Ash Vs Evil Dead revealed the author of the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis was none other than Lucy Lawless’ Ruby. The original Evil Dead was a no-budget independent production put together by a group of filmmaker friends, which happened to include future icons like Spider-Man director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell. The movie is rough around the edges, but its visceral gore and energy have seen it age remarkably well and it’s rightfully considered a genre classic.
Sam Raimi would return to the cabin in the woods again with 1987’s Evil Dead II. In truth, the sequel is more of a remake, with the first fifteen minutes acting as a speedy recap of the original before continuing hero Ash’s nightmarish journey. Evil Dead II also saw the franchise lean towards comedy, with several of Ash’s one-liners becoming iconic. The success of the sequel even led to Universal financing a big-budget third movie dubbed Army Of Darkness. This saw Ash sent back in time to fight an army of deadites, though he’s far from a perfect hero.
The Evil Dead received a surprisingly great remake in 2013 that didn’t skimp on the bloodshed, but longtime fans still clamored for Ash’s return. This came to pass with 2015’s Ash Vs Evil Dead, a Starz TV series that found Ash older but certainly not any wiser. The first season found him teaming with new partners Kelly and Pablo and being hunted by Ruby (Lucy Lawless, Xena: Warrior Princess). Ruby is supposedly the daughter of Evil Dead II’s Professor Knowby and is hunting Ash in revenge for slaying her family.
It’s eventually revealed Ruby is actually a Dark One herself and towards the end of Ash Vs Evil Dead season 1, she reveals she authored the franchise’s infamous Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, AKA the Book of the Dead. The Necronomicon was originally created by author H.P. Lovecraft but has cropped up in various other books and movies over the years. Ruby doesn’t give much insight into authoring the book, sadly, which was written when demons ruled the Earth, with the Necronomicon being penned on human skin and written in blood. The book contains demon resurrection passages, funerary incantations, and prophecies of a noble hero - AKA Ash - saving the day.
Naturally, this means Lucy Lawless’ Ruby is a villain, though she becomes more of an anti-hero during Ash Vs Evil Dead season 2, after her plan to control the Necronomicon backfired and left her powerless and hunted. Ironically, she’s later killed by a younger version of herself during a trip to the past, who is sickened by future Ruby’s turn towards the light. This past version of Ruby was eventually destroyed towards the end of season three when the vengeful Dark Ones are released from the Mirror Dimension, and the season also gives gruesome insight into how a page is added to the Necronomicon.
Next: Evil Dead’s Necronomicon Ex-Mortis Explained
