I don’t really know what to say. I feel like with Evil Dead (2013) and Evil Dead Rise (2023) we got two fantastic additions to the Evil Dead franchise. This is a franchise that is steeped in horror and gore from “Within the Woods” to The Evil Dead (1981). Sure, The Evil Dead was kind of silly, but I do not think it was meant to be silly. I think Sam Raimi wanted to make a gritty, gross and gory horror film. When Evil Dead 2, we saw much more comedy and Bruce Campbell started really hamming it up. Then Army of Darkness took the silliness to another level and fans excepted Evil Dead movies to be gross and funny. When the 2013 film that we all thought was a remake, came out, it was balls to the wall horror and Fede Alvarez treated us to a new side of Evil Dead that is absolutely rooted in horror. So, no we have these gory, gritty, gross Evil Dead movies, which I believe Sam Raimi always wanted.
I could be wrong.
So, this generation which either began in 2013, or 2023 with Evil Dead Rise, I think these three movies all kind of belong together and there really is no telling if 2013 matters or not, these moves are all serious and gore with limited humor. After Evil Dead Rise, I was pumped for more Evil Dead movies like this, I love a good gore fest and Mia driving that chainsaw into the head of the abomination in 2013 was everything I always wanted. Some fans like this, some do not like what has come out. Ok, I am rambling. Let’s talk about Evil Dead Burn, I can ramble incoherently about Evil Dead later.
Synopsis:
After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws. As one by one they transform into deadites, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life – survive even in death.
I was really excited about Evil Dead Burn going into the theater. I did not watch a single trailer, I saw nothing, I wanted to go in fresh. This was the first time I went into a film without seeing anything but a poster. These days, so much is given away in the trailers, no wait, I did not see a trailer for Pearl in 2022. Anyway, I was prepared to be grossed out and see some sick shit, because…Evil Dead.
The opening scene was pretty great, it opens on a lake, two guys are fishing and we see the Deadite Jessica. Deadite Jessica is the one from the title card from Evil Dead Rise. Right then and there we are dealing with a direct sequel, probably the most direct since Evil Dead 2, to Army of Darkness. Shortly after some wildness happens with the fisherman, we flash to a club where we meet the main players of the film. Alice and her husband Will. I want to mention one thing about Will, he is the most unlikable character in Evil Dead history, fuck that dude. He and Alice fight, he drives off and hits Deadite Jessica and the evil is transferred. This is where the movie picks up and kind of falls apart for me.
I really would rather not spoil anything as I can go into what happens beat for beat. Something about this movie felt off. In some ways it did have the bones of an Evil Dead movie, but the book was barely relevant in this movie. That kind of bothered me, it was pushed aside because the deadites had more of a purpose, more than swallowing souls. They had a goal in this movie, and they were going after this family for a reason, which calls back to a few things in Evil Dead lore. That is something I really liked, the history of the book, or the books as we learned there are three books in Evil Dead Rise. That is about what I enjoyed about the movie, the rest was like a bad attempt at Evil Dead.
So, something about this movie did not click with me. People talk about caring about the characters or some kind of chemistry with the characters. These characters did not need that aspect because of grief and distain which is obvious early on. But overall, they’re a mixed bag of, who cares. It is a family, a girlfriend and a widow. There is a grandmother who seems to be there for comic relief only and the humor got old fast. These people were not interesting at all. In Evil Dead Rise, they characters were much more interesting, and it felt like there was more there. These people felt empty. The movie felt like an empty attempt at Evil Dead.
I am still trying to figure out what bothered me so much, I think the cinematography was sloppy, and one scene I do not understand, I guess the tension aspect, but Alice was crawling while there was fighting going on behind her and all around her. I would have liked to see the violence we heard as Alice called away. Seeing her crawl through the fighting was kind of cool, but it just did not work for me.
Look, I know this review is garbage. I don’t even really know what to say about this movie. I know I walked out disappointed and a little confused. This did not feel like Evil Dead, even if it had the markings, the Necronomicon, Kandarian dagger, reel to reel tapes. This felt like someone trying to make their own Evil Dead and it is lesser. I think I need to see Evil Dead Burn again, maybe I just was not engaged, I did not like the lead at all, or any of the characters. In movies like this, you find someone to latch on to. Evil Dead 2013 was amazing because of the characters and the shift of who you’re rooting for, in the end, Mia. Evil Dead Rise, you latch on to Beth and follow her thorugh the madness, not to mention an epic performance from Aylssa Sutherland. Evil Dead Burn did not have this at all. I guess that is what I am saying, something was missing.
I was not the right person to write this article…fuck. I am just very disappointed in Evil Dead Burn.
Some will love Evil Dead Burn, some will hate Evil Dead Burn. I don’t have those feelings. I hope a second viewing will change some things for me, but I wont see it again while it is in the theater. Moving on to Evil Dead Wrath, which I am not as excited as I was going in to Evil Dead Burn. The first Evil Dead movie that I did not love immediately.
If I had to rank the 6 Evil Dead movies…right now.
6. Evil Dead Burn (2026)
5. Army of Darkness (1992)
4. Evil Dead Rise (2023)
3. Evil Dead 2 (1987)
2. The Evil Dead (1981)
1. Evil Dead (2013)
So, do not take my advice, because the 2013 film that is not a remake, is my favorite. But, I say go see Evil Dead Burn and judge for yourself. I hope Evil Dead Wrath is awesome, but my hopes are now low.
I would like to see Beth and Mia both return somehow, but that is doubtful. Wrath does not show any other prior Evil Dead character on this cast list, but it is supposed to be a prequel to, Rise or Burn or what the fuck? We will find out in 2028, which is weird because filming wrapped May 30. Ok, it is late and I done with this madness.
