Evil Dead Rise (2023)
My History with the Film:
The 2013 Evil Dead if my favorite horror film of all-time, so naturally I was thrilled when a new Evil Dead movie as announced, even if it was originally announced as an HBO Max exclusive. Once the Warner Brothers Discovery merger was completed, it was decided that Evil Dead would be released in theaters, due in part to horror still being a big box office draw post pandemic. Someone at WB/Discovery got a raise because Evil Dead rise made $146 million on its $19 million dollar budget.
Due to the neighborhood around my local Alamo Drafthouse becoming a bit rough, and after the sale of Mondo to Funko, the lobby of Alamo Drafthouse looks pathetic. What was once the crown jewel movie theater, is slowly slipping into a rough state and that bums me, because it’s the only movie theater I enjoy going to. Even the food has gone downhill, and with this in mind, I decided to wait for VOD to watch Evil Dead Rise which came out just three weeks after it debuted in theaters.
What the Film is About (Non-Spoiler):
Two estranged sisters find themselves in a broken-down apartment building trying to survive from deadites.
What I Liked About It:
-The opening sequence is fantastic. It’s arguably the best of the series and I really love the 2013 opening sequence.
-The film isn’t shy about bringing the gore and keeps the CGI limited, which two of my qualifications to truly enjoy a film.
-I felt the acting was very solid, especially by Alyssa Sutherland who portrayed Ellie, the mother of the children. ::Slight spoiler:: Her turn as a deadite was memorable and terrifying.
-I’m always a fan of old technology being used in horror, and the use of a record in place of a tape, was a great design choice and led to the belief that a teenager would have something to listen to it on.
-The final scene was a lot of fun once I made sense of it all and I always appreciate horror films that can pull that off successfully.
What I Didn’t Like About It:
-N/A
Additional Notes:
-The movie was filmed in New Zealand, the same place Hercules and Xena was filmed which Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert produced.
-1,720 gallons of fake blood were used in the film.
-Bruce Campbell did a voice cameo on the vinyl record as well as some foley work. Three is a scene around an eye, and the munch sound was Bruce furiously eating an apple.
Rating:
While not as serious and unrelenting as Evil Dead (2013), Evil Dead Rise is a very solid installment in the franchise. It keeps with a more serious tone, which I think is suitable for today’s audience. I’m hoping the success of this film leads to more sequels that aren’t spaced ten years apart.
I rate Evil Dead Rise as four out of a five and say it’s a high priority rental.
