So, Sebastian Vanicek is the latest filmmaker to get handed the keys to the Evil Dead franchise, and honestly, I kind of love that this is the direction the series has gone. Ever since the 2013 reboot directed by Fede Álvarez, every new installment has brought in a different director with their own style. Evil Dead Rise did it, and now Evil Dead Burn continues that trend. It really feels like the studio just says, “Here’s the franchise. Go have fun with it.”
For the longest time, Evil Dead was one of those horror franchises people would point to and say, “There really isn’t a bad movie in the series.” That’s pretty rare, especially in horror where most franchises eventually stumble. Thankfully, Evil Dead Burn keeps that streak alive. This is another great entry.
One thing I really appreciate about these movies is that they usually cast relatively unknown actors. I think that helps ground everything. These characters feel like real people, which makes all the horrific Deadite chaos hit even harder. If this franchise was constantly filled with huge Hollywood stars, I honestly don’t think it would work nearly as well.
This time around, the story follows a grieving family dealing with the loss of their son. They return to an old family home, only to uncover their family’s long history with the Deadites. Their grandfather belonged to a secret society dedicated to stopping these evil forces, and the family soon finds themselves searching for a mythical dagger capable of killing a Deadite with a single stab.
And honestly… this movie kind of rips.
Every director brings something different to these films while still keeping the DNA that makes Evil Dead what it is. You’ve still got chainsaws, possessed voices whispering “Do it,” limbs flying everywhere, gallons of blood, and some of the nastiest practical gore you’ll see in a mainstream horror movie. But Vanicek adds his own flair with some incredibly creative camerawork. There were multiple shots where I genuinely found myself wondering, “How did they even film that?”
There are some fantastic set pieces too. The car sequence is incredible, there’s an awesome one-take sequence, and overall the movie feels much more physical than Evil Dead Rise. People are getting launched across rooms, fights are bigger, and the action feels a little more chaotic this time around. It’s also surprisingly funny, and yes… there’s a Deadite dog. That’s exactly as entertaining as it sounds.
The gore absolutely delivers. There are multiple moments where your natural instinct is to look away, and when you finally look back… the movie is still going. It just refuses to stop. There’s one sequence involving a dishwasher that was genuinely brutal to sit through, and I mean that as a compliment. If you’re coming to an Evil Dead movie hoping to be grossed out, you’re going to leave happy.
Performance-wise, I thought Luciane Buchanan was phenomenal as Thya. She was easily my favorite Deadite in the movie and completely committed to the role. Souheila Yacoub was also fantastic as Alice, carrying the emotional side of the story really well, while Hunter Doohan also stood out as Joseph.
My biggest complaint is actually the same issue I had with Evil Dead Rise. I wasn’t crazy about the big final possessed creature. Without spoiling anything, a character possessed earlier in the film returns toward the end, and I just thought the design leaned a little too heavily into CGI. Everything before that feels so tactile and physical that the visual effects stood out in a way I didn’t love.
What surprised me most, though, is that underneath all the blood and insanity, there are some genuinely interesting themes. The movie deals with grief, domestic abuse, staying in toxic relationships, hiding abuse from family members, and dysfunctional family dynamics. It doesn’t spend a ton of time digging into those ideas because, at the end of the day, this is still an Evil Dead movie where Deadites are trying to tear everyone apart, but they’re there if you’re paying attention.
I also like where the franchise seems to be heading. Between Evil Dead Rise and Evil Dead Burn, it feels like the world is getting bigger. Deadites don’t just feel like an isolated cabin problem anymore—they’re becoming a much larger threat. The two post-credit scenes definitely tease that something bigger is coming, and with Evil Dead Wrath already on the horizon, I can’t help but wonder if they’re building toward some kind of crossover with all of these modern-era survivors. I honestly think that would be pretty awesome.
I also appreciate that every movie introduces a new director and a completely new cast. Every installment finds fresh ways to horrify you instead of simply trying to outdo the previous movie. At the same time, after building this universe since 2013, I do think it’s about time the franchise takes a bigger swing.
Sure, there are still those classic horror movie moments where characters make unbelievably dumb decisions. You’ll probably roll your eyes once or twice and think, “Why would anyone do that?” But five minutes later somebody’s getting mutilated in some ridiculously creative way, and you kind of forget all about it.
Overall, I had a blast with Evil Dead Burn. It’s funny, disgusting, intense, beautifully shot, packed with memorable kills, and another worthy addition to one of horror’s most consistently entertaining franchises.
The box office wasn’t exactly on fire this weekend, but these movies aren’t made with enormous budgets. They don’t need superhero numbers to be successful. Hopefully enough people show up because I definitely want more Evil Dead. Bring on Evil Dead Wrath. I can’t wait to see where this franchise goes next.
Evil Dead Burn = 73/100
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