Movie Review: Evil Dead Burn
- Faiz Faisal
- 9 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Evil Dead Burn is a 2026 supernatural horror film directed by Sébastien Vaniček and produced by horror legends Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. The latest installment in the iconic Evil Dead franchise takes a different approach from previous entries by moving away from the familiar "someone reads the Necronomicon" setup. Instead, the story follows Alice, a grieving woman who visits her secluded in-laws for a memorial gathering. When a terrifying supernatural force connected to fire is unleashed, the family is transformed into bloodthirsty Deadites, leaving Alice to fight through unimaginable horrors in a desperate battle for survival.
Living Up to a Horror Legacy
Going into this movie, I have to admit my expectations were probably a little too high. I've been a fan of the Evil Dead franchise ever since I watched the original film, and that's always the challenge with legacy franchises. Every new installment has to compete with decades of nostalgia.
While I enjoyed the older sequels, none of them ever quite captured the magic of the original for me. The 2013 remake was a solid reimagining, but Evil Dead Rise really impressed me because it managed to tell a fresh story while still feeling unmistakably Evil Dead. Naturally, I hoped Evil Dead Burn would continue that momentum.
Where the Movie Excels
One thing this movie absolutely nails is its visual presentation.
The cinematography is stunning. Every frame feels carefully crafted, and the color grading perfectly complements the film's bleak, fiery atmosphere. It's one of the best-looking entries in the franchise and does an excellent job building a constant sense of dread.
The cast also deserves plenty of praise. Unlike Evil Dead Rise, where I was so emotionally attached to every character that I kept hoping they would somehow become human again, Evil Dead Burn takes the opposite approach. This time, I was only rooting for Alice to make it through the night. It might sound cruel, but that's actually a testament to how well the cast played their roles. Aside from Alice and Thya, the rest of the family gradually became so frustrating and unlikeable that, by the time they turned into Deadites, I found myself thinking it was probably for the best. Instead of hoping for their redemption, I was actually rooting for their demise, and that shift made the horror feel surprisingly satisfying.
And of course... the gore.
This is Evil Dead, so excessive gore is practically a requirement, and Burn certainly doesn't disappoint. The practical effects are incredibly well done, delivering some of the most gruesome sequences in the franchise. If you're squeamish, you might want to think twice before buying a ticket.
Where It Loses Me
Despite all its strengths, there are a couple of things that kept this from becoming one of my favorite entries.
The biggest issue is something I've noticed ever since the 2013 remake: the Deadites have started feeling a little too... uniform.
One of the things I loved about the original Evil Dead was that every possessed character felt unique. They each had their own personality, appearance, and terrifying quirks. Here, many of the Deadites blend together, making them feel less memorable. To be fair, I do think Burn improves on this compared to previous modern entries, but I still miss the individuality of the originals.
My other criticism is the story's setup. I found myself wanting a little more explanation about how everything began. The movie throws you straight into the nightmare, which certainly keeps the pace moving, but by the end I was left with more questions than answers regarding the supernatural force at the center of it all.
Final Verdict
Evil Dead Burn is by no means a bad movie. In fact, I had a great time watching it, especially on the big screen at the newly opened TGV Pavilion Damansara Heights. It's stylish, relentlessly gory, beautifully shot, and packed with enough tension to satisfy horror fans.
However, from a storytelling perspective, I don't think it's the strongest entry in the franchise. The original Evil Dead still sits comfortably at the top of my list, followed closely by Evil Dead Rise. Burn earns its place as another entertaining chapter in the series, even if it doesn't quite reach the same heights.
Rating: 6.5/10
A visually stunning, blood-soaked horror experience that proudly carries the Evil Dead name, even if it doesn't quite become one of the franchise's all-time greats. Also, that post-credit scene? Damn
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