When it comes to a franchise that blends horror, action, and dark comedy to near perfect degree, not many do it as well as the Evil Dead franchise. Whether we’re referring to the classic Evil Dead trilogy that began in 1981 starring a chainsaw wielding Ash Williams played by Bruce Campbell or the later films that began in 2013 and adopted a much darker tone, the tried and true premise of the franchise remains the same. A group of characters (The protagonists we’ve followed after the third Evil Dead film have changed with each installment) inadvertently summon and must battle evil spirits called Deadites from an ancient book called the Necronomicon. This sixth and latest installment, however, took a slightly different approach. Without giving too much away, Evil Dead Burn follows a widow who seeks refuge with the family of her abusive husband, not knowing that this family is actively being hunted by the Deadites due to their history with them. When the film first began, I didn’t know how to feel about the fast pacing when it came to how these characters were established, especially considering how much time we spent with the protagonists from the previous film, Evil Dead Rise, before the Deadites actually attacked. However, I was impressed with how in-depth the narrative attempted to go with the family dynamic as the film progressed, albeit mostly tying it into the film’s horror aspects. (This is showcased the best through a very intense dinner sequence with some striking dialogue and sound design choices. It was very well done.) Speaking of the horror aspects, besides the very brief moments of signature campiness that the Evil Dead franchise is known for, this was probably the most violent installment yet, even by previous installments’ standards. The Deadites, creatures that are usually very snarky and deadpan, were as mean spirited as ever and the brutality was off the charts, with action set pieces that were as stomach churning as they were visually impressive. (Director Sébastien Vaniček did a phenomenal job with this one. The film’s cinematography was incredible and very reminiscent of Sam Raimi’s directing style, the original director of the Evil Dead franchise.) Overall, as someone whose genre of choice isn’t usually horror, I had a pretty good time watching this movie with the very reactive theater audience I saw it with. I do wish we got to spend more time with the characters and establishing backstories before the Deadites were introduced. If you’re already adverse to horror or extreme violence, I wouldn’t rush to see this. Fans of the franchise and those searching for a helping of supernatural action, however, may be satisfied. Score: 7/10
Noah Robinson 