The Evil Dead franchise has steadily revealed more and more about the Necronomicon and its different variants. The cursed tome is at the core of the franchise, debuting in 1981’s The Evil Dead as the source of the mystical maladies that befall Ash Williams and his friends. A version of the book has subsequently been vital to the plots of each movie and show in the Evil Dead timeline, even when shifting focus to different characters or settings. However, that’s in part because there’s more than just one version of the book.
Films like Army of Darkness and Evil Dead Rise expanded the lore of the franchise by hinting at the separate copies of the book. The one from the original trilogy has even shifted and evolved over time, reflecting the age of the series and the way it’s changed. Evil Dead‘s characters have done their best to rid the world of the Books of the Dead, but still struggle to even just survive their encounters with the tome. Here are each version of the Necronomicon that have appeared so far, and how they differ from one another.
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6 Necronomicon Ex-Mortis
The Evil Dead (1981)
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The Necronomicon Ex-Mortis is the progenitor of all “evil” in the Evil Dead films, and is one of the most important elements of the entire series. Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, this H.P. Lovecraft-inspired text allows for ancient demonic entities to pass from hidden realms into the human world. Reading from it unleashes the forces of darkness onto the mortal plane, who search for living vessels to possess and corrupt.
The book seems to focus on Deadites (also known as Kandarian demons) which, in Evil Dead lore, lurk in dark forests such as the one Ash and his friends find themselves in during the events of the original film. It’s recognizable by the distinct face it has on its cover, which becomes more refined over time. Debuting in the series’ initial entry, the Necronomicon has remained a major aspect of Evil Dead‘s DNA across several other films, shows, and other media.
5 Necronomicon Ex-Mortis
Evil Dead 2 (1982)
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The original Necronomicon in Evil Dead was destroyed by Ash, saving him from the Deadites that had killed and taken over his friends. However, another Necronomicon appears in Evil Dead 2 that closely resembles its predecessor. Notably, the book wasn’t destroyed in the quasi-requel Evil Dead 2, which otherwise effectively served as a remake of The Evil Dead. This book gets sucked up into the time warp that connects the film to Army of Darkness and disappears into medieval times alongside Ash.
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Versions of the Necronomicon From Evil Dead |
Confirmed Appearance |
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Necronomicon Ex-Mortis |
The Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness, Ash vs. the Evil Dead |
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Naturom Demonto |
Evil Dead |
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Necronomicon |
Evil Dead Rise |
Evil Dead 2 also adds to the lore of the series by suggesting there are more than just one copy of the Necronomicon in existence. In the intro to Evil Dead 2, Professor Knowby discusses the Necronomicon Ex Mortis in tape recordings, but also refers to the Naturom Demonto. Fans have taken this to mean that the Necronomicon in Army of Darkness and Ash vs. Evil Dead is the larger, complete volume, while the other books are more like “chapters” that can still do a lot of damage.
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4 The Necronomicon
Army of Darkness (1992)
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When Ash is sent to 1300 AD in Army of Darkness, his main goal becomes to locate “The Necronomicon.” Finding it and present it to the Wise Man (Ian Abercrombie) will allow him to return to own time period. What he finds on his quest are three Necronomicon books in a graveyard, each with their own mystical properties.
While Ash initially believes only one of them to be the true Necronomicon, Evil Dead Rise makes it clear that each of them was a separate volume entirely. This is why a differing versions of the Necronomicon can appear in the Evil Dead trilogy (as well as the television series Ash vs. Evil Dead) as well as the 2013 Evil Dead remake and Evil Dead Rise. There could even be more variants out there, potentially expanding the franchise even further in the future.
3 The Necronomicon
Ash vs. the Evil Dead (2015-2018)
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The Necronomicon appears in the Ash vs. Evil Dead series as the source of Deadite-related incidents around the country, and remains tied to the fate of Ash Williams. However, it’s not the same exact book that helped transport Ash back to the modern world in Army of Darkness. This version of the Book of the Dead stands out for its distinct appearance.
In addition to having a face on its cover, it also is revealed to have an ear on its back. The generally rough design on the jacket gives it a more worn out appearance, matching the aged Ash’s wear and tear from years of surviving dangerous encounters. Unfortunately, the series was canceled before it received a definitive end, leaving the fate of this Necronomicon unknown. The size and importance of the book means that like the version of the Necronomicon in Army of Darkness, it is considered by some fans to be the “complete” version.
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2 Naturom Demonto
Evil Dead (2013)
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The Necronomicon featured in the Evil Dead remake is known as the Naturom Demonto, making it somewhat unique even while retaining many key qualities to other versions of the Book of the Dead. The book is bound in human flesh, but appears to be stitched together from various pieces of skin. It is also substantially bigger than the others.
