Army of Darkness is a 1992 American comedy horror film directed by Sam Raimi and is the third movie in the Evil Dead franchise. Starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, the film combines horror, fantasy, and slapstick action. It was released theatrically in the United States in early 1993 and later gained a cult following on home video and through fan communities.
Ash Williams, after battling supernatural forces, is transported through time to the Middle Ages. Stranded, he is forced to serve a medieval kingdom plagued by Deadites (undead creatures). Ash must retrieve the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis and rally an army to defeat the Deadites so he can find a way back to his own time.
Army of Darkness was developed after the critical and cult success of the earlier films in the series. Production challenges included balancing the franchise’s horror roots with broader comedic and fantasy elements to appeal to wider audiences.
The film was produced through a deal involving Universal Pictures, although the title did not emphasize the “Evil Dead” name during its theatrical release.
The film was released with a more upbeat theatrical ending in which Ash safely returns to the present time, working at a modern store and dispatching a Deadite. However, director Sam Raimi had originally filmed a darker ending in which Ash takes too much of a sleeping potion intended to send him back in time, only to wake up in a post-apocalyptic future. Universal reportedly requested the more positive ending for theatrical audiences.
Interest in the alternate ending has persisted among fans and creators; a new comic book series was announced that follows a storyline based on that version.