Evil Dead's fifth chapter has earned praise from critics after its premiere at SXSW yesterday (March 15).
Directed and written by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise features creator Sam Raimi and OG star Bruce Campbell among its executive producers.
The story follows estranged sisters Beth and Ellie — played by Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland — whose reunion is interrupted when a mysterious book (need a hint?) unleashes a hoard of possessing demons onto them and Ellie's children.
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Fans of the franchise won't have to guess what this book may be. That's right, it's none other than the Necronomicon aka the human skin-bound Book of the Dead, which first wreaked havoc in the original films.
Following its first screening at the Texan festival, Evil Dead Rises was hailed as an unmissable, gory instalment in the demonic saga.
"Evil Dead Rises is gnarly and WILD - as every Evil Dead film (and show) should be," Collider's Perri Nemiroff wrote on Twitter.
"There are no limits when working with deadites, Lee Cronin knows it, and runs with it to great effect - both when it comes to delivering deeply chilling horror and also a blood-soaked good time."
Fangoria's Jason Kauzlarich warned audiences they are in for quite a grim treat. "Holy sh*t. Pure mayhem and madness. You are not ready. There is not a single bad #EvilDead movie," he tweeted.
"EVIL DEAD RISE is a blood-soaked blast! All of the haunting images & unique shooting styles are summoned back on screen. Fantastic practical effects & gruesome contortion work take center stage. it’s diabolically comical in all the best ways," Fangoria's Marisa Mirabal also commented.
Find more rave reactions below:
In case you're wondering how Evil Dead Rises ties in with the previous movies, Cronin assured there would be "connections".
"There are connections to the past, lines are drawn," the director told Empire last year.
"In one of the early meetings I had with Sam Raimi, I said, 'You know the way in Army of Darkness, there's three [Necronomicons]? You had one, Fede [Álvarez, director of the 2013 remake] had one, I'm going to take the other one'."
Alongside Sutherland and Sullivan, the film also stars Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher, Jayden Daniels, Gabrielle Echols, Billy Reynolds-McCarthy and Tai Wano.
Evil Dead Rise is released in cinemas on April 21.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
