Evil Dead Rise Review: A heart-stopping, immersive horror experience
In the latest installment of the beloved horror franchise, writer and director Lee Cronin astutely captures the essence of what makes the series so cherished and offers a thrilling spectacle of gore that is also accessible to newcomers (if they can stomach it).
The Evil Dead franchise has become a staple of the horror genre for its technical innovations, and its ability to deliver intense shocks. It's this unique approach that has made it one of the most effective and enduring franchises in the horror genre. Right from the opening shot, coupled with the distinct buzzing of flies, the film sets the stage for the morbid demonic force that will soon be unleashed upon its hapless victims.
The twisting point-of-view camera work that races through a creek and over a lake to a young woman on a pier is a hallmark of the franchise, serving as an ominous portent of what’s to come. Following a swift scalping and some drone-induced facial damage, Evil Dead Rise rises to the occasion with one of the most iconic title sequences the genre has ever witnessed.
Midnight early screening of Lee Cronin's Evil Dead Rise at PVR Logix Noida got me bricking myself. An onslaught on all the senses. This film is gonna crawl under your skin and stay there for a while.#EvilDeadRise pic.twitter.com/t17q7kThx8
— Ayaan Paul (@ayaan_paul) April 20, 2023
The film then shifts to a seemingly unrelated setting, a dilapidated apartment building in Los Angeles, where most of the action takes place. Beth, played by Lily Sullivan, arrives seeking solace from her older sister Ellie, played by Alyssa Sutherland, who has just been dumped. Ellie's teenage children, Danny (Morgan Davies) and Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and the much younger Kassie (Nell Fisher) are also present.
An earthquake in the basement reveals the dreaded Book of the Dead - the infamous source of all evil in the franchise, fashioned out of human skin. A quick flip through the book’s weirdly fascinating blood-soaked etchings should have been enough to chuck the damned thing from whence it came, but of course, horror movie logic wouldn’t allow for such reasonable decision making.
It's only a matter of time before the house reverberates with recorded incantations, unwittingly summoning the familiar evil force to the building and pitting the close-knit family against each other in a nightmare of psychological and physical trauma.
Cronin takes his time to build tension in the film's first arc, carefully introducing the different locations within the apartment building where the dead will wage war on the living. The first half is filled with subtle nods to the many “weapons” that will be put to use in the gore-fest to follow, tantalizing viewers with the increasing number of violent ways the Deadites will torment their victims in their sadistic endeavours.
The Deadites - the demonic entities that inhabit the characters' bodies - already make for some of the most frightening entities in horror history. They are both grotesque and menacing, taking on a variety of forms and manipulating their victims to the point of submission.
These demonic beings fuse the memories of their prey with petrifying threats, causing their loved ones to suffer mentally. The malicious Deadites relish in toying with their prey before getting them to mutilate their loved ones. Sutherland's awe-inspiring performance as the film’s first Deadite is outstanding as she dominates every scene in the film.
While the franchise has always been renowned for its graphic depiction of blood, slime, and dismembered appendages, Cronin punctuates the most intense sequences with moments of levity, where something as simple as menacingly sitting on the kitchen counter on your haunches feels just as absurd as regurgitating an eyeball across the hallway straight into someone’s mouth.
The use of shaky, handheld camera movements created a sense of immediacy and urgency, as if the audience were in the midst of the horror alongside the characters. Coupling that with the film’s incredibly innovative sound design created a sense of chaos and unease that worked in tandem to deliver the most relentless onslaught on all our senses.
From the blood curdling screech that (upon later confirmation) was heard in every corner of the local theatre, to an unsettling fish-eye view sequence through the front door peephole; the film blended the best of its remarkable technical prowess to put together an immersive and holistic horror experience.
We finally made it! HAPPY “EVIL DEAD RISE” EVE DEADITES 🩸 #EvilDeadRise pic.twitter.com/a5ySq1G2RP
— Sam Raimi Updates (@SamRaimiUpdates) April 20, 2023
The film creates a soundscape that is both haunting and unsettling, using a combination of effects and a minimalistic score to build tension and enhance the film's more frightening moments. This use of sound design is particularly effective during the film's quieter moments, where even the slightest sound can be enough to send shivers down every spine in the audience.
Opting for traditional prosthetics and makeup over CGI (an Evil Dead trademark) gave the film its visceral and realistic quality. The use of practical effects allowed Cronin to craft gruesome visuals that feel more authentic than ever, contributing to the film's overall sense of dread, as the gore and violence felt more immediate and believable.
From snacking on a wine glass as if it were a crunchy treat, to the incorporation of a vegetable grater to the list of creative torture devices, the film’s commitment to practical effects helped to make its scares feel more tangible, which only added to their impact. Witnessing the most unsettling moments of the film in such a hyper-realistic fashion is a truly unique experience. Even as our physical reactions may lead us to recoil and attempt to shield ourselves from the terrors before us, our instincts betray us, leaving us wide-eyed and restless for more.
Evil Dead Rise gave me what I love about this franchise. Blood, guts, movement work, camp, and a wild final act. We love to see it.
— Jason Grobstich (@jasonleegrobby) April 21, 2023
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However, technical achievements alone cannot fully explain the success of the film. Its use of gore and violence was not just gratuitous, but was instead used to heighten the sense of danger and tension. Cronin is not afraid to push boundaries, and is willing to take risks with their content that other contemporary filmmakers in the genre were not.
Its narrative structure is designed to keep the audience guessing and on the edge of their seats. The film takes a classic horror premise and subverts expectations by constantly escalating the violence and horror. The narrative keeps the audience engaged and invested, while also allowing the filmmakers to deliver some truly terrifying moments.
The film also features a strong cast of actors who deliver emotionally charged performances that add depth and nuance to otherwise bland horror NPC’s. Backed by a quintessentially cheesy but cleverly penned script, makes the audience more invested in the characters' fates, and we can't help but empathize with their suffering, even though deep down, we all derive some sick, demented satisfaction from watching them being impaled, flayed and maimed in the most imaginative ways.
And lets not forget the not-so-subtle homages to horror classics including Ari Aster’s Midsommar (2019), Paco Plaza & Jaume Balagueró’s REC (2007) as well as one gargantuan, blood-bath of a nod to Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) that really sealed the deal for avid horror connoisseur like myself.
Awesome photo that was just sent my way. The Ladies of the Evil Dead - Betsy Baker (Linda, Evil Dead 1981), Alyssa Sutherland (Ellie, Evil Dead Rise), Lily Sullivan (Beth, Evil Dead Rise), Theresa Tilly (Shelly, Evil Dead 1981), and Jane Levy (Mia, Evil Dead 2013). pic.twitter.com/80qO84XkOX
— John Squires 🎃 (@FreddyInSpace) April 14, 2023
Cronin understands what makes the franchise so beloved and delivers a movie that both long-time fans and ‘fresh victims’ can enjoy. Evil Dead Rise offers a heart-stopping, immersive horror experience that stays true to the franchise's roots while also introducing new elements that make it accessible to newcomers. From the practical effects to the spine-tingling sound design, every aspect of this film has been meticulously crafted to keep you on the edge of your seat and test your gag reflex to its very limit.
We are going with 5 out of 5 stars for Evil Dead Rise.