Considered to be highly influential, Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead (1981) has been copied many times over. Acting as a highlight of innovation in the horror genre, using camera techniques and practical effects that can be done on a budget, spoke to many budding horror filmmakers. On top of that, The Evil Dead has become integrated into pop culture and is considered a quintessential horror comedy. It introduced most moviegoers to the 'Necronomicon' which is now a horror staple, and through its 'deadites' set the precedent for how to show chaotic evil on screen.
A lot have tried to capture the same chaotic energy and low-budget ingenuity that made The Evil Dead so infamous and beloved, and while none have really been able to deliver on the same level, there is one movie that comes close to capturing the same formula. With the wonderfully absurd title of Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell, the Japanese film is a true gem for fans of The Evil Dead, even if it falls into the category of knock-off; the best part, Tubi has it available to stream for free.
Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell Plot and Production Close
Naoto, who is a professional bodybuilder, returns to the home of his deceased father at the behest of his ex-girlfriend Mika, who is writing an article about haunted houses. The two are joined by a psychic named Mizuguchi, and the three soon find that the rumors of the home being haunted are more than true when they uncover a malicious spirit that traps them in the house and begins possessing them. Naoto must then use his strength and wits to battle the evil forces to survive.
Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is the only movie by director Shinichi Fukazawa. Fukazawa also starred in the movie, and asked friends of his to star, none of whom would go on to other movies. Much like The Evil Dead cast and crew, Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hellwas a passion project among friends; only one would go on to become notorious and push the careers of those involved to new heights (Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi).
The production of Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell was an arduous one. Originally filmed in 1995, the editing process was completed in 2005, and the movie was not released until 2012. This speaks to a large aspect of why the film has remained obscure. Comparatively, if the movie was released in the '90s when cult films were often circulated by word of mouth and bootlegs, it could have easily built up infamy among fans of gory and low-budget horrors and be more widely discussed today. Despite this late start, Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell has managed to garner cult status among horror fans, specifically fans of Japanese cinema.
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Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is The Perfect "Evil Dead Clone" Close
Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is essentially a clone of The Evil Dead 1 & 2. Many refer to it as "The Japanese Evil Dead" as a description when explaining the movie. This is very apt as the story shares many similarities with Sam Raimi's masterpiece. The similarities are hard to overlook; it takes place in a haunted house with a dark history; has an evil presence that possesses and messes with its victims; over-the-top and prolonged gore sequences; an Ash-like protagonist that also uses a shot-gun and delivers one-liners; a key plot point involving a necklace; to name but a few. Director Shinichi Fukazawa was not shy about hiding his influence in an interview with Attack From Planet B:
"While writing screenplay, I tried to reach as much gore level as Evil Dead and comedy level as Evil Dead 2. Other horror movies motivated me are Night of the Living Dead that was my very first horror film I watched in the theater, Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2 , Dario Argento's Deep Red , and John Carpenter's The Fog ."
The above quote also points to why the movie has endeared itself to so many others, as Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell shares another notable trait from The Evil Dead: passion for the horror genre. In The Evil Dead, many horror fans saw themselves and their friends getting together to celebrate the horror genre, and that enthusiasm from the cast and crew both on and behind the scenes is often understated when discussing what makes the horror-comedy so beloved. The Evil Dead and Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell show what fans of the genre can create and how they can make something as entertaining as the bigger Hollywood productions. In the same interview as above, Shinichi Fukazawa shares how impassioned he was to do the same kind of work:
"All SFX were made by myself. Not only stop-motion animation, but also zombie make up, zombie mask, human bodies, and others such as floor zombie broke up, ceiling, knife were made by myself. Like my acting, this is also I told staff I had to make it by myself because of saving casting cost, but just I wanted to make everything by myself."
Why You Should Watch Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell Close
If you have love for the original The Evil Dead, and its sequel, you must check out Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell. The Japanese horror-comedy resonates with the same passion and love of the genre while bringing some absurd practical effects and sharp humor. Is it on the same level as The Evil Dead? Certainly not, as the production is even more shoestring, and offers a less cohesive narrative. The kindest interpretation of the work is that it is the best Evil Dead 'fan film' ever made. Still, Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hellis undeniably charming and offers some inventive practical effects that will draw the horror hounds in.
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For modern horror audiences, the appeal of the Japanese movie may be limited. There are younger horror fans who appreciate both the 2013 remake Evil Dead and the recent scare-inducing Evil Dead Rise over the original simply because they are more polished products. Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is rough around the edges, and those who need that modern sleek look to their horror will likely find the shot on 8mm low-budget horror comedy too crude to enjoy. Comparatively, for those who grew up or admire the '70s through '90s B and Z-grade productions will find this element charming. You can stream Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell on Tubi, AMC+, or Shudder.