The Evil Dead franchise has been going strong for over forty years. Though each film sticks to a tried and true formula like isolated locations, nasty infected creatures called deadites and gory practical effects), the films have always offered something new and exciting and that is why the franchise is still relevant to this day.
Evil Dead Burn(2026) continues the story of Evil Dead Rise (2023) as it sees the evil dead (deadites) as they seek an ancient artifact that could destroy them before they set out to destroy the world. The film stars Souheila Yacoub, as Alice, a french woman who seeks comfort from her in-laws after an accident? kills her husband. The movie takes place at a secluded house where the family is taken over by deadites and Alice must find the ancient artifact and not only save herself but perhaps the world.
Critics and audience members alike are calling Burn one of the nastiest and meanest Evil Dead films to date. While I tend to agree for the most part, ( there is a part that involves the harming of a dog, and if you are an animal lover you may want to look away). There are fingers being cut off, candle wax being drunk like water and while no chainsaws in this one, there is a weed whacker. I do think there is enough humor to balance the horror and dread. The Grandmother in particular is a hoot and every scene with her is a delight.
One of the strengths of the recent Evil Dead movies have been the wonderful voices behind the camera. Fede Alverez directed the remake in 2013, Lee Cronin directed evil Dead Rise in 2023 and now we have french director Sebastien Vanicek for Burn. Sebastien keeps the camera flowing and moves the camera at such a frantic pace that it’s a little hard to keep up. There are two set pieces in the movie, one involving three people in a car and one that involves a fight in the house that are to me not only some of the best scenes in a horror film but maybe in any film I have seen in decades.
I will say that the film begins to lose a little steam in the 3rd act mostly because it stops sticking to the formula that makes Evil Dead well Evil Dead. For one, the setting opens up and stops being claustrophobic and secondly it begins to use CGI and it makes the “final boss” not a real threat. In the end though, the film is innovative and it continues the lore of the deadites and makes the audience and me wanting to see what the next chapter will bring.
