In the decades following World War II, horror movies were a fun, pulpy genre that primarily catered to young audiences. The 1950s and 60s saw the emergence of B-movies that existed solely to entertain. However, as films became increasingly graphic in their depictions of gore, a new generation of filmmakers emerged in the 1980s. These directors drew inspiration from the pulp stories they had grown up with but infused them with a greater abundance of blood and guts. Among these films, Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead stands out. It captures the playful essence of the pulp era while embracing the excess of the post-Hays code world. When the series was rebooted in 2013, some of the violence became stronger and more visceral, but the films remained firmly rooted in the pulp film tradition.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the horror genre away from its pulp roots towards a darker and more disturbing style. Studios like A24 have specialized in art-house filmmaking that is neither playful nor joyful but is solely designed to disturb. Additionally, the emergence of “torture porn” as a genre that revels in extended sequences of pain and suffering has further contributed to this shift. The Evil Dead films have navigated this modern horror landscape by filling the screen with wrenching visceral imagery while still maintaining a sense of playfulness.

Evil Dead Burn, the latest entry in the Evil Dead franchise, departs from the series’ traditional roots. Instead of focusing on a good time, the film opts for stark, brutal violence, resulting in an almost two-hour runtime that feels insufferable. The plot and character development are neglected in favor of relentless violence, leaving the audience with a sense of disconnection and disinterest.

The characters make poor choices, and we never warm up to them. The film itself feels more like a run-of-the-mill modern torture porn exercise than a true Evil Dead movie. It’s baffling to see Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell on the credits as producers, as this film largely diverges from their Evil Dead film legacy.

In contrast, 2023’s Evil Dead Rise offered a different experience. While it was still brutal, it also had suspense, fun, and entertainment value. There was room to breathe, and it felt like it had continuity with its pulp roots. Evil Dead Burn, on the other hand, is the least entertaining of the series. It’s a near-constant bombardment that barely qualifies as a horror movie, more of an action movie that aims to upset and gross you out.

Overall, Evil Dead Burn is a shift away from the old-school roots that have defined the Evil Dead brand. It’s a disappointing departure from the series’ legacy, and it’s hard to recommend it to fans of the franchise.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deaditeeds – turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell – she comes to discover that the vows she took in life on… even in death.

Stars Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Errol Shand and Maude Davey
Directed by Sébastien Vani?ek
Written by Sébastien Vani?ek and Florent Bernard