How The Evil Dead Franchise Connects To This Classic Sci-Fi Movie

The Evil Dead franchise actually features a stunning connection to a classic science fiction film from the 1950s. Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films have become well-regarded as some of the most influential modern horror movies of all time. There have been countless movies that have been directly inspired by them.

Of course, Raimi’s iconic horror series was also influenced by works that came before it. There are countless little nods to classic movies littered throughout the franchise, with some going as far back as the 1930s.

This is primarily because Raimi, like other directors, is inspired by what came before. Whether it’s a brief retooling of a sound bite or a flat-out homage to the Three Stooges, the Evil Dead movies have found clever ways to show respect to film’s history while giving audiences a gory good time.

One of the most famous Easter Eggs in the franchise comes from the third film, Army of Darkness. The movie features Ash being transported back to medieval times following the events of Evil Dead 2.

When Ash is told to seek out the Necronomicon by a sorcerer called the “Wise Man,” he’s instructed to speak a certain phrase to safely remove the book from its pedestal. To some, it appears to be a standard string of magic words. However, it’s actually a direct line from one of the most influential sci-fi movies from the 1950s.

Army Of Darkness Borrows Its Most Famous Line From The Day The Earth Stood Still

Ash looks over his shoulder in anger in Army of Darkness

“Klaatu Barada Nikto” is the line that Ash is instructed to read before removing the Necronomicon. Eagle-eared audiences were quick to recognize that this was the same line made famous in 1951’s The Day the Earth Stood Still. The film features Michael Rennie as an alien named Klaatu, who arrives on Earth with peaceful intentions.

When Klaatu is mistakenly shot, the most iconic robot in cinematic history makes its debut. Gort, a towering metal man with a singular eye, shows off its destructive capabilities by disintegrating the army’s weapons. It’s one of the most harrowing moments in movie history that showed just how powerful the aliens could be when provoked.

However, Klaatu comes prepared with the famous phrase, “Klaatu Barada Nikto,” in case worse comes to worst.

What “Klaatu Barada Nikto” Does In The Day The Earth Stood Still

Gort exits the saucer in The Day the Earth Stood Still

While the translation regarding “Klaatu Barada Nikto” has been debated for the past 75 years, it still has a key purpose in the film. When Klaatu is killed in the final act, he instructs a woman named Helen to say the phrase to Gort.

Helen does as she’s told, and this causes Gort to locate Klaatu and bring him back to life on the ship. Without this phrase, Gort likely would have unleashed his destructive abilities on the human race with no way to stop him, given it was established in the first act that he would retaliate should harm come to Klaatu.

Knowing this, the use of the phrase in Army of Darkness is made even better. “Klaatu Barada Nikto” is essentially used in the same way as the Wise Man wants to prevent the darkness of the Necronomicon from destroying the Earth, only for Ash to mess up the words. It’s a perfect reference to a classic film that’s more than just referencing the line, making it one of the greatest connections to other media in the Evil Dead franchise.