EVIL DEAD BURN Director Explains Why Real Fire Was Essential - “Imperfections Are Hard to Recreate”
One thing that has always helped the Evil Dead franchise stand out is its commitment to putting as much chaos as possible in front of the camera. From Sam Raimi's scrappy 1981 classic to the blood-soaked reboots and sequels that followed, practical effects have remained a huge part of the series' identity.
Even as visual effects technology has evolved, the filmmakers behind these movies have continued to lean into real-world horror whenever they can.
That tradition carries into Evil Dead Burn, and according to Sébastien Vanicek, there was one element he refused to fake with CGI: the fire.
Speaking with ComicBook ahead of the film's release, Vanicek explained that once he knew the title of the movie, he knew real flames had to become part of the production.
“As soon as I knew the title was Burn, I was like, I will need real fire on set because Evil Dead is all about practical effects. It’s not even about respecting the legacy. It’s because that’s why they work so well.
“Things are done on set and things are real. And even if people are not like, oh, that’s CG right away, they can feel something is a little bit odd or something is less physical. There are a lot of imperfections in reality, and those imperfections are really hard to recreate in CG.”
It's an interesting point, especially when so many modern productions rely on digital fire. While audiences might not always be able to explain why something looks different, Vanicek believes they can instinctively tell when an effect doesn't have the weight and unpredictability of the real thing. Fire doesn't move in perfect patterns, and those natural imperfections help sell every terrifying moment.
That commitment to practical filmmaking also ties into the experience Vanicek wants audiences to have once the credits roll. His goal wasn't simply to make another horror movie. He wanted to leave viewers feeling like they'd survived an exhausting ride.
“The feeling they have when they left the theater, and they were physically drained,” Vanicek said of his hopes for audiences. “I hope so because that’s what I tried to create, to have a roller coaster experience.
“I know the price of a movie ticket. I know it’s hard for people, and I know when they pay for that, they want to leave something huge. And that’s what I tried to create.”
Every director who steps into the Evil Dead universe brings something different to the table. Fede Álvarez gave fans one of the most brutally intense entries in the franchise with Evil Dead (2013), while Lee Cronin delivered an unforgettable apartment building nightmare with Evil Dead Rise. Now Vanicek gets his chance to leave his own mark on the series.
The future is already looking busy for the franchise as well. Evil Dead Wrath, directed by Francis Galluppi, has already wrapped filming ahead of its planned 2028 release.
Rather than hoping future filmmakers build directly on his ideas, Vanicek is excited to see each creative team carve out its own unique corner of the Evil Dead universe.
“We will see what happens in the future, but I’m sure Francis (Galluppi) did his own movie, and he will do a great movie. It’s his own piece, his own style,” Vanicek said. “That will be, again, a big surprise for the audience.
“I can’t wait to see it because he doesn’t replicate anything. It will be his own piece. It’s like playing the best video game. All of them are completely different, but they’re in the same universe. That’s what makes the franchise still alive.”
That's really been one of the franchise's biggest strengths over the last several years. Instead of repeating the same formula, each filmmaker has been free to embrace the series' gruesome spirit while telling a completely different kind of nightmare. As long as that approach continues, Evil Dead looks like it'll keep finding new ways to horrify audiences.
Evil Dead Burn slashes its way into theaters on July 10, 2026.