Evil Dead Burn (2026) Review

The ‘Evil Dead’ series refuses to die. It began in 1979 with Sam Raimi's short film ‘Within the Woods’, a proof-of-concept that evolved into 1981's ‘The Evil Dead’. Buoyed by enthusiastic support from the likes of Stephen King, Raimi returned with 1987's darkly comic, splatstick masterpiece ‘Evil Dead II’, continuing hero Ash Williams' battle against the demonic deadites. ‘Army of Darkness’ followed in 1993 and, despite its reputation today as a cult classic, its modest box office performance left the franchise dormant for years.

But the dead never stay buried. Fede Álvarez resurrected the series in 2013 with his ferocious, blood-soaked reimagining ‘Evil Dead’, before the gleefully gory ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ brought Bruce Campbell's chainsaw-wielding hero to television. Lee Cronin's brutally entertaining ‘Evil Dead Rise’ proved the franchise still had plenty of life left in it: Sébastien Vaniček's ‘Evil Dead Burn’ keeps the blood flowing.

The sixth feature film in the series follows Alice, a young widow who gathers with her late husband's family to mourn his death. Unfortunately for her, grief soon gives way to violence as her in-laws transform into deadites, forcing Alice to discover that, in the ‘Evil Dead’ universe, "till death do us part" is merely the beginning.

It is an entertaining, though flawed, film that ensures the 'Evil Dead' series is alive and kicking- and kicking hard. The screenplay by Vaniček and Florent Bernard is engaging, despite its underdeveloped characters. The writers make a concerted effort to explore contemporary themes such as spousal abuse and coercive control, adding meat to the bones of a story that offers more than flying limbs and flaying skin.

However, these ideas generally feel heavy-handed and underdeveloped, particularly in the final act. Were more time dedicated to the characterisation of Alice and the supporting cast, perhaps these emotional beats would land with greater impact. Tonally, Vaniček clearly takes inspiration from Álvarez's approach, though he doesn't quite hit the mark. While there are flashes of comedy, they are few and far between. It is certainly the most serious and gloomy 'Evil Dead' film to date, and arguably the weakest. Even so, Alice's battle against the deadites remains entertaining thanks to its wickedly savage, well-choreographed action, even if it ultimately outstays its welcome.

Technically, the film excels. Philip Lozano’s cinematography is immersive and inventive, capturing proceedings with an artist’s eye- if that artist was Zdzisław Beksiński. The film is a graphically violent festival of gore, and Lozano knows exactly how to frame every gruesome image for maximum impact. The stunning practical effects are visceral, delivering the bone-crunching, over-the-top brutality that makes the series so engaging.

It’s brutal and intense- a real thrill ride of blood and guts that is not for the squeamish. The production design is fantastic, creating a bleak, oppressive atmosphere. Vaniček and Lozano make excellent use of the house as a central location, turning it into a claustrophobic playground of terror. Furthermore, the score, from Xavier Caux, Douglas Cavanna and Double Danger, is full of urgency and dread, heightening the intensity of proceedings. Conversely, despite Maxime Caro's energetic editing, the film occasionally loses momentum, particularly during its third act.

As Alice, Souheila Yacoub makes for a compelling leading lady, though the character itself lacks the personality to become one of the franchise's most memorable protagonists. Tandi Wright has some great moments as Susan, showcasing her versatility, while Erroll Shand similarly shines as Edgar. Luciane Buchanan does the most powerful work of all; as Thya, she echoes the malevolent joy of Alyssa Sutherland’s Ellie in ‘Evil Dead Rise.’

Despite its flaws, ‘Evil Dead Burn’ proves there is still life left in the franchise. Sébastien Vaniček delivers a vicious, visually striking nightmare packed with inventive gore, unsettling imagery and the anarchic energy that has defined the series for decades. It may not reinvent the formula, but when the blood is this fresh and the carnage this creative, there is little reason to complain. Bob Dylan sang, "death is not the end"- and after more than four decades of chainsaws, deadites and glorious butchery, the ‘Evil Dead’ series continues to prove him right.