Evil Dead Rise, the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, directed by Lee Cronin, kicks off with a head fake that sets the tone for the movie. The audience is treated to a tracking shot through the woods, which typically signifies the arrival of a deadite looking for its next victim. However, the shot concludes with the revelation that it was a drone all along. This subversion of expectations frees the viewer from anticipating the usual formula and allows them to enjoy the ride.
The previous films in the series, which began with the 1981 classic Evil Dead, feature the character of Ash Williams, who is played by Bruce Campbell. Ash battles the forces of evil and the undead, also known as deadites, in a cabin in the woods. The franchise has since spawned two sequels and a TV series. Evil Dead Rise, however, takes a different approach by introducing a new cast of characters.
The film follows the story of a single mother, Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), and her three children, Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Danny (Morgan Davies), and Kassie (Nell Fisher), who reside in a dilapidated apartment building. Each character is well-developed, and the audience is invested in their lives before the events of the movie take place.
When an earthquake opens up a hole in the parking garage, Danny ventures inside and discovers old records and one of the three Necronomicons, the book of the dead. He takes the book and records back to his room, where he begins to listen to the tracks and read the book. However, he soon unleashes an evil force that possesses his mother, Ellie, and turns her into a deadite.
The movie’s camera work is exceptional, paying homage to the previous films in the franchise with many callbacks to the original director Sam Raimi’s style. The cinematography is stunning, with contrasting lights and darks and beautiful color use, even when portraying the gory and gruesome elements of the movie.
Evil Dead Rise is highly inventive in its attempts to scare the audience. The writing is excellent, with some of the most unsettling and horrific dialogue heard in the franchise. The film is not just a visual gorefest; it also makes the audience cringe with its spoken words.
The final climactic battle contains a line that will make fans of the original films cheer. The ending leaves the film wide open for a sequel, and if they continue to make movies of this caliber, viewers will be eager to watch them.
Evil Dead Rise is a fun, inventive, and blood-filled horror movie that exceeds expectations. It is a great addition to the Evil Dead franchise and proves that the series still has life in it yet.
WORDS: brice.
IMAGE CREDIT: STUDIOCANAL.
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