Review: EVIL DEAD RISE Takes Audiences on a Terrifying Blood-Soaked Ride
Hold onto your broomsticks and chainsaws folks, because the Evil Dead franchise is back with an all new film, Evil Dead Rise, and it takes audiences on one hell of a terrifying blood-soaked ride! The latest installment in the iconic horror franchise delivers all the gore, thrills, screams, and Deadite demonic possessions that we've come to expect from the films.
Director Lee Cronin, who helmed the critically acclaimed horror flick The Hole in the Ground, brings a fresh and exhilarating vision to the table. His ability to create tension and atmosphere is masterful, and he does an amazing job telling a truly nightmarish story.
In the story, a reunion between two estranged sisters, Ellie and Beth, is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. Those sisters are played by Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan and they bring a raw intensity and emotional depth to their roles.
This film was a unique chapter in the franchise as the setting is different from anything we’ve seen before. It’s set in an old apartment complex in the city, and after an earthquake, an old vault is exposed where the Book of the Dead is found by Ellie’s oldest son, and we can thank him and his curiosity for unleashing the Deadites.
The building in which the characters are trapped is also a great setting. The cramped, claustrophobic environment adds to the sense of dread and hopelessness. The constant feeling of being trapped and hunted is incredibly intense, and it creates a sense of paranoia and fear.
This movie definitely pushes the boundaries of the franchise and one of the things that takes the horror to the next level is that it involves kids. Having kids of my own, it’s hard to watch movies where kids are put in intense and dangerous situations, and this movie does that in the most bone-chilling and brutal ways.
The film takes audiences on a visceral, no-holds-barred thrill ride that will leave you gasping for air. From the jaw-dropping opening sequence to the heart-pumping finale, this movie is a non-stop rollercoaster of terror. The movie is a relentless barrage of blood, gore, and jump scares that will have you gripping your seat and you might even find yourself covering your eyes at some points.
The visual effects in the movie are also fantastically horrific and seriously gruesome and the movie doesn’t pull any punches. The makeup and prosthetics used to turn the actors into demonic deadites are nothing short of impressive and it leads to one of the most grotesque and disgusting monsters that we’ve ever seen in the Evil Dead franchise.
The movie is also expertly shot and edited, with a keen sense of timing and pacing that keeps you fully engulfed in this nightmare of a ride. The camera work is also very much inspired by what we’ve seen in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead movies, with its dizzying and disorienting style, which adds to the sense of chaos and madness that permeates the entire film.
I also want to point out the awesome and unsettling sound design, which is one of the things that really ties the film together and intensifies all the horror. It will definitely shiver down your spine.
Evil Dead Rise is not a movie for the faint of heart or squeamish, but for those who are brave enough to take the plunge into the pool of blood, it's an experience that they won't soon forget. Evil Dead Rise is an absolute must-see for horror fans. So grab your chainsaws and get ready for one hell of a ride!
