EVIL DEAD BURN Ignites Something New In the Series

Perhaps the most brutal family reunion you will ever witness, Evil Dead Burn scorches its way to theaters this weekend. Serving as the sixth installment of the beloved Evil Dead franchise, the film proves the series is not slowing down in its ability to traumatize audiences.

Following Alice (Souheila Yacoub), who is reeling in the aftermath of her husband Will’s death. But despite their rocky relationship, she joins her in-laws to mourn the loss, including Will’s little brother, Joseph (Hunter Doohan), and his girlfriend, Thya (Tandi Wright).

While the family’s reunion is filled with tension from the start, it gets much worse when they find themselves tormented by Deadites. And unbeknownst to them, something is rising from the ashes of their deceased loved one. Sending them into a fight for survival.

Directed and co-written by French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček, Evil Dead Burn picks up right after the events of Evil Dead Rise for the next phase of this new trilogy of sorts, which concludes next year with a prequel film, Evil Dead Wrath. Vaniček melds into the Evil Dead universe with ease, but also ignites something new within it.

He’s unrestrained in his approach to the series, the pros of a director fresh off his debut. And with that, he’s crafted a film filled with so much dread throughout and packed with gruesome scenes. While fans of the original trilogy may miss that zany Deadite humor, this installment serves up those horrifying hijinks that have delighted modern audiences since Evil Dead (2013).

The entire movie is a high-energy, heart-pounding ride. Part of that energy is brought forth by an electronic soundtrack that pulsates throughout and feels like a fresh characteristic. But alongside that electric sound is dynamic camera work. Of course, there is that amazing one-shot that was released previously as a teaser, and even though I had seen it, it still felt so incredibly thrilling and anxiety-inducing.

And it’s as inventive as ever, having this almost Final Destination-esque idea to it where you’re left guessing what quaint household object can be weaponized next. There’s no shortage of those gnarly scenes, including perhaps the nastiest kissing scene and the craziest uses (in more ways than one) of a dishwasher.

Though, one warning I will give is that there is animal harm, which I, like most people, am not a fan of. But you can see it coming if you like to cover your eyes.

But what stands out most is that the film doesn’t just feel like a bridge between Rise and the upcoming Wrath. It feels entertaining on its own, while presenting aspects of the lore, alongside a compelling family drama. Something not every horror franchise reboot is able to do.

The characters feel well-crafted, blended as well as a familial unit, and even grounded. For our main protagonist, there’s a fantastic performance out of Yacoub. She portrays a character that audiences can easily root for. She’s on the verge of discovering her strength, and her journey is a really engaging aspect for the film.

Evil Dead Burn delivers in so many ways. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, unsettling in its frights, and driven by intriguing characters. But as we go into the next installment serving as a prequel, I wonder what’s next for the series in terms of where the Deadites will find themselves in the modern day. Hopefully we’ll be getting a lot more out of the Necronomicon for years to come.

Evil Dead Burn is in theaters July 10