My first (knowing) exposure to the genius that is Bruce Campbell was somewhere around 1999 / 2000. As a young teenager, I was an avid VHS collector and renter. After acquiring a copy of 1992’s Army of Darkness, and knowing nothing of the film or the star, my mind was suitably blown. From there I got my hands on any Bruce Campbell video I could find, and over the years managed to fill in the blanks with the advent of DVD, Blu-Ray and streaming.
I’m something of a BC fanboy and he’s without doubt one of my favourite actors. Throughout his extensive career, he’s been something of a pioneer of B-Movies. The term ‘B-Movie’ isn’t necessarily specific to the low budget, ridiculous sci-fi or horror films he’s been associated with. Any film outside the mainstream (often a supporting feature), with a smaller budget, a more conventional plot and generic conventions could fall under the ‘B’ umbrella. Generally produced by writers, directors and actors who are starting out, and learning the ropes in the film industry. Campbell has essentially built his career on these kind of films.
Occasionally flirting with the mainstream:
Bruce is more well known (within his cult following) for films such as these:
Outside of the film industry, Bruce is a best selling author:
Has had leading and recurring roles in dozens of TV shows:
Has had cameos in dozens and dozens of long running series. Frequently makes appearances at Comic-Con’s, Film Festivals, Horror Events, Book Signings and Fan Lead events:
And as well as voice acting credits for a number of family animations:
He’s also been the voice of many popular video games:
In a career spanning five decades, he’s done it all. My fondness for Bruce spawns from his understanding of fandom and genre. He understands what he does and caters for his cult following magnificently. Often self-referential in his work, but never apologetic he embraces each project he’s involved in, be it box-office shattering superhero films or made for TV movies financed by the sci-fi channel. He understands the fan culture and he never fails to deliver.
With hundreds of acting credits, Bruce has also tried his hand at writing, directing and producing for film and TV, hence why this is a very hard top 10 to nail down. For the sake of variety, I have condensed his recurring roles in a film series as one entry on the list, and I have also expanded the selection slightly by including made for TV movies, as there are definitely a couple that warrant a mention.
Without further ado, please enjoy, my Bruce Campbell Top 10:
10. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Through his connection with the Coen’s long time associate Sam Raimi, Bruce has appeared in a number of Coen Brothers films. As well as The Hudsucker Proxy, Campbell has worked with the Coens on Crimewave, Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers. Of all their productions involving BC, this is his finest role.
9. Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3 (2002 – 2007)
Appearing in each of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films as different characters, his roles may be brief but they are integral to the series. As Bruce touched on himself in an interview with Mark Kermode, he reiterates his significance within the franchise. In Spider-Man, as the wrestling ring announcer, he actually names Peter as Spider-Man for the first time, against Parker’s wishes of being referred to as ‘The Human Spider’. In Spider-Man 2 as a theatre usher he denies Peter entrance to Mary-Jane’s play after arriving late. And in Spider-Man 3 as a snooty French waiter, he helps to ruin Peter’s planned proposal and publicly berates him. This means that Bruce Campbell is the only person who has successfully defeated Spider-Man every time he has come into contact with him.
8. In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory (1997)
One of the ‘made for TV’ movies to make an appearance on the list. I came across Blaze of Glory (as it was released as in the UK) on VHS and had no idea it was a made for TV feature. Based on the true story of bank robbers Jill and Jeff Erickson, Bruce Campbell stars in this Bonnie and Clyde-esque crime / drama.
7. Alien Apocalypse (2005)
An original film produced by the Sci-Fi network, Alien Apocalypse is an appallingly poor science fiction adventure film. With a similar set up to planet of the apes, astronaut Ivan (Campbell) returns from a mission to find that Earth has been taken over by aliens. The effects are terrible, the script is weak, the direction is poor, the performances are generally dyer and Bruce Campbell is amazing.
6. Escape from L.A. (1996)
John Carpenter’s sequel to his cult 1981 sci-fi film Escape from New York. With a similar premise, Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is sent by the government to a post-apocalyptice style American city to retrieve a device. Also mirroring the first film, Plissken has been injected with a virus that is timed to kill him unless he returns to the government for the cure. He meets a series of colourful characters along the way, and one of the most memorable is the deranged and psychotic Surgeon General of Beverly Hills played by Bruce Campbell.
5. My Name is Bruce (2007)
Also directed by Mr Campbell, Bruce has to really stretch his acting skills in order to play a legendary B-Movie actor ‘Bruce Campbell’. After being mistaken for his character Ash in the Evil Dead series Bruce is forced into fighting a real monster (Guan Di) in the small town of Gold Lick, Oregon. The film is continuously referential to Bruce’s career and legacy, and Bruce plays an extremely comical exaggeration of himself. The film is integral viewing for any Campbell fanboy.
4. Maniac Cop, Maniac Cop 2 (1988 – 1990)
The Maniac Cop films are brilliant. They’re kind of like a less successful, smaller budget version of the Terminator films. There’s elements of horror and action with a supernatural twist, but ultimately, it’s a (seemingly) indestructible brick-shithouse going around killing people in nasty ways. The original film spawned two sequels, the first of which also featured Bruce Campbell, and according to IMDb there is a remake currently in-development for release in 2017.
3. Running Time (1997)
Possibly the most obscure film on my list. I came across Running Time whilst at University and since then struggled to find it again. As far as I know, it’s not had a DVD release in the U.K. I had to order an imported copy from Germany to get hold of it. So when I say it’s low-budget, that would be an understatement. The film has a brilliant concept. It’s 70 minute ‘running time’ is filmed (supposedly) in real-time, in one continuous shot. The film starts when Campbell’s character Carl is picked up from jail after his release. He is immediately taken to conduct a bank robbery, which goes wrong and the film then follows him to a safe house. Whether the film is in fact filmed in one shot, without edits or not is irrelevant as it works really well regardless. It’s unique, it’s exciting and Bruce Campbell is brilliant in the lead role.
2. Bubba Ho-Tepp (2002)
A real fan favourite amoungst the BC fraternity. The genius behind this work can be summed up simply with one sentence: Bruce Campbell plays an aging Elvis Presley and teamed with an elderly black man (claiming to be President JFK, who, surviving the assassination attempt, was dyed black and abandoned), fights a re-animated ancient Egyptian mummy.
1. Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness (1981 – 1992)
It had to be. There was never any doubt. The infamous Evil Dead series are legendary in the horror genre. Sam Raimi’s masterful blend of comedy and horror has yet to be equaled. With Bruce heading the cast for each installment, his knack for physical comedy, rugged good looks and delivery of classic one liners has kept the films as cult favourites since their release. With remakes, video games, a spin off TV series, action figures, comic books, fan made sequels and an off Broadway musical inspired by the films, there’s no doubt that Evil Dead will continue to live on for a long long time.
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