Evil Dead's local release brought forward

It's the locally made movie that topped the US box office and now New Zealand horror fans have an early chance to see Evil Dead, the remake of the cult classic. The local distributors of the film have rush-released the film after fan pressure including a Facebook petition. It will start screening at Wellington's Embassy next week and in Auckland from Anzac Day at Queen St and Sylvia Park.

With a probable R18 rating, the screenings are likely to be late night only. The new movie is a remake of the 1981 gore-heavy film by Sam Raimi, whose latest blockbuster is Oz: The Great and Powerful. It was produced by Raimi's New Zealand producing partner Rob Tapert, the man behind the likes of television series Spartacus, Hercules and Xena as well as locally made small-budget horror flicks Boogeyman and 30 Days of Night.

- TimeOut