and it only gets better.

Quick breakdown:

• Best VHS: Thorn EMI white clamshell
• Best Blu-ray: 4K UHD + Blu-ray ($49.99)
• Best box set: Groovy Collection 11-Disc (~$160)
• Best bang for buck figure: NECA Ultimate Ash (~$35)
• Best two-pack: NECA Ash & Cheryl (~$60)
• Wishlist figure: Sideshow/Asmus Ash 2

Now go find your copy. Groovy. 🩸