EVIL DEAD. Unofficial sequels.

The iconic Horror-Comedy franchise created by Sam Raimi, “Evil Dead,” established itself within the genre through several sequels, soft reboots, and a television series, in addition to five unofficial sequels that are “considered” part of the franchise in Italy.

Marketing Strategy.

As part of the theatrical release of “Evil Dead” (1981) in Italian movie theaters, the distributors titled it “La Casa” (“The House”). The film was a massive hit. Six years later, when “Evil Dead II” (1987) was released, it was naturally titled “La Casa 2.”

Realizing that the title was already a huge hit at the box office and in video stores, Italian B-movie producers like Joe D'Amato (through his production company Filmirage) and Achille Manzotti saw a gold mine. They decided to take completely unrelated horror films, with no Kandarian demons, no Necronomicon, and no Ash Williams, and rename them with numbers to sell them as official sequels.

Unofficial sequels.

"Ghosthouse"/"La Casa 3" (1988).

In 1988, veteran filmmaker Umberto Lenzi (under the pseudonym Humphrey Humbert) directed a film titled “Ghosthouse,” which follows a group of people trapped in a house haunted by the ghost of a little girl and a creepy animatronic toy clown. Seeking to capitalize on the success of the “The Evil Dead” films, producer Joe d'Amato suggested that ‘Ghosthouse’ be retitled “La Casa 3,” and it went on to become a solid hit.

"Witchery/"La Casa 4" (1988).

In 1988, directed by Fabrizio Laurenti (under the pseudonym Martin Newlin) and starring David Hasselhoff and Linda Blair, “Witchery” was released. The film follows a group of people trapped in a hotel on an island off the coast of Massachusetts, where they are systematically hunted down by a vengeful witch. Following the same logic as “Ghosthouse,” the film was released as “La Casa 4” in Italy.

"Beyond Darkness"/"La casa 5" (1990).

Directed by Claudio Fragasso (under the pseudonym Clyde Anderson) (“Troll 2”), “Beyond Darkness” was released in 1990. The film centers on a Catholic priest and a reverend who must join forces to battle demonic entities in a house built on the site where witches were once executed. The film was released as “La Casa 5” in Italy.

"House" franchise.

When the first film in the American “House” series (1986), produced by Sean S. Cunningham, was released in Italy, the distributors couldn't call it “La Casa” because that title was already associated with the “Evil Dead” franchise. So they renamed it “Chi è sepolto in quella casa?” (Who Is Buried in That House?).

When they ran out of Italian haunted-house movies to keep cashing in on the brand, Italian distributors turned to the sequels in the “House” franchise, bought the distribution rights, and renamed them to fit into the fake “Evil Dead” numbering system.

"House II"/"La Casa 6" (1989).

It is actually the 1987 American film “House II: The Second Story,” directed by Ethan Wiley. A fantasy horror comedy featuring zombie cowboys and baby dinosaurs, it has absolutely nothing to do with "Evil Dead", the earlier Italian films, or the gore-filled horror genre.

"House III"/"La Casa 7" (1990).

It is actually the 1989 American film “The Horror Show” (“House III”), marking James Isaac's directorial debut. A dark supernatural slasher film about a serial killer (played by Brion James) who returns from the dead through electricity to torment the police officer who caught him (Lance Henriksen). Again, it has absolutely nothing to do with Kandarian demons or the previous film.

"Army of Darkness."

Because the third official installment in the “Evil Dead” franchise, “Army of Darkness,” didn't quite fit the mold of a horror film centered on an isolated, haunted house, it was instead released under the translated title “L'armata Delle Tenebre.”