In the film, Mia and her friends visit a remote cabin in the woods and use the book to awaken The Abomination, a dangerous entity that requires five souls in order to be reborn fully. This is a departure from the other versions of the book seen in The Evil Dead films like the original trilogy, where the demonic force at work was known as Kandarian is the ultimate threat. Mia believes she destroys the book when she burns the cabin to the ground in the ending of Evil Dead, but the book is seen lying on the grass in the final scene.
1 The Necronomicon
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
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The Necronomicon in Evil Dead Rise is found buried in the vault of a bank beneath an apartment complex along with vinyl recordings of its passages. The book resembles the version found in the Evil Dead remake, with veins in its binding rather than stitches, and pin-like teeth clamping it shut. After the book is opened, the forces of darkness possess a young mother and endanger her children. While her victims think to kill her, they don’t focus on destroying the book, ensuring that it’s still left in the apartment complex and can tempt people once again.
The version of The Necronomicon in Evil Dead Rise is noteworthy because of the explanation its recorded passages give for the reasons those possessed by its darkness don’t kill their victims. With one line in Evil Dead Rise, the Deadites’ unpredictability is explained; they thrive on “chaos” and disorder. The entities seek to create that sort of environment around them through torture rather than simply disposing of their victims quickly. This explanation adds to the world-building of the Evil Dead franchise and the lore of previous films that didn’t have a precise answer for Deadites’ erratic behavior.
Evil Dead
Created by Sam Raimi, Evil Dead is a horror-comedy franchise that began with the release of the original film, The Evil Dead, in 1981. The series follows protagonist Ashley “Ash” Williams as he and his friends venture into a cabin for a vacation only to discover it harbors a demonic book that can summon terrifying creatures known as Deadites, hell-bent on torturing and slaying them all. As the series progresses, Ash becomes more of a masculine B-movie action hero until the soft reboot helmed by Eli Roth occurs, which shifts the franchise deeper into its horror roots.
Created by Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Jane Levy , Shiloh Fernandez , Lily Sullivan , Nell Fisher , Ray Santiago , Dana DeLorenzo TV Show(s) Ash vs Evil Dead $229 at Amazon
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The Evil Dead is a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed. The Evil Dead not only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date September 10, 1981 Writers Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ellen Sandweiss , Richard DeManincor , Betsy Baker , Theresa Tilly , Philip A. Gillis
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Evil Dead 2 is the 1987 sequel to Sam Raimi’s 1981 directorial film debut. Bruce Campbell returns as Ash Williams, who travels with his girlfriend to a secluded cabin in the woods with his girlfriend Linda (Denise Bixler) and accidentally frees multiple demonic entities that terrorize him and force him to make great sacrifices to survive.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date March 13, 1987 Writers Scott Spiegel , Sam Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Sarah Berry , Denise Bixler , Kassie Wesley DePaiva , Ted Raimi
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The third film in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy, Army of Darkness, is a horror comedy film that sees Bruce Campbell return to the role of Ash Williams. Sucked out of his timeline and tossed to 1300 A.D., Ash is found and thrown in a pit after he is believed to be a spy against King Arthur. After proving himself and slaying a supernatural Deadite creature, Ash is freed and told to return home; he must find the Necronomicon and dance with the dead again.
Director Sam Raimi Release Date February 19, 1993 Writers Sam Raimi , Ivan Raimi Cast Bruce Campbell , Ian Abercrombie , Embeth Davidtz , Marcus Gilbert , Richard Grove
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Evil Dead is a 2013 horror film directed by Fede Álvarez. A group of friends discover a mysterious book in a remote cabin, unwittingly unleashing supernatural forces that lead to a night of terror and survival. This remake of Sam Raimi’s 1981 classic stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, and Lou Taylor Pucci, delivering intense and gruesome scenes that redefine the horror genre for a new generation.
Director Fede Alvarez Release Date April 5, 2013 Writers Fede Alvarez , Rodo Sayagues , Sam Raimi Cast Jane Levy , Shiloh Fernandez , Lou Taylor Pucci , Jessica Lucas , Elizabeth Blackmore , Phoenix Connolly , Jim McLarty , Sian Davis , Stephen Butterworth , Karl Willetts , Randal Wilson , Rupert Degas , Bob Dorian , Ellen Sandweiss , Jack Walley , Bruce Campbell Expand
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The Evil Dead franchise continues with Evil Dead Rise, a dark fantasy/horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin. This fifth entry in the Evil Dead named series follows two sisters, played by Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan, as they try to survive a demonic assault from a Deadite. Beth (Sullivan) heads on a road trip to visit her sister Ellie (Sutherland) and her children. However, when the Necronomicon is discovered in Ellie’s L.A. apartment building, the Deadites rise back from their demonic realm and begin to bring hell back to earth once again. Evil Dead Rise, initially an HBO Max streaming exclusive, instead arrived in theaters on April 21, 2023.
Director Lee Cronin Release Date April 21, 2023 Writers Lee Cronin , Sam Raimi Cast Alyssa Sutherland , Lily Sullivan , Gabrielle Echols , Morgan Davies , Nell Fisher , Mia Challis
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