(REVIEW) "EVIL DEAD RISE" IS A CONFLICTING ENTRY IN AN OTHERWISE PRISTINE FRANCHISE
In the realm of horror franchises, almost every single one has at least one “bad” entry. Maybe it’s Jason Goes to Hell (which I ardently defend to this day), Halloween: Resurrection, Freddy’s Dead, Child’s Play 3, etc. The only outlier is THE EVIL DEAD franchise. A genre-defining first film that gave way to the audacious sequel come horror-comedy classic, then a fantasy/horror/adventure film that is endlessly quotable and enjoyable. For many horror fans over 30, these films were foundational to their budding interest in the genre. Followed by a STARZ series that was far better than anyone could have imagined, and 2013 remake that is one of the best horror reboots of all time. This kind of pedigree of quality is not common for films on their sixth entry, and EVIL DEAD RISE has been teasing horror fans since trailers premiered in 2022. Now, with EVIL DEAD RISE in theaters, does it add another crown jewel to this sterling franchise, or does this entry fail to “rise” to the level of its peers.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
HOW IS IT?
EVIL DEAD RISE wants you to know that it’s seen all the Evil Dead movies. In almost every way, Writer/Director LEE CRONIN has created a work of what feels like Evil Dead fan fiction with a budget, and that’s not damning the film with faint praise as much as it is the feeling that despite best efforts something is missing. If you want uncomfortable and visceral gore ala EVIL DEAD (2013), it’s in there. If you want a side of EVIL DEAD 2’s slapsticky comedy and winking nods to lines from ARMY OF DARKNESS, step right up! All of these things combined, however, somehow don’t follow in the same footsteps as the series’ predecessors even if the overall film is sound.
First things first, I did enjoy EVIL DEAD RISE. I want to be clear that this isn’t a “bad” movie as much as it is one that has suffered from the weight of its own hubris. If you are to believe the bombardment of marketing this film has been putting out there, it’s going to scare the shit out of you and everyone around you. Most genre fans with a couple of decades under their age belt will tell you that few movies actually “scare” them. Sure, it might be disturbing or uncomfortable, but true fear comes from being deeply affected in a way you cannot shake. EVIL DEAD RISE traffics in some delectable and diabolical violence, and while it’s entertaining and imaginative it also isn’t groundbreaking. Terms like “best” and “greatest” may get thrown around due to the extreme polarization of “stan culture”, but from my standpoint, violence is table-stakes for modern horror like this. So it’s expected that we get some gnarly scenes that for non-horror fans may feel like “too much”, yet, those people likely aren’t watching EVIL DEAD RISE, horror fans are.
So the marketing carries some blame by setting unwieldy expectations, which gives way to the film’s obsession with letting you know it’s seen the other EVIL DEAD movies. Much like a Marvel easter egg that Disney lays in their litany of superhero films, these “nods” don’t always feel germane to the environment the film creates. Where the violence in EVIL DEAD (2013) errs more towards shocking and frightful, it avoids feeling absurdist because it never shifts gears in tone. EVIL DEAD RISE is trying to have its cake and eat it too, intertwining comedy adjacent to brutal moments of violence and tension often feeling too at odds to land. At worst, it’s a character saying a famous line from a previous movie in the most awkward of times to do so given the realism the film wants to portray. Moving these things aside, however, EVIL DEAD RISE does get a lot right. While it does start off a bit slow, the cold open is a good twist on expectations a la SCREAM 6 and once things start to get going the tension is engaging. The performances are a mixed bag, with ALYSSA SUTHERLAND absolutely stealing the entire movie. The rest of the cast do a good enough job, they just aren’t very memorable in relation to just how dead-on Sutherland’s performance as Ellie is. She is hands-down the best part of the film, and without her, it would’ve suffered greatly. EVIL DEAD RISE isn’t a bad film, it is just one that doesn’t have its own unique identity amongst a series of previous films that each carries something endearingly different from the others.
LAST RITES
EVIL DEAD RISE is a technically solid film that is scrapbook style movie borrowing elements from previous entries to create a whole. While that doesn’t work on all levels, it is better than most horror sequels this far in their franchise and is sure to find a cult following with audiences who see this at the same pivotal age previous generations saw the series’ earlier entries.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
EVIL DEAD RISE is in theaters NOW nationwide!
Stay up to date with “The Dark Side Of Pop Culture” by following MacabreDaily on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
