Day 18: Evil Dead Rise - An Insanely Violent Deadite Nightmare.
Evil Dead Rise, the fifth entry in the long-running horror franchise, is a movie I really enjoyed. I first watched it when it originally came out, so I already knew what was going to happen, but rewatching it for our 31 Days of Fear proved that it’s still an insanely fun ride. Directed by Lee Cronin, the story follows Beth (Lily Sullivan) as she visits her estranged sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) after finding out she’s pregnant. What follows is an intense, violent, and surprisingly funny look at a family trying to survive a full-blown Deadite nightmare.
The movie opens with cousins Teresa and Jessica, along with Jessica’s boyfriend Caleb, vacationing at a lakeside cabin. Things seem normal until Jessica is revealed to be possessed by a Deadite. She scalps her cousin, decapitates Caleb, and rises from the lake in one of the film’s most striking openings. These characters are not the main focus, but the scene pays off later as the story ties everything together.
The real story centers on Beth and her estranged sister Ellie, who is raising her three kids, Danny, Bridget, and Kassie, alone in their Los Angeles apartment after her husband walked out. Beth comes looking for support after discovering she is pregnant, but the reunion is tense, showing how distant the sisters have become. When the kids head out to grab pizza, an earthquake shakes the city, and cracks open a hidden chamber beneath the building’s parking lot. Danny, being curious, explores it and discovers three phonograph records and a strange, sinister-looking book, and that is when things take a very sinister turn.
The book turns out to be one of three volumes of the Naturom Demento, better known as The Book of the Dead. And honestly, I’ll never understand the logic behind seeing a creepy, flesh-bound book covered in teeth-looking symbols and thinking, “Yeah, let’s take this home.” Like, what about that screams good idea? Still, Danny’s curiosity wins out. Despite his sister’s protests, he dives right into investigating its contents, and that one reckless decision becomes the very thing that opens the door for the Deadites to invade their world and possess their mother.
Alyssa Sutherland gives a phenomenal performance as a woman possessed by a demon. She’s intense, passionate, and even manages to slip in bits of dark humor without breaking the tension. It’s heartbreaking to watch because, deep down, she’s a victim who clearly loves her children and would never hurt them if she weren’t possessed. Still, she’s so captivating on screen that you can’t look away, no matter how horrific things get.
The rest of the cast deliver strong performances, making Evil Dead Rise a thrilling and enjoyable watch from start to finish. It’s not perfect, and the lore could have gone a bit deeper, but for what it is, this is an easy recommendation for any horror fan. The film looks great, is sharply edited, and it’s hard to believe it was made for under $20 million. With Evil Dead Burn set to hit theaters on July 24th, 2026, the future of the franchise looks bright, and delightfully bloody.