When Beth (Lily Sullivan) discovers life-changing personal news, she visits her sister, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland). Ellie has always been there for Beth and is the one she can count on when every poor choice is made. It doesn’t help that Beth considers herself a continual screw-up. As a single mother to three children, Ellie also faces many challenges. Currently living in an old rundown apartment building in Los Angeles which is scheduled to be knocked down next month, she is forced to look for somewhere new to settle down while continuing to work as a tattoo artist and care for her children.
When Beth turns to Ellie for help and support, it’s not long until this entire family encounters an ancient book that brings birth to demons who crave nothing but blood and desire to torture every soul on earth. Now, the two sisters and the young children are stuck inside their apartment, finding ways to survive the fight and escape the ultimate terror.
For those unaware, Evil Dead Rise serves as a fifth instalment to the popular franchise. Those unfamiliar with the franchise will be pleased to know this film serves as a whole new story, introducing many characters who have never appeared in the series until now. Sure, there are few references to past movies and call backs to popular one-liners, but these feel more like easter eggs than information you must know.
If you live for horror films that are highly tense to watch and filled with gruesome violence, including lots of blood, welcome to Evil Dead Rise. The film easily warrants its R18+ rating and is filled with many uncomfortable and disturbing moments. Unlike some of the past Evil Dead films, which at times introduce a comedic tone, this newest instalment is all about horror. If you enjoyed the previous movies for their randomness and fun, the suspense in this will disappoint you.
As a film, I’m proud to say I had much fun here. To my surprise, the film begins with what feels fairly familiar and nothing out of the ordinary. However, a strong build-up begins as the intense film progresses, and everything on-screen becomes wild, crazy, and horrific. For the most part, everything on-screen feels unpredictable, including the plot and its story. Visually, this film is a joy to see. It’s dark, creepy, and believable. In the area of gore and violence, brace yourself- it looks real. Some moments are mind-blowing, especially the large amounts of blood shown throughout. Leading performances from both Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland are refreshing and highly impressive. As for any issues with the film, they were things I struggled with personally, such as making some moments overly loud to scare the audience, poor character choices, and some scenes that feel shorter with tight cuts. Still, we are given a horror film with a pleasing runtime.
Overall, Evil Dead Rise does not disappoint whether you are a fan of the series or being introduced to this bloody world for the first time. Leading performances from Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland were impressive and wonderful, along with the film’s strong visuals, such as the dark and gritty location. Fans of all things relating to horror, gore, violence, and blood will be delighted here too. There are plenty of uncomfortable moments. The film successfully brings a gruesome nightmare to life, leaving audiences wanting more or perhaps desiring to go back in time and revisit previous films in the popular franchise.
8.1/10
20th April 2023
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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