Evil Dead Burn is directed by Sébastien Vaniček, who co-wrote the film alongside Florent Bernard. The film stars Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Tandi Wright, and more.
Going into this film, I was incredibly excited. I’m a huge fan of the Evil Dead franchise. While I haven’t covered most of the films in the series since starting my YouTube channel, I did review Evil Dead Rise, and I’ve loved this franchise for years. I grew up watching Sam Raimi’s original films, enjoyed the 2013 remake, and I love that we’re in an era where we’re getting multiple new installments. We had Evil Dead Rise just a few years ago, now Burn, and Wrath is already on the horizon. It’s exciting to see new directors and writers getting the opportunity to expand this world while delivering the over-the-top, bloody horror that makes this franchise so much fun.
I had a really good time with Evil Dead Burn.
The film follows Alice, a woman who retreats to her late husband’s family home after his death, hoping to find comfort and begin healing. Instead, an ancient evil is unleashed when the Necronomicon awakens, transforming her grieving family into bloodthirsty Deadites. As the demonic infection spreads throughout the household, Alice must fight to survive a night of unimaginable carnage while discovering that a vow she made in life may endure even in death.
One question many people are going to have is whether this is a direct sequel to Evil Dead Rise. The answer is both yes and no. For the most part, Burn stands entirely on its own. It introduces a brand-new cast, story, and setting, making it easy for newcomers to jump in without feeling lost. Longtime fans, however, will notice plenty of Easter eggs, references, and pieces of franchise lore that enhance the experience. The only major connection comes during the post-credit scene, which directly ties into Evil Dead Rise. Outside of that, this is very much its own standalone story.
During the first 30 to 40 minutes, I found myself thinking that the trailer had shown way too much. If you’re someone who goes to the theater every week like I do, you’ve probably seen that trailer countless times over the past few months. Unfortunately, many of the film’s early surprises, including several character reveals and major moments, are featured in the marketing.
Thankfully, once the film reaches its second half, it has far more surprises in store than I expected. The trailer barely scratches the surface of the chaos that unfolds later on. There are plenty of gruesome set pieces, unexpected developments, and wild moments that aren’t spoiled ahead of time, and I was relieved to discover that the movie still had plenty left to surprise me.
What I found especially interesting was the film’s central theme. Beneath all of the gore and carnage is a story about domestic abuse and the experience of marrying into a family that refuses to acknowledge the abuse happening right in front of them. Alice has been trapped in an unhealthy marriage, yet her husband’s family views him as someone who can do no wrong. The film uses the Deadites at times as both a literal threat and a metaphor for the emotional abuse and dysfunction that has consumed this family. Sometimes it’s subtle, and sometimes it’s very direct, but I appreciated that the movie had something meaningful beneath all of the bloodshed.
Souheila Yacoub gives a fantastic performance as Alice. She’s a French woman who married into an American family that never fully accepted her, and as the story unfolds, you begin to understand why she’s become guarded and emotionally distant. She’s a compelling protagonist, and I thought Yacoub handled both the emotional material and the physical demands of the role extremely well.
Hunter Doohan also delivers a strong performance, and while Tandi Wright was probably the most recognizable face for me alongside Doohan, I thought the entire cast did a great job.
The real standouts, though, are the actors who portray the Deadites. Luciane Buchanan, who appears throughout much of the marketing, is absolutely fantastic. She captures everything that makes a great Deadite. She’s creepy, unsettling, funny, and impossible to take your eyes off of. Without spoiling who else becomes possessed, I’ll simply say that every performer who gets the chance to embrace the Deadite persona absolutely commits to it, delivering performances that are grotesque, over-the-top, and incredibly entertaining.
Another standout is Maude Davey as Polly, the elderly grandmother living with dementia. The film uses her condition for moments of levity throughout the story, and she becomes surprisingly important during several of the film’s biggest sequences. She brought some unexpected humor while also contributing to the overall tension in ways I didn’t see coming.
From a filmmaking standpoint, Evil Dead Burn is excellent. The cinematography is beautiful, featuring several memorable long takes, including the incredible sequence showcased in the original teaser trailer. The practical effects are exactly what fans of this franchise want to see. There are gallons of blood, gruesome body horror, and some wonderfully disgusting practical makeup effects throughout the film.
Early on, I actually wondered if this might end up being a little tame compared to previous Evil Dead films. While I still wouldn’t call it the bloodiest installment in the franchise, the second half more than delivers the over-the-top carnage fans expect. If you’re hoping for outrageous gore, you’re absolutely going to get it.
The sound design is also outstanding. Every crunch, slice, stab, and bone-breaking moment feels incredibly visceral, and the eerie musical score does an excellent job of enhancing the film’s atmosphere.
There is some CGI throughout the film, particularly during the final 15 minutes, and a few of the digital blood effects aren’t quite as convincing as the practical work. Thankfully, those moments never pulled me out of the experience in any significant way.
What I appreciated most is that Evil Dead Burn isn’t just another gorefest. Underneath all of the violence is a story about trauma, abuse, dysfunctional families, and the emotional scars people carry with them. It gives the movie a layer that elevates it beyond simply watching people get hacked apart for 100 minutes.
That said, I wouldn’t call the story deeply emotional or say that every character is particularly likable. In fact, most of the family members are intentionally frustrating people. Even Alice isn’t immediately easy to root for, but as you learn more about what she’s endured, her behavior begins to make perfect sense. This isn’t a film where you’re emotionally attached to everyone and desperately hoping they survive. Instead, it’s a collection of deeply flawed people thrown into an absolutely horrific situation, and that train wreck quality makes it incredibly entertaining to watch.
The pacing is another strength. Once things get moving, the film rarely slows down outside of brief moments needed for exposition. I never found myself bored, and I stayed engaged from beginning to end.
As a longtime fan of the franchise, I walked away really satisfied. I think Evil Dead Burn is another excellent entry in the series that successfully balances gruesome horror with surprisingly thoughtful themes. It may not be perfect, but it’s an intense, entertaining ride that delivers exactly what fans of Evil Dead are looking for.
One final note for anyone who may be sensitive to certain content. While the film obviously contains extreme violence toward humans, there is also a scene involving graphic animal violence. An animal is stabbed multiple times on screen, so if that’s something you’re particularly sensitive to, it’s worth keeping in mind before going in.
Overall, I had a blast with Evil Dead Burn. It’s another strong installment in one of horror’s most consistently entertaining franchises.
Rating: 8/10