EVIL DEAD BURN
Cast: Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Errol Shand, and Maude Davey
Director: Sébastien Vaniček
BODE
If you took Evil Dead and filtered it through the New French Extremity lens, it would probably look like that franchise’s latest instalment, Evil Dead Burn. Wearing its visceral energy like a badge of honour, director Sébastien Vaniček places his stamp with a mean streak not seen since the 2013 reboot, and brutal set pieces so unflinching that I’m frankly shocked that this movie got away with an R-rating. It can slip up whenever it tries to get at something deeper, creating the occasional tonal clash, and I could do without its two post-credits scenes. Nevertheless, it’s a solidly messed-up time.
ROBERT
The 21st century hadn’t initially been as kind to the Evil Dead franchise as the 20th. Then, a Starz show and Evil Dead Rise put wind back in its sails, and now, it spreads its wings again with Evil Dead Burn. It doesn’t have a campy bone in its body, but it connects with its unrelenting gore and action, and even though it isn’t always successful, it attempts to further expand the lore through the veil of generational turmoil passed down through an unlucky family. The effects were shocking and grounded and left me wanting more. Hail to the King, baby!
