Film: Evil Dead Rise

The Evil Dead series is certainly one of horror’s most deranged yet consistent franchises, with even the weaker instalments across film, TV and comics, being a riotously violent but outrageously fun time.

So it will please fans to hear that Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin’s gory hellraiser of a fifth instalment is no exception, in fact Evil Dead Rise is arguably the greatest big screen outing - in this already very healthy series - in years for the deadites!

Largely telling its own story, the film takes its flesh-possessing demon action and finally transplants it away from the woodland cabin setting and into the city, namely a soon to be demolished Los Angeles apartment complex.

In this building, the remnants of the residents include Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), a tattoo artist and single mother to teenagers Danny (Morgan Davies) and Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), and child Kassie (Nell Fisher), who are being visited by Ellie’s estranged sister Beth (Lily Sullivan). Needless to say all does not go well, as a demonic presence is awoken, ready to tear this family apart!

Evil Dead Rise delivers on every expectation you have. From the excellent opening title drop (or rather ascension) to the viscera-soaked nightmarish final showdown, this Dante's inferno of no holds barred suffering, gore and flesh-infecting demons is proof that this Book of the Dead still has many more chapters to go!

The urban setting proves a refreshing change of pace, and the story is clever in not only how the demons are summoned and gathered to this place but as to why, logically, the characters are trapped in this building and cannot just run and leave. Meanwhile the gore effects are squirmingly impactful (that cheese grater darn you), adding the perfect punctuation to the inherent carnage and mythology of the story.

Although, the most important facet of all, is that you really care about the central characters, more so than in many other instalments. And what a performance by Alyssa Sutherland at the head of this demented beast, as Ellie (or Maggot Mama as she has “affectionately” being called online), she creates a new modern horror character to relish and thrusts herself into the limb-flying melee, as her character is taken over by awoken evil.

There is so much well-delivered violent chaos from Cronin, which advances the lore of the franchise, while taking the time to distinguish itself too, delivering wholesale on its concept and satisfying its audience.

Also, major points for going where other horrors dare not in some ways but also avoiding that unnecessary and irritating seemingly lifelong trope of killing the animal for lazy shock factor. Bravo for NOT doing it!

Unnerving, gruelling, fun. This Evil Dead really does rise to the occasion!