‘EVIL DEAD RISE' Splatters the Screen, Breathing Fresh Blood into Lovingly Demented Franchise

In the realm of horror, few franchises are as steeped in blood-soaked lore as Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead. The latest entry, Evil Dead Rise, cleverly distills this iconic universe’s brutal charms while simultaneously stirring in a fresh batch of viscera. This isn’t just a rehashed resurrection; it’s a blood-thirsty demon rebirth, both reverential and innovative. Much like a vinyl record that keeps spinning, this franchise seemingly has an endless groove of gory goodness.

Directed by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise transports the traditional ‘cabin in the woods’ nightmare into the heart of a derelict inner-city apartment. This shift in scenery not only amplifies the claustrophobic terror but also breathes new life into a well-worn premise. Cronin’s direction is as nimble as it is gleefully wicked, paying homage to the original while daring to carve his own bloody path.

Siblings Danny (Morgan Davies), Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and Kassie (Nell Fisher) unwittingly summon an onslaught of sadistic deadites after playing an ancient vinyl. A spiritual infestation leaves their mother Ellie losing her grasp on her soul while pregnant, guitar technician aunt Beth (Lily Sullivan) tends to the kiddos. Their family reunion swiftly transforms into a desperate struggle for survival, as Ellie’s turn to the dark side sees her affection for her children turn to bloodlust. The plot is equal parts horrifying and hilarious, unflinching in its depiction of gore while lacing in an undercurrent of black humor that makes for exactly the kind of sick midnight movie experience that horror fans crave.

Alyssa Sutherland delivers a particularly chilling performance as Ellie, a doting-mother-turned-sinister-deadite. The terror she instills feels bone-deep, setting a spine-tingling tone that resonates throughout the film. The remainder of the cast, including a surprisingly adept ensemble of child actors, rises to the bloody occasion, lending a sense of realism that makes the ensuing carnage all the more impactful. No character is safe in this hellish high-rise, and the palpable threat of mortal danger infuses each scene with nerve-wracking tension.

While the franchise’s hallmark gore-fest is present and accounted for (including an elevator that seems to confuse blood with passengers in an on-the-nose tip of the hat to Mr. Kubrick), Evil Dead Rise falls a notch short of the gut-churning gruesomeness that defined Fede Alvarez’s 2013 reboot. However, it compensates with a playful, almost whimsical approach to brutality that is just as entertaining, if not as viscerally shocking. This is horror that dares to wink at you, even as it’s drenching you in sanguinary spectacle.

Evil Dead Rise is a testament to the franchise’s ability to evolve without losing its gritty core. By daring to shift settings, timelines, and characters, the series keeps its narrative fresh and engaging, proving that there’s still plenty of life (or should that be death?) left in this undead saga. The franchise, like the unrelenting horrors it conjures, refuses to stay buried. And thank God for that.

One of the undeniable joys of this film is its unabashed love for the horror genre. Evil Dead Rise is a bloody love letter to its predecessors and the broader horror landscape, complete with easter eggs and nods that fans will relish. The essence of Evil Dead Rise is this joyful, macabre dance with the grotesque. It’s a celebration of the franchise’s enduring legacy, while also a step towards new, untrodden paths of horror. At once, a gory romp through the corridors of a cursed apartment building, a reminder of the franchise’s enduring appeal, and a testament to its ability to still send shivers down our spines.

CONCLUSION: ‘Evil Dead Rise; revitalizes the legendary franchise once more, drenching the screen in blood, laughs, and unabashed horror homage. While it may not hit the same visceral heights of its 2013 sibling, the gory fun and relentless tension more than make up for it. The series may have risen from the grave again, but with films like this, we hope it keeps on rising.