Evil Dead Rise

Evil Dead Rise is a wild film from start to finish: intense, gory, and emotionally grounded. 

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Actress Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie

Evil Dead Rise is bloody thrilling and layered with the sick and twisted nature this franchise has provided before. Lee Cronin’s film is a roller coaster of horror and visual trips. I had a blast. I have always been a big fan of the Evil Dead franchise: from the gory mayhem unleashed on our characters to the black comedy hiding around every corner. This franchise has continued to thrill and surprise me over and over again. With the exception of Army of Darkness, most of the Evil Dead movies (1981's The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and 2013's Evil Dead) have taken place with a group of friends in a cabin in the woods. While Evil Dead Rise does start out in a cabin in the woods, but it quickly changes settings to a condemned Los Angeles apartment complex.

Actress Lily Sullivan as beth

For me, this was a refreshing change of pace that made the newest horror picture feel more fresh and exciting. Here, we follow a family consisting of two estranged sisters and their children. Actress Lily Sullivan plays Beth, an on-the-road guitar technician who has recently found out that she is pregnant. Actress Alyssa Sutherland plays Ellie, the other sister who is a tattoo artist and single mother to three children (Danny, Bridget, and Kassie). Ellie and her kids currently live in the condemned L.A. apartment complex and are packing to move out. So, Beth comes to visit her sister's family, an earthquake happens, and Danny finds the Book of the Dead in the rubble. Of course, Danny stupidly opens the Book of the Dead, and the mayhem is unleashed. There's blood, more blood, and then there's tons of blood.

Yet, what made this film so thrilling was the way that Cronin moved that camera around. He also used some incredibly brilliant camera techniques like shooting through a peephole in the apartment door. This type of camera technique and style made the film all the more intriguing. On top of the great camera movements and bloody thrills; are the excellent acting chops from actors Sullivan, Sutherland, Morgan Davies (Danny), Gabrielle Echols (Bridget), and Nell Fisher (Kassie). Evil Dead Rise also had one of the coolest opening title sequences in recent memory. I knew I was in for a treat when I saw that title appear on the screen. Plus, I don't think I can ever look at a cheese grater the same. For me, this film is one of the biggest surprises to come out in 2023. Evil Dead Rise bloody came, conquered, and left me wanting more.

Actress Anna-Maree Thomas

Evil Dead Rise is rated R (Restricted) For Some Language | Gore | Strong Bloody Horror Violence.

Directed by Lee Cronin

Starring Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher.

Here's my current Evil Dead Ranking via Letterboxd.

Want to hear more of my thoughts? I spoke with my good friend Matt on his podcast, Mashley at the Movies, about Evil Dead Rise. Listen Here.