Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say that the Evil Dead franchise is one of the most subtle horror franchises out there. Which might seem like a misnomer, since tuning into those stories often includes epic gore and some wild moments of hilarity, especially when one gets to Army of Darkness. But make no mistake about it, there is subtlety to be found in this saga, primarily through its storytelling. Because behind the gore and the best one liners this side of the Netherworld, are some powerful themes for certain. After all, this is a series that has taken the time to deeply explore our fears of the unknown courtesy of the Necronomicon and the Deadites that roam the darkness and it also has taken the time to explore topics regarding the human condition that other stories simply will not touch upon.
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For this is also a saga that has explored the nature and the genesis of trauma and the impact that the sudden death of those we love can have upon us. Not to mention, it has also explored the nature of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the realities of Survivor’s Guilt. Plus, this saga has also featured the most unique hero’s journey imaginable, and it even goes deeper than that. Since the 2013 iteration of this franchise pondered upon the real-world horrors of addiction and what that evil that brings to the table and clearly… this saga has no plans anytime soon to abandon its powerful examinations on the toughest parts of the human condition, as evidenced by the latest entry in this storied and gory saga, Evil Dead Rise.

Which is fascinating, because at first glance, this too is a story that appears to be eager to only exhibit the best parts of the franchise. Since we are introduced to a family in Los Angeles that is dealing with some tough days, courtesy of an eviction notice and other divides grounded in the everyday stuff we all take part in. Only for them to discover that these hallowed halls are host to a great evil. For this building is also the final resting place of the Book of the Dead, and its discovery brings forth a night of terror for this family and their neighbors. One that will shatter relationships and re-open old wounds alongside creating new ones and now it will be up to Beth to figure out how to combat this evil and save what’s left her family… before it consumes every last soul in this lonesome building.

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Which is indeed a plot that fits the mold of the franchise perfectly. After all, everyone is isolated as is often the case in this saga, and of course, the Book does its thing and brings forth mayhem and madness and make no mistake about it, those moments are worth the price of admission. Since the film features plenty of spooky scares and some fresh ideas when it comes to the Deadites and how they function. Which brings forth some unsettling visuals as well and such storytelling choices present us with the finest Deadite to ever grace the franchise in Ellie. Since she harbors a twisted sense of pleasure in bringing harm that changes the dynamic for the Deadite going forward. Courtesy of a stellar performance from Alyssa Sutherland, who goes from driven mother to driven nightmare seamlessly, and her special brand of evil is wonderfully counterbalanced by Lily Sullivan as Beth.
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But once we get past the raw terror she instills, and the horrors of seeing the Deadites claim an urban entity for a change, do we find the deeper stuff. For at its core, this is a story about our fears when it comes to watching family members suffer through any kind of illness since that in many ways transforms them into people that are unrecognizable to us. Not to mention, in many ways… this is a horror film that reflects the recent events of the world. Since the Deadites represent a sickness from the outside world, one that wreaks havoc internally, giving rise to perhaps the first real contemporary allegory in the franchise and the story handles it well. Since such commentary is never overpowering, thanks to the splatter and a poignant moment involving a cheese grater.

In the end however, this is just… a flawless horror film. Because it preys on our darkest fears, reminds of us the ones we’ve recently overcome and of course, it features everything we love about this franchise and the genre. Since there are buckets of blood and gore galore, creative kills and twisted moments that make you look away. Which makes this a phenomenal addition to the franchise, one that fans will hotly debate as to where it ranks in the pantheon of this storied saga. But what matters more, is that this is a film that is accessible to all, so that those who don’t know the meaning of ‘Groovy’, can enjoy the morbid wonder the Deadites produce, and explore this franchise at their own leisure without having to worry about knowing every detail about the Necronomicon and the timeline that preceded this film. Which is a testament to writer/director Lee Cronin’s amazing work in assembling this terrifying feature, one that horror fans no longer have to wait to watch… since Evil Dead Rise is now in theaters.

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