Evil Dead Rise

I just saw the film in a preview screening in London which featured a Q&A from director Lee Cronin.

I had high hopes for this movie given it's current 8.1 rating on IMDb and 96% on rotten tomatoes (albeit with only 26 reviews), and especially because I actually really liked the 2013 remake (which was not the best received by fans and critics alike). I would say that generally, it didn't disappoint, but it certainly didn't smash it out of the park for me either.

The good:

• Gory, gory, gory. Wow. A gorefest, but somehow not overdone. It features a few massive gore moments that are memorable.

• Modern day special FX make Sam Raimi from the 1980s sad he was stuck with playdoh and experimental techniques. The characters all look damn scary.

• Acting was generally good. Nothing groundbreaking but Alyssa Campbell was fantastic (both when normal and, especially, when possessed

• Sufficiently different from the original Evil Dead that it felt fresh and wasn't boring.

• Considering all of the Evil Deads were in a cabin in the woods, this felt like a tough ask to feature the entire film in an apartment block. But the new world that was created was dark and gloomy, and certainly fit the bill.

The 'bad':

• It's not an earth shatteringly different movie to ones you may have seen, meaning it's not going to "blow you away". It very much sticks to its lane paying respect to the Evil Dead and even the remake in some parts.

• It is pretty predictable, which can be forgiven by the fact that it's more of a slasher than any psychologically disturbing film (I'd say the 2013 remake was more psychologically disturbing).

• You probably do need to see the original Evil Dead or at least the 2013 remake for a lot of things to make sense (such as how the characters can 'transfer' the demonic spirit), although it's not mandatory.

I think in many ways this reminds me of M3Gan - it's not trying to be a groundbreaking film and reinvent the wheel, it's just testing a moderately new spin on an old Horror trope that doesn't claim to be pretentious. It tries to be something a bit fresh yet familiar, and to that end it succeeds like M3Gan generally did. It's using a cult Horror classic in The Evil Dead (with its classic plot devices and iconic scenes) and reimagining it with a new location, new characters, and a sxxxload of modern day special FX, so it's never going to get the critical acclaim of the original nor get any brownie points for raw originality - and that's ok! What is lacking in originality or a riveting storyline is made up for in gore and in-your-face moments.

In the Q&A Cronin said that even if you didn't like the film, you certainly weren't bored. I would have to agree with that and say that this film definitely will not bore. It will make you squirm in your seat at some of the attacks/kills and it may make you laugh occasionally too. I'd give it a 7.5, which rounds up to an 8 on IMDb for me.

Over a week out from the proper release of this film, my guess is that it does very well. It will settle around a 7.1/7.2 on IMDb, and gross around $200m (and, in the process, gross out a few people!)

Most horror-movies have a slow build-up. This movie does not. S*** hits the fan after about three minutes and does not stop hitting it. If your horror checklist consists of gore, disturbing images and creepy dialogue this would be a nice watch. It offers some real creative angles in these areas.

However, the fast pace comes with some issues. In many other horror movies, you are experiencing wonder. What is happening? What could be happening? Which character would I like to survive most? This movie skips this process entirely. Perhaps this is intentional, to create space to further work out some of the most violent, creepy and gross scenes I have ever seen.

Still, the lack of wonder is a big disappointment for the viewer. It does not feel like the protagonists have a way to survive, it is often questionable to what rules the demon is bound and the characters are making some weird choices (I would´ve done some window throwing). However, you dont care to much because of the gore spectacle that occurs in front of your eyes.

To summarize, I dont think this movie is for everyone. Even amongst horror enthusiasts, since it lacks some exploration and story. If a bunch of shocking scenes would be enough to entertain, however, you will definitely like it.

I haven't seen any of the previous Evil Dead movies. I judged this solely on its own merits. It's well made in many ways. It starts with a really cool opening scene that had my jaw dropped. And an epic opening title shot that reminded me of Fury Road's.

The entire movie is so loud and bombastic. You could say the same about the violence. It's brutal. I love that they take full advantage of the R-rating. It doesn't hold back. I liked all of the kill scenes and carnage.

So why didn't I like this more? I have no idea. I was having a decent time. But I wasn't fully engaged or attached. My mind wandered a couple times. I didn't care about the wellbeing of the characters. It doesn't feel like something I will revisit. There are a few dumb moments but nothing too egregious. I just wasn't that into it.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday UltraScreen 4/20/2023)

After all the hype, the rave reviews, the revealing trailers, and the silly reaction videos (God, how I hate those), Evil Dead Rise turns out to be exactly what I expected: a serviceable sequel, nothing more, nothing less. Like the remake before it, it delivers on the gore, but is lacking in originality and likeable characters.

The film takes place in a rundown apartment building, home to single mother Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and her three obnoxious brats, Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Danny (Morgan Davies) and Kassie (Nell Fisher). After an earthquake hits the area, Danny discovers a secret vault below the building's underground car park where he finds an ancient book and three old records. Playing the discs unleashes an ancient evil that possesses his mother and spreads to other people in the building. On hand to protect the kids and fight the evil is Ellie's sister Beth (Lily Sullivan).

Writer/director Lee Cronin conducts matters in a workmanlike manner, ladling on the blood and slime, killing off characters that might reasonably be expected to survive many a horror movie, and throwing in a few nods to the original movies to appease long-time fans of all things Evil Dead (I particularly enjoyed the EDII flying eyeball scene); unfortunately, the film wastes its promising locale by confining most of the action to one apartment and doesn't generate much in the way of atmosphere or genuine scares (I didn't jump once).

What the film sorely needed was more imagination and creativity (in both story and direction), and characters that I could actually care about -- exactly the qualities that still make the original film the best of the franchise.

5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.

Wow, what an insane movie! In fact, I think it was a little better than Evil Dead (2013).

First of all, I thought the story idea was excellently written. Once it makes you realize what kind of situation it is, it adds a lot more fun than you'd think. The plot worked much better and was more fun than Evil Dead (2013).

The opening scene was decent, with possibly one of the greatest movie title cards in modern horror days. It started well, but later it just got more and more insane. The cast of not-so-well-known actors was really great, with performances that felt like real people who became possessed. Alyssa Sutherland, who played the lead role, absolutely killed it; she was terrifying. I also really liked the night and rainy vibe, which added to the atmosphere. The kills were very fun and gory, exactly what I expected from a movie like this. The special effects were incredible. Although nothing beats the ending of Evil Dead (2013), I thought the ending was decent and cleared up all loose ends. It also added some comedy elements that reminded me of Evil Dead II.

Overall, I was honestly entertained by this movie, which made me feel tense and impressed. I thought it was a very well-done horror movie.

How would I compare this movie to Evil Dead (2013)? I think Evil Dead (2013) was more brutal and gory, with lots of blood, while Evil Dead Rise was more insane and creepy, with a better plot.

For those who have never watched any movies in the franchise, note that you absolutely don't need to watch any of the other movies to understand and enjoy this one.

Groovy!