Evil Dead Rise (2023) Review

Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise takes the long-running horror franchise in a fresh and daring direction, blending homage to its cinematic legacy with a willingness to break the rules. Serving as the fifth installment, this film could be seen as defying categorisation as a sequel or a traditional reboot, carving its own diabolical path. While previous entries in the series paid homage to the original’s cabin in the woods setting, Cronin fearlessly relocates the story to the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

The film introduces us to Ellie, a tattoo artist played by Alyssa Sutherland, who lives in a dilapidated apartment complex with her three children: Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and Kassie (Nell Fisher). Their bohemian household, filled with vinyl records and protest signs, harbors an undercurrent of emotional oppression. When Ellie’s semi-estranged sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), arrives, tensions rise to the surface. However, an earthquake uncovers a hidden vault beneath the building, unleashing an ancient book known as the “Necronomicon Ex-Mortis” and its demonic forces upon them.

The cast delivers strong performances, with Alyssa Sutherland excelling as the first victim of demonic possession. She seamlessly transitions between the evil and motherly personas, leaving the audience cringing at every grab, eye twitch, and head snap. The makeup and special effects department deserve credit for creating horrifying images as the flesh-filled demons spread throughout the apartment building.

Lee Cronin, an Irish filmmaker, proves his mettle by infusing the film with inventive and blood-curdling moments that vandalize the characters’ fragile existence. Practical effects and stunning makeup work heighten the grotesque nature of the proceedings, making ordinary objects like cheese graters and scissors turn into nauseating weapons. The film embraces the franchise’s iconic elements, including rushing demon POV camera angles, gore galore, hilariously explicit insults, and, of course, the ever-present chainsaw.

Evil Dead Rise strikes a delicate balance between blood-soaked horror and humor. While providing bucketfuls of blood and gory mayhem, it never crosses into gratuitous cruelty. Cronin demonstrates a fiendish imagination, transforming seemingly innocuous expressions of parental affection into grotesque and darkly comic realities. His masterful sound design, blending familiar elements with fresh auditory tidbits, adds to the hallucinatory aura unique to his take on the material.

And it’s an exciting move. Where Evil Dead (2013) simply gave us a very familiar scenario in a new decade, while dialing up the gore from the previous two films, Evil Dead Rise is less on the sensational shocks and more about the blend of blood with tension and psychological torture.

Evil Dead Rise‘s technical facets impress, with exceptional production design, art decoration, and set decoration creating a sinisterly ominous atmosphere. The apartment interiors and underground parking garage serve as unsettling labyrinths that grow in mystery as the events unfold. Editor Bryan Shaw’s precise editing enhances the tension, while cinematographer Dave Garbett’s visuals capture chaotically unhinged terror with striking detail.

While the performances may not quite match Jane Levy’s tour de force in the 2013 film, this ensemble cast shines, with Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, and young newcomer Nell Fisher standing out. Each character feels real and relatable, with the audience experiencing their fear and horror alongside them.

Evil Dead Rise offers a rip-roaring climax that will keep enthusiastic audiences on the edge of their seats, ready to cheer. Clocking in at just under 100 minutes, this gorily gonzo roller-coaster ride is both ruthless and exhilarating. It is a testament to Lee Cronin’s vision and his ability to deliver a fresh and thrilling entry in the Evil Dead franchise. And with the mention of more than one book of the dead, there are lots of exciting paths that this series could follow.

Evil Dead Rise is a must-see for horror fans and longtime followers of the series. It delivers on the blood, guts, and mayhem expected from the franchise while injecting new life into its demonic tale. Moreover, it’s one of the better horrors of 2024.

Prepare to be immersed in a relentless and gruesome experience that will leave you both terrified and exhilarated. Groovy indeed.

Movie Rating:  

Evil Dead Rise Trailer

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Evil Dead Rise will be available on digital download from 14th July, and available to buy on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD, including a limited special edition SteelBook, from 17th July.