A 2023 horror release from Warner Bros, directed by Lee Cronin and starring Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan, is the newest chapter in the ongoing horror franchise ‘The Evil Dead’ by Sam Raimi. This movie is about a lower-class family of three kids and a single mother who’s recently reunited with her sister, stumbling upon the Book of the Dead after an earthquake and unknowingly unleashing unspeakable horrors onto themselves. Boy, oh boy did this movie ever live up to the buckets o’ blood troupe associated with this franchise. They saved no expense and cut no corners spending thousands of dollars and using over 6,500 liters of fake blood in the making of this movie – and for good reason. This was a solid horror movie! It was gory, it was creepy, and it was intense. The plot in itself wasn’t very thick and most of the movie took place within 1 apartment building, but it didn’t need to be too thorough or thick of a plot to deliver in what it was trying to accomplish.
Alyssa Sutherland stole the show. She has a shocking face (and I mean that in the best way possible), with sharp cheek and jaw bones and mesmerizing eyes, and it fit so perfect in the creepiest way possible with being a deadite. You felt so bad that this happened to her, she was an innocent victim and a single mother turned monster. The supporting cast filled their respective roles good as well, with the lovable Beth (Lily Sullivan) and Kassie (Nell Fisher) leading the charge on the defensive end of things. I’d say that if you know what The Evil Dead franchise is all about then you should enjoy this film. There was none of the campy humor associated with the earlier films in this franchise, there was none in the 2013 adaptation either, which kind of disappoints me in ways because that’s what this franchise was birthed on was the mixture of campy humor and excessive blood, but regardless it’s a solid addition to the series and a creepy thrill ride. From the moment this movie pushes down the pedal, it doesn’t let up, taking you on a 70-minute balls to the wall rollercoaster ride.
If you’re a horror fan looking for a rather quick thrill, know the origins of The Evil Dead and the Book of the Dead, and you don’t have a squeamish stomach, then I’d say this is right up your alley. No animal violence, no excessively done sex scenes, no over the top racist or sexist undertones, just a fun and simple bloodbath and dissolve of an American family. There’s even a Bruce Campbell (Ash Williams from the original ‘The Evil Dead’ trilogy by Sam Raimi) cameo as he voices a character associated with the tapes for the Book of the Dead. It’s worth the time for a viewing if you dare, mwah-haha!
