I’m one who will die on the hill that there has never been a bad Evil Dead movie. Since its debut in 1981, Evil Dead has been regarded as one of the most popular and successful horror franchises. What started from a simple demonic story of a cabin adventure getaway, the series enters new territories, each taking the helm from Sam Raimi and delivering their own take on the franchise. Following 2023’s Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise, Sébastien Vaniček takes the director’s chair to continue the bloody good streak with Evil Dead Burn.
Evil Dead Burn follows recently widowed Alice Price (Souheila Yacoub), seeking solace and comfort with the in-laws at one of their secluded homes. What should’ve been a memorial honorary dinner for her husband William (George Pullar) turns into a nightmare dinner party with the visit from Deadites. One by one, it seems like no one is safe from the demonic forces unleashed from the Necromonicon Ex-Mortis, also known as The Book of the Dead. While Burn delivers on the gore and bloodbath that audiences love, it also sets a worrisome future for the franchise.
Thanks to her performance as Alice, Souheila Yacoub establishes herself as a new scream queen in horror. She is able to craft Alice into a survivor whose main goal is to escape the pain and suffering she had endured but is dragged back in by the Deadites. The cast themselves did a great job bringing to life the Deadites and embracing the sinister atmosphere that fans of the franchise love, while not shying away from the dark humour. I do admit the comedic moments with the grandmother Polly (Maude Davey) got good laughs and I have a soft spot for her character, thanks in part to dealing with my own grandfather’s dementia. It never felt exploitative or insensitive.
Not only is this the longest film of the franchise but also deals with the darkest themes. While the film explores grief and guilt, it also tackles the darker themes of domestic violence. The film manages to handle them effectively and captures Alice as a survivor who still feels trapped. Souheila’s raw portrayal elevates the film to showcase Alice’s internal struggle to move on; even during the honorary dinner with the in-laws, she still cannot escape Will’s lingering presence. The Deadites’ taunting adds to the realism of the film’s themes. It is left up to interpretation as to whether or not the Price family knew, which is terrifying to think about. Cleverly, each member fits into the film’s core themes. Will’s brother Joseph (Hunter Doohan) is a struggling writer who’s frustrated with writer’s block. The parents Edgar and Sarah (Erroll Shand and Tandi Wright) are the emotionally repressed and strict type who blame Alice for Will’s death, while unknowingly being the reason Will became the person he was.
The film does not shy away from the blood and gore that fans of the franchise are familiar with. If you thought Rise was the goriest and most mean spirited out of them, Evil Dead Burn takes it to a whole new level. A trend I have noticed is the creative freedom that each director is allowed to reflect the film’s bloody nature. Rise was able to utilize the single room apartment cleverly, using regular household appliances for the Deadites. Sébastien Vaničk does utilize similar features but never feels like a copy of Lee Cronin. One main difference is the unnecessary repeated exposition scattered during the first two acts; as established early on, the connection between the Necronomicon and the Price is told yet the film keeps needing to remind audiences to its detriment.
Evil Dead Burn does end up having an uneven third act and questions where the franchise is headed towards. What made the third act not on par with the rest of the film was heavily relying on CGI. The franchise has established itself to be creative with the use of practical effects and it is unfortunate to see the film needing dodgy CGI for the climax. When the horror is removed, the audiences will feel less suspense. It is unfortunate because the symbolism is important to the film’s core theme. It is worrisome to wonder if the franchise will strive away from the use of practical effects, something that has been a staple of the series.
Evil Dead Burn continues the streak of the franchise never having a bad film. It brings the gore, dark humour, and the mean spirited violence fans are familiar with. Despite that, it is a let down during the third act compared to previous installments. Even if audiences don’t click with the latest film, we can all agree that Yacoub is welcomed as a new scream queen in horror.
Watch the trailer right here.
All images via Warner Bros. Discovery.
Directed by Sébastien Vaniček
Screenplay by Sébastien Vaniček, Florent Bernard, from characters created by Sam Raimi
Produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert
Starring Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand, Tandi Wright, Maude Davey
Premiere Date: July 10, 2026
Running Time: 110 minutes
Other Writers Say…
Jaime Rebanal
Gnarly as you would want for an Evil Dead movie. It delivers on the gore, to a point where maybe the New French Extremity comparisons seem warranted (unsurprising, considering the director’s background). I think there comes a certain point where you’ll want to question the many decisions these people make, but it being a film about a grieving family helps puts things into perspective. And it’s trying to do something with being a film about spousal abuse, and the resentments within the family. This is where I also find the film is less successful, because it’s trying to jam too much into what’s also a horror spectacle – where you’d want nothing but relentless bloodshed. Tonally, you sense that there’s a massive clash happening, and it’s hard to buy into moments that attempt profundity.
It’s a bit too long though at near two hours, which is inexcusable when the entries in Raimi’s original trilogy cap at the 90 minute mark. The recent Evil Dead reboots also are around this same running time; it’s hard to imagine that there’s any justification for this length. Still, Souheila Yacoub is a great lead – doing everything she can to prove herself a great scream queen. That’s where I find it’s easy to give Evil Dead Burn high marks. I also don’t think it needs the extra post-credits scenes, because they don’t really offer much else to the story. Still, the gore – if you’re a hound, you’ll have a good time. I certainly did, at least when I knew it provided what I came for.
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