When did horror films truly become part of the cultural landscape? I still fondly remember my initiation into the art of fear at the tender age of seven, back in the late '80s. I was fortunate to have a grandmother who babysat me, but her idea of child-friendly entertainment was slightly askew: horror flicks. Those images of suspense and terror were akin to adult films; they lived in a realm way above what was suitable for children. My classmates and teachers reacted to my fascination like I was discussing the finer points of those films; the looks on their faces suggested they thought I was a budding psychopath.
If I had to pinpoint a moment when horror transitioned from the fringes to the forefront of American pop culture, I’d wager on 1996 with the release of Scream. Wes Craven’s clever and self-referential take on the slasher genre opened the floodgates. Suddenly, it seemed like everyone was talking about horror, and the genre found itself firmly in mainstream conversations.
My own journey through horror took a circuitous route, particularly with the Evil Dead franchise. It wasn't until I stumbled upon Army of Darkness airing on the Sci-Fi Channel (which they bizarrely rebranded as SYFY). Bruce Campbell’s cheeky charm was familiar, as I had seen him in the delightful The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. The TV edit of Army of Darkness was a pale imitation of the rated R version, but even that watered-down experience was a hoot.
Little did I know that I was getting into the third act of a saga that had a devoted fanbase. After some sleuthing through TV Guide, I realized I needed to backtrack and find the earlier installments. My then-teen self wandered into a Best Buy. Remember when they actually sold physical media? I bought Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness on VHS, all while sporting a convincing older-than-seventeen facade. Somehow, the video store folks didn’t bat an eye when I rented Evil Dead, either.
Years later, Halloween rolled around, and I spotted Evil Dead on a Walmart shelf. It was also a coincidence that I ran into a couple of classmates who shot me a look that screamed, “Weirdo!” for perusing the horror section. Some things never change, I suppose.
While the Evil Dead series has maintained its niche appeal over the years, the latest resurgence of the franchise has performed reasonably well at the box office. For instance, 2023's Evil Dead Rise raked in around $147 million. And the most recent installment, Evil Dead Burn, debuted in theaters on July 10, pulling in over $72 million against a $20 million budget. It might not be a mega blockbuster by any stretch, but for a franchise that has endured the test of time.
Evil Dead Burn (R, 110 mins) was greeted with generally positive reviews: Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 70% score on the Tomatometer and a 74% on the audience-approved Popcornmeter. However, whispers in the horror community suggest that not all Evil Dead fans were thrilled; I suspect it's due to the absence of the campy slapstick that permeated the originals and the Ash vs. Evil Dead series. The more recent films have pivoted toward a darker, grittier aesthetic teeming with more gory violence, leaving the humor lurking in the shadows, though a dash of dark comedy stubbornly clings to this one's frame; that really depends on each viewer's personal palate for amusement.
For those still clinging to the charm of physical media, something most horror aficionados collect, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released Evil Dead Burn in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on September 22. If you prefer the convenience of digital, you can also rent or buy it. As for the special features, well, they’re quite bare-bones, just three featurettes: Evil Dead: Blazing the Trail, The Hot Shot: Evil Dead Burn's One Short Sequence, and This One's Gonna Burn. Let’s be honest; the lack of director commentary is a missed opportunity, especially for those who love those behind-the-scenes nuggets.
Sébastien Vaniček steps into the director's role, co-writing the script with Florent Bernard. Here's the gist of the plot: After the tragic death of her husband, Will (played by George Pullar), Alice (Souheila Yacoub) seeks refuge with his family in their worn and weary, secluded family home. Little do they know, Will encounters the malevolent Deadite Jessica from Evil Dead Rise and, before meeting a fiery demise, recites from the Necronomicon, thus transforming him into a Deadite. After Will’s subsequent cremation, his father, Edgar (Erroll Shand), spirals into a vortex of blame and hatred that ultimately turns him into a Deadite. As the contagion spreads, the family reunion devolves into a hellish gathering of evil.
Now, as a fervent fan who adores the campy flair of the original trilogy and the Ash vs. Evil Dead series, I approached Evil Dead Burn with skepticism, particularly given the mixed reviews I had heard. Many pointed fingers at its flaws, despite a not-so-dismal Rotten Tomatoes score. Yet, to my surprise, I found Evil Dead Burn more enjoyable than both the 2013 reboot and Evil Dead Rise, though I must admit the cringe-worthy CGI roof-crawling scene could have been left on the cutting room floor. While the film does showcase a smattering of other CGI, it also incorporates practical effects that, for the most part, aren’t too painful to behold.
The characters, unfortunately, are almost universally unlikable, with Alice and her brother-in-law Joseph (Hunter Doohan) being the notable exceptions. Speaking of Joseph, Doohan is the only cast member I recognized, a familiar face in a sea of otherwise forgettable ones. The rest of the family exist solely as fodder for transformation into Deadites, resulting in a veritable bloodbath.
Much of the film unfolds in the same house as Ruby’s abode from Ash vs. Evil Dead, adding a layer of nostalgia for die-hard fans. Production designer Nick Bassett confirmed the deliberate choice to film at the same location, reinforcing that this is no mere coincidence. Along with Jessica’s brief return, there’s a post-credit scene that also connects to Evil Dead Rise, hinting at a potential sequel. Interestingly, the next film in the franchise is set to be a prequel titled Evil Dead Wraith, scheduled for 2028.
Overall, I found Evil Dead Burn to be unexpectedly entertaining. Its gritty atmosphere, laden with unintentional (or intentional) campiness and an abundance of gore, aligns well with the hallmark traits of the series. The score by Double Danger injects an edgy grit that complements the already dark tones. I viewed the film twice: once in 4K UHD and again in what they tout as 4K Digital. Perhaps my internet connection faltered, but the 4K UHD undeniably delivers superior picture and sound quality. It's definitely the format I’d recommend.
Please consider supporting future reviews on this blog by purchasing Evil Dead Burn on 4K UHD [*], Blu-ray [*], or Blu-ray [*].
〜B.J. Burgess
No comments:
Post a Comment
“The plot thickens… especially when you comment.” 〜B.J. Burgess