The Evil Dead is a beloved horror flick in which Kandarian demons spring forth from the Book of the Dead and wreak havoc on a group of friends in a secluded cabin in the woods. Horror fans know the names of director Sam Raimi, producer Rob Tapert and star/icon Bruce Campbell, as well as the stories of the grueling shooting conditions during a Tennessee winter. The film yielded two sequels, a television show and a handful of video game adaptations. Books have been written about making the film and Bruce has penned a couple of New York Times bestsellers. But what do you know about Tom Sullivan? Casual viewers are likely unfamiliar with the man who designed the infamous Book of the Dead and created the numerous special make-up and stop-motion effects.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist is a documentary focusing on Sullivan from director Ryan Meade, inviting viewers to join him for a retrospective look at the life and career of the artist. This thoughtful film collects interviews with Sullivan himself, as well as many of his friends and Evil Dead family. We start typically enough with the subject’s childhood and early Super8 short films. It is in high school where he meets Raimi, Tapert and Campbell, fast friends with a similar love of filmmaking. Before long, they embark on a career making endeavor into feature filmmaking.

The heart of the documentary surrounds the making of The Evil Dead with cast and crew interviews and behind-the-scenes photos and footage. This is coupled with Meade leading Sullivan to the original filming locations forty years later. Interviewees include Bruce Campbell, crew members Josh Becker and Scott Spiegel, producer Rob Tapert, cinematographer Tim Philo and cast members Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly, Betsy Baker, Hal Delrich and Ted Raimi, among others.

Sullivan resumed his duties of stop-motion animation for Evil Dead II and provides a behind-the-scenes look at his efforts with photos and video. He has found success with his artwork for not only the Evil Dead films but also his work for comic books and games. Sullivan is a truly interesting guy and shares his story of ups and downs without reservation, including the tragic loss of his wife and later a horrific car accident in which he sustained long-lasting head injuries.

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist includes some touching moments, like hearing Sullivan’s mother recounting her first time seeing Evil Dead. Fellow make-up artists, including Tom Savini, pop in to sing his praises and a fair amount of the material is shot at various horror conventions where the artist is surrounded by friends and fans alike. Sullivan is always willing to answer questions and show off his collection of props with a friendly, inviting demeanor. He is by all accounts a great guy and after watching this documentary, you will want to stop by his convention table and shake his hand.