Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Director: Lee Cronin

Writer: Lee Cronin

Cast: Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher

In a climate of sequels and reboots, it’s quite easy to become exhausted with what comes out of Hollywood. Whether it’s superhero movies or over-the-top action flicks, the factory seems to pump out more of the same. So, how on earth does the Horror genre survive on the same formula? Franchises rule the Horror landscape. Freddy Krueger has seven movies (eight if you count Freddy vs Jason), Micheal Myers has quite a few depending on the timeline you choose to follow, and Jason Voorhees has at least 12. What is it about this genre that allows fans to never get tired? It could be the ever changing casts that pit a fresh set of characters against the iconic villain, or maybe it’s progressive lore that surrounds the monsters instead of following a protagonist’s story. Whichever the tactic, these sagas are doing it right, and the same goes for the Evil Dead franchise. The groundbreaking original by Sam Raimi changed the face of horror and since then, each installment improved upon itself, making these movies impactful in their own right. The latest in the series, Evil Dead Rise, packs a punch on many levels and it earns a rightful place in the disturbing saga of Deadites and those who unknowingly unleash them.

Beth (Lily Sullivan) and Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) are two sisters who have just reunited after some time apart and immediately have their reunion interrupted when a deadly force comes to possess the family. This movie balances terror with a bold message, something much of recent horror either doesn’t do well, or does at all. Under all of the brutality lies a surprisingly empathetic statement on parenthood. We see Ellie as she begins her new chapter as a single parent deal with the hurdles of having to do it all alone. It’s not long before her son, Danny (Morgan Davies), opens the Book of the Dead and causes his mother to become possessed. Ellie then tries to kill her three kids and sister. Throughout the gory ordeal, we watch Ellie’s family struggle to see the real person who had lost her sense of self. Ellie was already dealing with a lot, so when the possession happened, it almost felt like a catharsis for the character. It doesn’t say that murder is the answer. Instead, it says, “You’re not alone. It’s not easy raising kids and we know it’s difficult to not buckle under the stress.” If you're a parent watching this, there’s no doubt that this is an experience filled with emotions that might cause a hint of guilt, but the empathy lying beneath the carnage eventually extinguishes it. 

This is one of most artistically presented installments in the Evil Dead franchise. It’s beautifully shot, using clever camera angles and lighting techniques that push it beyond being just a normal horror movie. It even uniquely uses the Chekhov's Gun method, showing us every key element of the story in one shot just before everything gets chaotic, and speaking of chaos, this is also an incredible example of how practical and digital effects can coexist and work well with each other. Good choices were made here, and the disturbing imagery kept its usual integrity. This is more than the gore. Artistry was not once sacrificed for gimmick.

Of course, what is an Evil Dead movie without the throwbacks that keep horror fans riveted. Those involved with these movies, including executive producers Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, the respective writer/director and star of the original film, evidently understand their fans. Opening immediately with the iconic flying camera POV shot through the woods, Evil Dead Rises starts strong with the nostalgia and doesn’t let up, hitting us with its trope of the words from the Necronomicon bringing the carnage out of one character’s curiosity, then a scene in an elevator that’s sure to become as iconic as the vine scene it emulates. 

This new era for the saga does away with the comedic overtones of the original trilogy, and keeps the unapologetic terror, reinventing the franchise in a way that works incredibly well for today’s audience. Turns out, sequels can work. Evil Dead Rise is a scary as hell masterpiece in a franchise that hasn’t missed thus far, and it’s left open to grow and give us even more, a promising and exciting thing for the future of modern horror.

Evil Dead Rise is available for rent and purchase on Vudu and will be streaming on Max soon.