Benedict Cumberbatch’s upcoming Marvel film ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is all geared up to release in theatres this Friday. The movie has been directed by Sam Raimi. For cinephiles who wish to know why the gifted filmmaker is widely admired by cinephiles across the globe, we have compiled a list of five must-watch movies and shows directed by Sam Raimi which you can watch on various Indian streaming platforms.
Oz the Great and Powerful (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar)
It’s a spiritual prequel to the 1939 Oscar-winning musical fantasy film ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The film features ‘Spider-Man’ actor James Franco in the lead role of a circus illusionist and conman Oscar Diggs, who finds himself in the majestic Land of Oz. There, he is believed to be the hero the enchanted place desperately needs. But the three witches namely Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda think otherwise. Will Oscar be able to transform against all odds into the powerful Wizard of Oz?
Drag Me to Hell (Streaming on Amazon Prime Video)
After the ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy, Sam Raimi returned to the genre that made him what he is. The horror film’s plot follows an LA-based bank officer Christine Brown who refuses to extend an old woman’s mortgage loan. As a result, the woman gets evicted from her home and puts a supernatural curse on Christine. Now, Christine must fight back with the help of a psychic to save herself from evil forces.
The Evil Dead, 1981 (Rent on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple iTunes)
This low-budget horror film acted as the perfect launchpad for Sam Raimi’s cinematic career. The sleeper hit eventually went on to gain a cult following from genre fans. The film’s plot follows a group of five friends who travel to an isolated cabin in the woods. Their weekend getaway turns into their worst nightmare after they accidentally unleash evil demons and spirits which begin to possess them one by one. Now, the only survivor Ash (Bruce Campbell) must fight the undead to get out of there alive.
Spider-Man 2, 2004 (Rent on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple iTunes)
‘Spider-Man 2’ was the sequel to Sam Raimi’s 2002 superhero origin movie ‘Spider-Man’ and was set two years after the first film. Tobey Maguire reprised his role as the web-slinging crimefighter who is now dealing with declining grades and his diminished superpowers. But after a dangerous fusion experiment by a brilliant scientist Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) goes haywire and turns him into a maniac, Peter Parker must make a glorious comeback to stop Dr. Octopus.
Ash Vs Evil Dead (Streaming on Netflix)
Sam Raimi’s old friend and colleague Bruce Campbell reprised his role as Ash in the series that’s set in the Evil Dead universe and thirty years after the film trilogy. The once daredevil demon hunter Ash now works an ordinary job and lives a low-key life in a trailer. But after a new Deadite plague emerges, Ash must use his unique fighting skills and his reliable chainsaw to save mankind. Sam Raimi had directed the opening episode of the series spanning three seasons.
Besides the above-mentioned Sam Raimi movies and shows, the filmmaker has helmed some fine films which are currently not streaming on Indian OTT. The list includes the stylishly executed Western flick ‘The Quick and the Dead’ starring Sharone Stone, Russel Crowe, Gene Hackman, and a young Leonardo DiCaprio, supernatural thriller ‘The Gift’ starring Cate Blanchett, neo-noir crime thriller ‘A Simple Plan’, and the relatively unknown superhero movie ‘Darkman’ starring Liam Neeson.
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