The biggest link to the previous Evil Dead movies is the Book of the Dead itself, the Necronomicon. This is the flesh-covered book that is discovered by archaeologist Raymond Knowby before the events of The Evil Dead.
The Evil Dead franchise is not one that is known for having a methodically planned canon. Evil Dead II is partially a remake of The Evil Dead and changes a lot of details, the end of Evil Dead II doesn't really line up with the opening of Army Of Darkness, and the television series Ash vs.