Evil Dead Rise (2023) Review

Remake. Sequel. Spin-off. Call it whatever you’d like. I call it a bloody good time and a solid addition to this cult favourite horror franchise. Evil Dead Rise weaves the best elements from past entries into a modern horror story bound to please longtime fans and series newcomers.

It doesn’t quite reach the relentless brutality of the 2013 remake, nor does it have the over-the-top style of Raimi’s original trilogy, but what it does have is far better character development. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say these are deeply written characters, the film spends ample time allowing the audience to get to know them. We’re given enough to get attached, and actually care what happens to them once the carnage begins. The cast all deliver impressive performances, especially Alyssa Sutherland as this entry’s deadite.

Not only is Rise filled with callbacks to past Evil Dead movies, but there are also plenty of homages to other iconic horror films. It’s clear that it was crafted with a care and respect for not only the series, but the genre in general. With those great references come some overused horror tropes, though. For example, deadites will become conveniently and inexplicably incapacitated after being injured, only to wake up moments after the characters have moved to safety. Things like this detract from the intensity and momentum, but thankfully the movie makes up for it with some of the gnarliest gore the series has ever seen.

The move from a cabin in the woods to an apartment in the city makes for a refreshing and welcome change of scenery. This run down, art-deco era building makes the perfect haunted house for all the blood to be spilled. The cinematography and camera work, while not as delightfully unhinged as in Raimi’s films, is quite creative, and we get some really fun shots throughout. Equally creative is the gore, which will have even the most desensitized viewers squirming in their seats.

Evil Dead Rise delivers all the blood, guts and nastiness you’d expect from this franchise, but also takes the necessary time to develop its characters. Despite a few common horror clichés, this movie is all kinds of groovy.

3.5/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett

Rating all V/H/S/Halloween Segments

Like sorting through your candy after a night of trick-or-treating, V/H/S/ Halloween is a mixed bag. The eighth instalment in this cult-favourite horror anthology series comes up short of previous entries, but there are still a couple of treats in here that should satisfy your twisted cravings. A chilling still from V/H/S/ Halloween . Diet Phantasma This wraparound segment follows an R&D team testing a new low-calorie soda made with “real ghosts.” It’s silly fun, but gets a bit repetitive with each new test subject. The commercial playing during the end credits was a nice touch. Rating: ★★½☆ Coochie Coochie Coo This short feels like walking through a haunted house — but not in a good way. The plot is like something torn from a creepypasta thread. Everything is constantly being spelled out in a painfully obvious way. The practical effects and makeup are decent, and this is probably the only segment that comes close to being scary...

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

The Rip Review

The Rip is all the evidence you need that a great cast can elevate an otherwise run-of-the-mill movie. Without its impressive A-list roster, this would’ve likely been lost among a crowd of forgettable January dumping ground releases. Throw Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and a handful of other extremely talented actors into the mix, though, and now you’ve got something worth watching. While there are exceptions that prove the rule, a lot of these police/cartel thrillers are interchangeable when it comes to their cookie-cutter story beats. The Rip breaks exactly zero molds, but it also doesn’t feel as uninspired as it could’ve. There are enough surprises to keep things engaging, and the tension - which the movie often hinges on - is appropriately high strung. The action is punchy and loud, which is no surprise coming from Director Joe Carnahan. While I do have minor issues with some of the sequences feeling a bit choppy in how they were shot and edited, the action is solid and packs...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog