by The first Evil Dead Rise reactions are in – and it’s being dubbed “vicious,” “savage,” and “the most extreme entry yet” in the franchise. Shortly after the horror sequel premiered at the South by South West Festival yesterday (March 15), critics took to social media to share their thoughts on the Lee Cronin-directed flick. Read on to find out what they said…
“Evil Dead Rise absolutely rips off (literally). It’s delightfully off-kilter and downright depraved.” Insider’s Eammon Jacobs (opens in new tab) wrote. “Brings a fresh sense of Hell to the show and the new setting works so damn well. Alyssa Sutherland, too, salute.”
“Every single Evil Dead movie is a smash, and the tradition continues with Evil Dead Rise. A bond between sisters shredded by a sickening whirlwind of deadites, guts and blood. Brought down the whole house at #SXSW,” he said Jeff Zhang of Strange Harbors (opens in new tab).
Elsewhere, Perri Nemiroff from Collider (opens in new tab) gushed, “Evil Dead Rise is gnarly and WILD – like every Evil Dead movie (and show) should be. There are no boundaries when working with fatalities, Lee Cronin knows that, and works with it to great effect – both delivering deeply chilling horror and a blood-soaked good time at the same time.”
Evil Dead Rise takes place a few years after Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) and friends stumbled across the cursed Necronomicon, aka the Book of the Dead, in the early 1980s, and follows Beth (Lily Sullivan) as she visits her sister Ellie Pit stop in Los Angeles in the middle of a long road trip. There she discovers Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) struggling to raise her three children in her cramped apartment – a task made even more difficult when Ellie is possessed by a sadistic demon. Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols and Nell Fisher are also there.
Check out some more reactions below…
#EvilDeadRise gives me everything I want as an EVIL DEAD fan and more. It’s as vicious as 2013, opening the door to future entries in endlessly exciting ways, and taking its place in the series. I’m still humming. A franchise that continues to do nothing wrong. pic.twitter.com/yif8twyLcwMarch 16, 2023
#EvilDeadRise is very much in the (malicious) spirit of the originals. Gnarly, funny and OTT, from the opening scene I knew I was in for a treat, and it didn’t disappoint or back down for the next 96 minutes. What a ride! #SXSW2023 pic.twitter.com/FxmrNs8VboMarch 16, 2023
#EvilDeadRise is deliciously evil and fun… the best Evil Dead movie since Evil Dead 2! #SXSW2023 pic.twitter.com/nAZ5YuTwzhMarch 16, 2023
EVIL DEAD RISE: When I watched it tonight, two things stood out the most. @curleecronin is a wild, incredibly talented crafter. The shooting, the staging, the editing, the sound, the music – just stunningly complex filmmaking amidst gallons of blood, I can’t wait to see what he does next.March 16, 2023
#EvilDeadRise brings a new essence to the #EvilDead franchise, torturous, tense, bloody and bloody, a completely insane film with an unusual suspense. #EvilDeadRise is a gory masterpiece. #SXSW #SXSW2023Full review coming soon! pic.twitter.com/8avYcPOGZdMarch 16, 2023
#EvilDeadRise REVIEW: BEYOND TERRIBLE & SURPRISING. A very MASSIVE horror image that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and BLOWING YOU AWAY. This is not just another scary movie, it is one of the BEST movies of all time! WOW. A fitting end to her journey as she prepares for the next step #SXSW pic.twitter.com/duv5UnF343March 16, 2023
Evil Dead Rise opens in US and UK theaters on April 21. While we wait, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies coming our way in 2023 and beyond.
