EVIL DEAD RISE(2023) REVIEW

 

In the horror realm, the "Evil Dead" franchise stands as a testament to consistency: Not a single dud in the bunch. Credit goes to the gatekeeper of gore, Sam Raimi, who's guarded his groovy blood-soaked baby with more care than a vampire guards its coffin. With just five films over four decades, "Evil Dead" maintains its devilish charm, thanks in part to its refreshingly straightforward premise—barring the gloriously loony "Army of Darkness," naturally—that just clicks.

Enter "Evil Dead Rise," the latest chapter hailing from Irish writer/director Lee Cronin, whose knack for grimy storytelling mirrors that of remake maestro Fede Alvarez. Cronin's got a knack for the diabolical, serving up creative carnage that makes every horror aficionado's heart race faster than a caffeine-fueled zombie.

While the marketing may tout a scene with a cheese grater that'll have you squirming in your seat, "Evil Dead Rise" delivers a smorgasbord of mayhem that'll leave you reeling. From eye-popping trauma to bone-crunching decapitations, this movie's got it all—plus enough blood to make the elevator scene from "The Shining" look like a leaky faucet.

Shifting gears from the classic cabin in the woods, "Evil Dead Rise" plants its demonic seeds in a rundown Los Angeles apartment building. When single mom Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) goes full Deadite, the terror hits close to home as she turns her wrath on her own flesh and blood. It's enough to make you squirm, especially with young Kassie (Nell Fisher) caught in the crossfire alongside her teen siblings.

Sure, the film takes a tad too long to set up shop, bogged down by exposition and pesky details like earthquakes and safety deposit boxes. But once the demonic dam bursts, there's no turning back. This is a rollercoaster ride of blood and guts, punctuated by Cronin's masterful use of jump scares and nerve-shredding tension.

Sure, not everything's pitch-perfect—a pregnancy subplot feels a tad forced, and the cold open's about as random as a goat at a tea party. But for a cast of relative unknowns and a director still cutting his teeth, "Evil Dead Rise" delivers the goods. Strap in, scream your lungs out, and get ready for one hell of a ride.