The Evil Dead franchise began all the way back in 1981, starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, who is an icon of the horror genre. The films are well known for their over-the-top violence and blending horror with comedy.

The Ash Williams character made his final movie appearance in the 2013 reboot film Evil Dead, in a post-credits scene, and had a TV series titled Ash vs Evil Dead in 2015, which was well received but was cancelled after three seasons before Bruce Campbell retired from his most famous role as Ash Williams.

The new Evil Dead movies went on without him and found their own success by placing greater emphasis on the horror aspect. The latest film, Evil Dead Burn, is lighting up cinemas worldwide and will be burned into your memories.

Following the death of her husband, Will, in a tragic car accident, Alice and her family come together at a secluded house. The gathering becomes a family reunion from hell as members gradually turn into Deadites. Alice learns that the wedding vows she took mean she must survive even in death.

Souheila Yacoub stars as Alice, whose husband was killed in a car accident after they had an argument at a club. The story centres on Alice as supernatural events unfold around her while she is with her late husband’s family at the secluded house.

Souheila does an amazing job as the main character, constantly dealing with everything happening around her to try to survive this literal hell. For Evil Dead fans invested in the lore, she has an interesting backstory that complements the overall plot.

Will is played by George Pullar, who is killed early in the movie, and the circumstances of his brutal death set the tone for the rest of the film. Will’s family members include his brother Joseph, played by Hunter Doohan; his mother Susan, played by Tandi Wright; his father Edgar, played by Erroll Shand; and his grandmother Polly, played by Maude Davey. Joseph’s girlfriend, Thya, played by Luciane Buchanan, also gets stuck in this family reunion from hell.

All the main cast get their standout moments, showing why this family gathering is the last one anyone would want to be part of. The most notable performances would be Erroll Shand and Maude Davey, who get to do more before things really take a turn for the worse. Erroll’s facial expressions alone add so much intensity to his scenes, especially when it looks like the veins on his face are about to burst.

Maude’s character seems to be suffering from dementia and is also physically handicapped, requiring assistance to get around the house. Her vulnerability makes things even more challenging, as everyone is trying to cope with the supernatural events unfolding while also making sure she’s okay. Her mental state, with memory loss, also adds to the challenge, as she’s often angry and makes snarky remarks at everyone, which adds some comedy that the new set of Evil Dead films has been lacking without Ash Williams. She often says the most out-of-pocket things completely unrelated to what’s actually happening around her.

It’s hard to go into more detail about all the characters without going into spoiler territory, but Evil Dead fans will have a good idea of what to expect with all the supernatural events and plenty of blood and gore. The over-the-top violence and body horror are big features of the Evil Dead franchise, and the latest film has no shortage of them. Occasionally, some violent scenes happen off camera or somewhere out of view, but it isn’t long before audiences get to see all the glorious violence the film has to offer.

Whether you’re watching flesh burn, body parts severed, bones broken, and more, horror fans are certainly in for a treat. A lot of horror films in recent years seem to shy away from the violence and rely on other aspects to frighten the audience, but Evil Dead clearly enjoys glorifying it all. The latest film features many creative ideas that have the characters suffer while viewers cringe and wince at every moment.

The movie has its fair share of jump scares, but relies more on the violence and the moments leading up to them to scare audiences and keep them engaged. Evil Dead Burn certainly earned its R rating, with many moments that will be burned into your memory.

The film primarily uses practical effects and some special effects where necessary. Seeing lifelike body parts, blood, and guts is what raises the level of violence to complement what’s happening on screen. The older Evil Dead films had smaller budgets than other horror films at the time, but they made the most of what they had to create one of the biggest horror franchises in Hollywood history.

Seeing all the violence and supernatural events unfolding on screen, along with a solid and talented cast who make you believe they’re suffering in the worst way beyond what any of us could possibly imagine, everything becomes a spectacle on screen.

The majority of the film is set in an old, secluded house far from anything during the snow season, which creates impossible odds for the cast, as they can’t easily get help where they are and are on their own. The house itself is creepy and unsettling, having audiences guessing what might be around the corner every single time.

Even outside the house during the day, it still feels dark and grim, with dark clouds often covering the skies. Even when there’s no violence, nowhere in the movie feels safe, and viewers may get in the habit of looking over their shoulders as they leave the cinema and before they go to bed.

Fans of the original Evil Dead trilogy certainly miss Ash Williams as the lead character, with his one-liners like “Groovy” and his iconic chainsaw and boomstick to kill the Deadites. The newer films, which began in 2013, each focus on different lead characters and feel like completely different movies, but share the same overall lore.

They’re a big departure from what made the original films famous, with their mix of violence and a little comedy, but the latest film brings back some of the comedy. Even without Ash Williams, serious fans who like to focus on the story will still find plenty to enjoy, as the new films continue to connect to the overall lore.

The film’s music was composed by the French duo Double Danger, who previously worked with director Sébastien Vaniček on the 2023 movie Infested. The music consists mainly of deep orchestral sounds that complement the dark, grim atmosphere, building with the tension and becoming intense when frightening moments occur on screen.

Director Sébastien Vaniček certainly has an eye for detail that perfectly complements the Evil Dead franchise and the horror genre, and this is only his second feature film. His past work only involves a few short films, and his age isn’t publicly known, but he seems to be fairly young. Even with only a few titles under his name, he’s already proven to be a very capable director with a promising future in the film industry, and we can’t wait to see what he works on next.

The new Evil Dead films continue on without Ash Williams, but have managed to stand out on their own. The latest film has no shortage of violence, and the solid cast performances help bring it to life in the most terrifying way. Another film is currently in the works: Evil Dead Wrath, a prequel to the original The Evil Dead from 1981, which will certainly interest longtime fans in seeing how it all began. Until then, Evil Dead Burn will have plenty of moments burned into your memories.