‘Evil Dead Burn’ Review: The Franchise Is Six For Six and Meaner Than Ever 

Evil Dead Burn marks the franchise’s sixth feature film and proves there are no bad Evil Dead movies. Directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček, the new project follows a family who reunites after the sudden death of a relative. As they mourn their loss in a secluded home, tensions amongst them grow, and get exponentially worse when they start turning into Deadites. 

Burn manages to stand on its own while being stacked with franchise easter eggs. Vaniček co-wrote the script with Florent Bernard, and together they have created the meanest movie of the year. The project was produced by Sam Raimi, who is best known for helming the original three Evil Dead entries. Despite some unfortunate technical decisions, Evil Dead Burn does Raimi proud. 

The Cast Delivers 

Evil Dead Burn is filled with great performances. Souheila Yacoub stars as Alice, a French woman who is not accepted by her American in-laws. There’s a sadness and urgency to her role, and you can’t help but feel for her as she spends the film being put through the wringer. 

Luciane Buchanan also shines as Thya thanks to her extremely entertaining Deadite turn. She is given a lot of original ideas to work with, and understood the assignment when it comes to embodying Raimi’s legendary parasitic spirits. 

The true standout of the film is Maude Davey, who plays Polly, AKA Grandma. It’s clear throughout the movie that she’s afflicted with dementia, and even though this is a serious and sad disease, Davey manages to have fun with it. She provides some much-needed comic relief, and earns the majority of crowd reactions. 

The film also stars Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, and Erroll Shand, all of whom hold their own. Without giving too much away, there’s a kiss between two of the actors that will haunt you for the rest of your life.  

Despite a strong cast, don’t expect any character to be on par with Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams. Those are big shoes to fill, so we recommend appreciating the movie for what it is rather than what it’s not. 

Relentless (Complimentary)  

Evil Dead is an inherently gross franchise, and Burn doesn’t shy away from the nastiness. If you’re not hiding behind your hands, you will be groaning in disgust. Don’t expect any breaks, either, because this movie doesn’t let up. 

From start to finish, the tension is nonstop. Even before Deadites become a problem for the main characters, their strained relationships will keep audiences feeling stressed. There’s an excruciating dinner scene that will make you yearn for your own family’s drama. 

Burn’s mean streak makes it feel like the spiritual successor to Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead (2013). Raimi’s trilogy is packed with gore and scares, but those films are also campy and silly. While Burn provides a few laughs (thanks, Grandma), it’s mostly an anxiety-inducing experience. Like Álvarez, Vaniček leans into the viciousness of the world.

Self-Contained Authenticity 

A unique aspect of Evil Dead Burn is how it holds true to Vaniček’s French identity. Alice feels out of place with her new family, and it’s clear that Vaniček is using some of his own experiences to keep the story moving. Even if you cannot personally relate to Alice’s struggles, the authenticity of her strife will strike a chord. 

While Evil Dead Burn does tie into the previous installment, Evil Dead Rise, you don’t need any context to appreciate what’s happening. Burn is a big piece of a greater whole, but Vaniček manages to make it a standalone experience. Sure, it always helps to know the lore. The movie is packed with references you won’t clock without seeing the other movies. However, diving into the previous films is not a requirement when it comes to enjoying Burn.

Dark (Derogatory)

Evil Dead Burn is dark in tone, but it’s also dark as in… hard to see. The lighting in the second half of the film is sparse, and makes us wonder if the cinematographer and gaffer ever spoke to each other. It is common for a horror movie to be set at night, but that hasn’t stopped countless other scary movies from being well lit. Burn is filled with impressive Deadite makeup and gruesome kills that deserved better visual treatment. Thankfully, the movie is good enough to warrant a visit to the theatre, because it’s probably not going to look good on your TV. 

The film’s technical difficulties don’t stop with the lighting. The sound is not always clear, either. It’s safe to say many people will walk out of the theatre wishing there had been subtitles. While this issue isn’t as annoying as the bad lighting, it is still a persistent problem. 

The Big Screen 

While Evil Dead Burn will undoubtedly be a better theatrical experience due to its technical faults, it’s also the type of film that’s meant to be seen with a crowd. 2026 has been a huge year for horror movies at the box office, and Burn deserves the same treatment from fans of the genre. Horror movies are always better as a communal outing, and that’s especially true for the Evil Dead franchise. 

Check out Evil Dead Burn when it hits theaters on July 10th. 

(featured image: Warner Bros.)

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]