There hasn’t been an Evil Dead in a decade, but with Rise, that finally changes—and boy, was it worth the wait.
Lee Cronin gets a crack at the demonic franchise this time around, and he quickly proves that he’s the perfect man for the job.
For those comparing the movie to the original three films, just know that it comes far closer to 2013’s reboot. Though, it features plenty of dark comedic bits, so don’t go in thinking it’ll be a completely humorless affair.
Coming from someone who loves the previous Jane Levy installment, landing close to what that reboot pulled off is nothing but good news.
Climbing the Highrise
The move into a skyscraper this time around really helped to make Evil Dead Rise feel fresh and provide a unique horror experience. The film masterfully takes advantage of that cramped apartment layout while also intelligently using the wider set piece of a skyscraper apartment building.
With that said, however, one part of the story that could have used a little improvement was an acknowledgment of other tenets in the building. At the beginning of the film, you are briefly introduced to a handful of locals on the same floor, but besides them, other tenants in the building are rarely seen.
This makes it feel very empty. It’s almost unnatural that out of the many floors, only the one being focused on in the story has any residences.
The story does try and offer up some logic to explain the circumstances. Audiences can choose to lean on those reasonings if they desire, but personally, I felt like those arguments could have used a little bit more narrative explanation.
The Brutal Leads
While Jane Levy is a big act to follow, Lily Sullivan does a terrific job taking the lead. She’s instantly relatable, and her character’s struggles perfectly add thematic complexity to the horrific events that start unfolding.
Instead of Sullivan doing double duty like Levy had to, this time around, the role of the possessed went to another character: Alyssa Sutherland’s Ellie.
Sutherland is simply phenomenal. She puts her entire heart and soul into her performance, which causes the audience to sympathize with the late mother of three, be terrified of her, and laugh at the demon’s demented antics.
The rest of the cast is just as great.
Both Gabrielle Echols’ Bridget and Morgan Davies’ Danny didn’t get much focus in the marketing, but their performances are able to keep stride with everyone around them without any effort.
Without saying too much, there were some faces that I wish I had stuck around for longer. As is the case with these movies, not everyone makes it out.
The Evil Dead Gorey Charm
When it comes to the gore levels of this new installment, compared to the 2013 remake, Fede Alverez’s adventure certainly takes the cake. He found the perfect blend of practicality with CGI enhancements.
For Rise, the world is plenty brutal, but maybe not to the insane degree as before. Though, it’s worth noting that an unrated cut could help fix that.
It’s also important to point out how it’s not a flaw for the film to be just a little less gruesome or bloody (though there is plenty of blood). Lee Conin’s horror experience does so much fantastically well that it would be a shame to consider the movie lesser for simply not cutting another tongue in two.
Don’t be mistaken, however—there’s plenty of blood to be found here.
Evil Dead Rise Is A Triumph
While it sucks that fans of the Evil Dead franchise had to wait so long for another theatrical outing, the wait was worth it. Unless one actively despises what the 2013 reboot accomplished, audiences should find plenty of enjoyment in Rises.
With the movie’s success at the box office, hopefully, that means more will be on its way sooner rather than later. It just took ten years for another movie—fingers crossed that history doesn’t repeat itself.
What would be great is if the next entry pulls together characters from all three generations. After all, who wouldn’t want to see that?
Evil Dead Rise is now playing in theaters.
