Something about the horror genre makes it lend itself to the best cult classics, and many of the best cult classics are musicals. So it was a match made in Heaven — or, in this case, Hell — to turn writer and director Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” franchise into a song-and-dance production.

Pittsburgh Musical Theater has made something of a tradition of putting on “Evil Dead the Musical” after sunset at the outdoor West End Canopy in the weeks leading up to Halloween each year. The show, which mashes together bits and pieces from the first three “Evil Dead” films, has been a worldwide hit on regional stages since it premiered in Toronto in 2003. It features music by Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt, with Reinblatt also providing the book and lyrics.

The original films — “The Evil Dead,” “Evil Dead II” and “Army of Darkness” — were directed and written by Sam Raimi and released in the 1980s and early 1990s. Since, they’ve gained a sort of classic status and spawned a TV series, piles of comics and three more films, the most recent of which was released earlier this year.

The musical kicks off with five college students, Ash (Brett Goodnack), Scott (Brecken Newton Farrell), Cheryl (Zanny Laird), Linda (Kamilah Lay) and Shelly (Sabina May) heading to a cabin to spend a vacation. They discover that the cabin — which they’ve broken into — contains a recording of archaeologist Knowby (Nick Mitchell at Saturday night’s performance) reciting incantations from a “Book of the Dead” that he discovered, and they play them.

After Cheryl leaves the cabin after hearing whispering voices and is attacked in the woods, she eventually becomes possessed. Soon it is clear that a demonic force has taken hold the woods, and all of the characters except for Ash succumb. But then, Knowby’s daughter Annie (Michaela Isenberg) shows upp with the pages from the book that can save them from the demons. Unfortunately, plenty of dismemberment has to happen first; there’s a reason why the front several rows of seats at the West End Canopy are the designated “Splash Zone.”

Goodnack is playing Ash for his seventh year, and he’s got the role down to a science. Film actor Bruce Campbell provides some large shoes to fill, but Goodnack both honors the role and makes it his own, with delivery and mannerisms that are just over-the-top enough. His housemates are also striking the tone perfectly, especially Lay as Linda, who is funny and shows off impressive pipes in early-show power ballad “Housewares Employee.”

But the most magnetic cast member is Laird as Cheryl, Ash’s sister. She starts out earnestly terrified and, after possession, goes on a raucous and rollicking performance as a possessed person locked in a basement spouting puns. Isenberg as Annie makes a pleasant later-plot addition to the show, with she and Goodnack sharing some bloody good chemistry.

Speaking of blood, needless to say some special effects are involved in “Evil Dead the Musical.” Makeup, wig and special FX designer Christopher Patrick put in some serious work, as did a large team of artists who executed al of the gore. Whether it’s decapitations or stabbings, you get a little bit of everything in this musical.

While this is ostensibly a horror show, and there’s plenty of creepiness and grossness to be found, it’s also a comedy. Everything has the feel of a slightly satirized ’80s slasher flick, including the music. The band, led by Dr. Francesca Tortorello, is small but mighty, rocking through songs that played in many different genres.

Director Nick Mitchell and choreographer Gemma Michell, as well as fight director Ben Sheedy, make a very precise job of timing and blocking look easy with humor and care. Scenic designer Tucker Topel built a perfect cabin in the woods in which to commit murder, and lighting designer Todd Nonn used bright colors and long shadows to keep things in the balance between cheesy and creepy.

There are a lot of hokey jokes in this show, but you’ll get your fill of the iconic lines, too — the ones that get applause from all of the “Evil Dead” fans in the audience. The show is a little gross, a little raunchy and definitely not for kids, but it makes a “groovy” pre-Halloween night out for anyone looking to get in the spooky mood with some music alongside the mayhem.

Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s “Evil Dead The Musical” will run through Oct. 25 at the West End Canopy outdoors. To learn more and get tickets, visit pittsburghmusicals.com.