B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise into the ol’ VCR. 

CW/TW: Flashing lights and TONS of gore. 

I love the entire Evil Dead franchise (and just because of my massive crush on Bruce Campbell). And, it’s officially safe to say that Evil Dead Rise is a welcome addition to the family. 

Thanks to the likes of this film and Scream VI, I’ve become a convert of taking a franchise out of its motherland; it seems that Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan might be the exception and not the rule. 

Although Evil Dead Rise takes us away from the cabin in the woods to an apartment building in the city, it has familiar beats like Deadites performing professional gymnastic routines where their entire bodies crack like glow sticks. Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for many a’ fun Easter egg along the way, with Henrietta’s Pizza being one of my personal favorites. Also, Evil Dead Rise has spawned one of my new favorite phrases of all time in “titty-sucking parasites.” 

When you accidentally make eye contact with your Favor runner. 

If you saw this bad boy at a Drafthouse, the pre show interview with director Lee Cronin includes a question about where he would rank the humor and tone of Evil Dead Rise compared to the other films. Cronin puts it somewhere between Evil Dead and Evil Dead II, and I fully agree. 

Evil Dead Rise doesn’t have the dark comedy and camp of Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, but it definitely doesn’t skimp on the gore. In fact, I’d put it as one of the bloodiest in the entire franchise. 

In the spirit (lolz) of the Evil Dead series, I think the best way to finish out my thoughts on the film is in a handy-dandy list of bullet points: 

• Alyssa Sutherland is a fox. 
• Good for you, Bridget! You know you’re in a horror movie. The Boulet Brothers would be proud. 
• Oh wow, slay, Necronomicon! You got a glow up. 
• Staffany for Best Supporting Actress 2023. 
• Watch out, Toni. Alyssa’s coming for your Hereditary wall crawling and headbanging. 
• It’s an unspoken rule of thumb to never open the door for someone singing unsettling sea shanties and/or children’s lullabies. 
• I hope these aren’t the ghosts who Taylor Swift talks about visiting her in “Anti-Hero.”
• Is there a pasta pun I can make here?
• Blood-soaked Buick would’ve made a bitchin’ name for a Pop Punk band. 

My only criticism of Evil Dead Rise is that it’s unlocked a new fear of becoming a vessel for Deadites in an apartment building elevator. Fortunately, I live on the first floor. 

Me right before I school someone condescending on movie trivia. 

Similarly to Renfield, I’d recommend catching Evil Dead Rise in your local movie theater or drive-in. It’s just one of those flicks that reminds you of why visiting a movie theater is a magical experience. I was one of two people in the entire theater for this one, and it still ruled. It also wouldn’t be fair of me to mention that no one in this movie is safe. NO ONE. Prepare yourself accordingly. 

And remember, mother always knows best.