Evil Dead Rise
Written and Directed by Lee Cronin
Starring Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher
Rated R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, and some language
Runtime 97 minutes 
In Theaters April 21

by Tori Potenza, Staff Writer

It has been 10 years since Fede Alvarez’s Evil Dead remake hit theaters. In this day and age where it feels everything is constantly being rebooted and sequelized to death, that is a surprisingly long time (rivaled only by the Friday the 13th and Elm Street franchises, which has not had a movie since 2009 and 2010, respectively). But perhaps all of this time in between movies gave time for horror fans to appreciate the 2013 movie and also get excited for a new installment. One that takes note from Army of Darkness and takes the Deadites out of the cabin. Helmed by indie film writer/director Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise brings Evil Dead into the city, and gives this installment a character-driven focus that gives stakes to the immense amount of horror that awaits them. 

The majority of Evil Dead Rise’s cast is comprised of fresh faces. Lily Sullivan leads as Beth, a guitar technician who makes a surprise visit to her sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and her three children. Soon after arriving an earthquake hits their apartment complex and in the aftermath Ellie’s children unearth the “Book of the Dead” which unleashes untold horrors on the family that they must try and escape. If you have seen the Evil Dead movies before, these will sound like familiar beats, and it continues to honor the tropes and traditions of the series from there while also enhancing the story by adding its own unique elements. 

Movies like The Raid, Satan’s Slaves II, and Dredd have proven that the apartment complex can be a great setting for some unique action and horrific moments. The particularly decrepit state of the apartment building in this movie offers plenty of fun puzzles the characters have to try and solve in order to get away from the demonic figures who pursue them. It also means that there are plenty of unique tools in the home that can be used as potential weapons. A wine glass, cheese grater, and childrens toys all play essential parts in some of the more memorable moments of gore. 

Evil Dead Rise has a tight 97 minute runtime. In that time, there is a balance between moments of important character development and the bloodsoaked practical effects that Evil Dead fans have come to expect. This balance gives it a perfect pace that allows for viewers to care about the main characters and enjoy several practically stunning scenes of violence. Your buy- in to the family’s struggle gives the story stakes that are missing from the earlier installments in the franchise. While the older movies have some incredible performances, they do not flesh out most of their characters, instead focusing on the chaotic imagery and horror. Cronin wrote a story that blends these elements together, giving it weight while also having fun. 

It is impossible to talk about this movie and not focus on Alyssa Sutherland’s incredible performance as Ellie. Her beautiful dramatic features make her look perfect under the special effects make up. It is clear that she had a blast in her role as evil Deadite mommy. We can only hope that she gets to continue playing these sinister characters in the future. Of course, this movie also focuses on three children in peril, which also adds stakes to the story. Nell Fisher gives an adorable performance as Kassie who faces life-altering traumatic moments in this movie. Lily Sullivan also has the final girl energy of many horror actors before her. It is hard to imagine the horror community not rallying around this cast. 

While Evil Dead Rise does a tremendous job enhancing and honoring the mythology of the original films, it also pays homage to a host of classic horror movies. This is especially true with its practical effects, and also imagery reminiscent of The Shining, Society, The Thing. It does all this while standing on its own with a well-crafted story. It also leaves the door open for other stories to be told within the Evil Dead universe.