January 17 - January 23, 2026 Crash Landings: Three From Sam Raimi Series | A SIMPLE PLAN, ARMY OF DARKNESS, SEND HELP Co-presented by Beyond Fest
ABOUT THE SERIES: The American Cinematheque in partnership with Beyond Fest is delighted to welcome filmmaker Sam Raimi for a series of the works that established him as a visionary director and ultimately propelled him into the spotlight as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished franchise filmmakers. Our series will culminate with a screening and in-person Q&A for Raimi’s newest film SEND HELP. A major force in blockbuster cinema, Raimi’s beginnings in the horror genre were no less impressive. ARMY OF DARKNESS, the third installment of Raimi’s cult-classic EVIL DEAD, expanded the boundaries of genre filmmaking as it blended fantasy with comedy while retaining its horror roots. Sam Raimi elevated the series into pop culture, while still preserving its beloved cult-genre elements. With the release of his 1998 crime drama A SIMPLE PLAN, Raimi had a significant stylistic pivot that displayed his versatility as a filmmaker. Centered on a group of men who discover millions of dollars in a crashed plane, the film took a restrained approach in exploring themes of greed and moral ambiguity. A SIMPLE PLAN earned strong critical praise and solidified Raimi as a filmmaker capable of telling stories with subtlety and emotional weight.