With so many iconic and fan-favorite horror franchises out there, it can be tough to narrow the “best” or “greatest” descriptors down to one. It’s inarguable, though, that most of the heavy-hitter franchises have at least one bottom-of-the-barrel sequel, remake, or reboot somewhere in their filmographies. However, the Evil Dead franchise is the sole exception, and its newest entry, Evil Dead Burn, continues that trend.
The sixth Evil Dead entry is directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vanicek (2023’s Infested) and produced by original Evil Dead director Sam Raimi. The film stars Souheila Yacoub, The Night Agent’s Luciane Buchanan, Tandi Wright, Erroll Shand, and Hunter Doohan, who plays Tyler Galpin in Tim Burton’s Wednesday.
Evil Dead Burn Shies Away from the Classic Horror Franchise Formula
Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films always found the perfect balance between creepy, somewhat terrifying moments and slapstick comedy. That idea changed (for better or worse) with Fede Álvarez’s gritty 2013 remake, which essentially replaced the original’s and Evil Dead II’s humorous moments with brutal, blood-covered scenes that made audiences’ skin crawl.
Although some of that balance was restored in Lee Cronin’s 2023 Evil Dead Rise; a fantastic blend of artsy and schlock horror, Sébastien Vanicek turned the tables again for Evil Dead Burn, shifting almost entirely to a relentless, grating, and downright mean entry in the series.
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On one hand, this is great for the gorehounds who love the new path that the 2013 remake has laid out, and on the other, fans of the original Raimi trilogy and Ash vs. The Evil Dead may come away feeling disappointed.
With that being said, Vanicek leans into the French extremism subgenre of horror that put films like High Tension, Inside, and Martyrs on the map in full force. Evil Dead Burn is without a doubt the most ruthless film in the franchise, and that’s counting five films that have had endless decapitations and severed limbs. Evil Dead Burn leaves no room for the goofy banter or cheesy slapstick moments. It’s pure, unadulterated brutality.
In its Explicit Horror, Evil Dead Burn Loses Something
Don’t get me wrong, as a horror lover of all types, I was happy as a clam to see some gnarly kills that I’d never come across in a horror movie before. Moments that were teased in the trailers, like the car headrest through the neck, the guzzling of candle wax, and the universally wrong way to load a dishwasher, all paid off in the best ways.
However, Evil Dead Burn was missing something in its core story. All the Evil Dead films have thinly veiled social messaging, whether it be the dangers of blindly tampering with the occult in the first films, addiction in the remake, or motherhood and familial burdens in Evil Dead Rise. Although the newest entry skirted around abuse, grief, and loss in its messaging, it was simply too fast-paced and chaotic to allow that messaging to settle or for the audience to really care about the characters.
Granted, Souheila Yacoub does a wonderful job as Alice, but the character just doesn’t hold the same emotional status that Ash Williams, 2013’s Mia, or even Evil Dead Rise’s Beth maintain. The supporting characters are mostly insufferable from the start, so any emotional attachment to them is sabotaged from their introductions.
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The decision to go all-in on the savagery and shock value in Evil Dead Burn isn’t without its positives. Some of the best practical effects of the franchise are featured in this entry, and several moments will have you wincing and turning away. Unfortunately, the final act culminates in some shoddy CGI that leaves a lasting impression after the film ends.
From a technical standpoint, Sébastien Vanicek’s directing style, the choreography and filmwork, and Double Danger’s blood-pumping score are all incredible and among the best work in the Evil Dead series.
Like most of the franchise’s entries, Evil Dead Burn isn’t a perfect horror movie, but it’s extremely solid and a great ramp-up sequel to Evil Dead Rise. The film is certainly worth watching (make sure to stay after the credits!), and it has made me even more excited for Francis Galluppi’s 2028 release, Evil Dead Wrath. I can only guess that the next film will take things even further, and I’m here for it. Evil Dead Burn is yet another solid entry in horror’s greatest franchise.
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