ASH Ash is a college student on vacation with his girlfriend Linda, his friends Scotty and Shelly, and his sister Cheryl. Ash is a bit of an idiot and a coward, until he is reluctantly forced to defend himself against the rising forces of evil.     CHERYL Cheryl is a serious but reclusive girl. While doing some drawing her hand is taken over by a force. Later, she hears voices outside and ventures out into the woods, where she is violently assaulted. She returns to the cabin and a few hours later proceeds to attack her friends.     LINDA Linda is a cheerful but naive young woman. She is having a great time with Ash and her friends until Cheryl comes in from the woods acting hysterical. After calming her down, things seemingly return to normal, until Linda is stabbed in the ankle by Cheryl.   SHELLY Shelly is the most sensible and opinionated of the group. After she witnesses Cheryl attacking her friends she freaks out and goes to her room, where she is attacked by an unseen force that breaks through her bedroom window.   SCOTTY Scotty is a bit of a joker and a natural leader. Committed to his girlfriend Shelly, he faces up to the growing evil around him until she is consumed by it. He then leaves the cabin alone.