Evil Dead Burn is the sixth entry into the horror franchise, taking place in the same universe as the other installments with small connections found between them periodically – well, small connections on top of the entire demonic possession premise at the center of each film. We’ve got the Book of the Dead and the Circle of the Wise Men popping up or being mentioned, but otherwise the franchise has gone the fun route of telling standalone stories with new characters that work on their own without having seen any prior film in the series, while also expanding on the Evil Dead lore, even if in just small ways.
I’ve enjoyed the franchise as a whole (though it’s been a long while since I’ve seen the originals) and the direction its taken with not just having the same reoccurring characters having to deal with demons (or as they’re referred to in this universe, Deadites). While I’m not a huge fan of gore (I have a thing where I can feel aspects of what’s happening on screen, so let’s just say that glass swallowing scene in Evil Dead Rise was not pleasant!) there’s something that’s fun about how over-the-top these movies can get at times.
With Sam Raimi at the helm of the original trilogy it’s no surprise that gore became a big part of what fans loved about the Evil Dead films, and Evil Dead Burn continues that trend in gruesome fashion. The story begins with brothers Will (George Pullar) and Joseph (Hunter Doohan) out celebrating Joseph’s birthday with their significant others, Will’s wife, Alice (Souheila Yacoub) and Joseph’s girlfriend Thya (Luciane Buchanan). Will and Alice get into a heated argument, with their relationship clearly being an unhealthy one and Will drives off angry and drunk, during which he hits a Deadite we meet during the film’s opening sequence and crashes. Trapped, he attempts to call for help, but the now beheaded Deadite begins to recite the dreaded passage from the Book of the Dead, possessing Will alongside burning him alive within the wreckage.
The family gather for the funeral, but right away get the image of anything grandeur out of your mind, as this is a small, side of the road funeral home that has construction going on outside of it during the eulogies. This is all sorts of awkward, mainly because Will’s father Edgar (Erroll Shand) hates Alice, and his mother Susan (Tandi Wright)…hate is a strong word, but I wouldn’t say she looks forward to seeing her at Christmas. Then there’s racist Grandma Polly (Maude Davey) who suffers from Alzheimer’s for what oddly seems like comic relief? After the funeral Edgar goes to see his son one last time before he’s cremated only to be met with banging from within the coffin. Edgar jumps into action to save his son, who emerges off-camera, though we see his hand is charred. He infects his father, everyone goes back to their grandfather’s house to stay for reasons? And we’re off to the races!
Now if you know Evil Dead movies then you know that things don’t bode well for the Price family in this scenario. I’m not sure if it’ll hurt the film for everyone, but this is a really, really toxic family and while most people watch these movies for the kills and not the desire to see people survive, it’s tough watching them Edgar and Susan constantly tear into Alice (who is traumatized by the abuse she suffered at the hand of Will – which nobody seemed aware of, allegedly outside of Susan, who dismissed it as an accident and not something her perfect son could be capable of) almost the entire time. And while everything does happen fairly fast after their arrival, it’s surprising that Alice went at all, let alone agreed to stay with them after the funeral. I mean, I know why she did, but I’m just saying that if you ever thought one of your family dinners were awkward, hold it up against this one and it’s no contest – and that’s before the murdering begins!
And that’s why we’re all here, isn’t it? Who cares if the Price family is mean, when do they start getting possessed and tearing one another’s flesh off? Well, for those here for the gore you are well taken care of! There are some vicious kills to be seen here, and some absolutely nauseating moments. Well, maybe it’s just moment, referring to a far too passionate kiss scene between Susan and her Deadite husband. It definitely garners the reaction that Director Sébastien Vaniček (who co-wrote the film with Florent Bernard) was likely hoping for, but it comes a little bit out of left field given Susan’s at least seemingly normal mental state just moments prior, you know, given what’s happening at that point in the film.
At 110-minutes in length I felt Evil Dead Burn did overstay its welcome and that the tighter 96-minute Evil Dead Rise had better pacing and Burn could’ve gotten closer to that number without losing anything substantial. I mean, there’s only so many times you need to tell your dead son’s widow that she’s trash and that your younger son is a failure for the audience to understand you’re not winning any “Parent of the Year” awards. Deadites are rude and vile with the truth and lies they spout at their potential victims but you know you’re a pretty terrible person when you can’t tell the difference between the things you say whether you’re possessed or not. Alice and Thya are the two outsiders, and while Alice is dealing with the trauma of abuse alongside the loss and guilt, Thya is the supporting, caring person who tries to be there for everyone as best she can. Not in an overbearing way, but in the good-hearted way where you know that she’s absolutely destined to be slaughtered.
If you enjoy the direction that the Evil Dead franchise is heading down then you’ll probably like Evil Dead Burn. I won’t say definitely, as these movies do have a way of being divisive amongst fans, but the movie does deliver almost nonstop sadistic Deadite violence which, as always, comes with a seemingly endless supply of blood spatter, so I’d wager the majority will be happy with it overall. While Burn made about half of what Rise did at the global box office, the $20 million budget allowed it to still be profitable, so while nothing has been announced as of this writing, it’s very unlikely that the Book of the Dead has been opened for the last time.
4K Blu-ray Video and Audio Review:
This is a dark film, both thematically and visually, but Warner Bros. has delivered once again with their sharp 2160p/Dolby Vision/HDR10 transfer delivering the horrific goods in 4K fashion. There are loads of shadows, the old house has poor lighting (purposefully) and even when it’s day the sky is overcast and the tones are cooler overall. This contrasts nicely whenever fire is involved and the mix of practical effects are showcased nicely, while the CGI looks good for the majority of its use.
The Dolby Atmos track delivers the blood-curdling sound effects in immersive fashion, with voices and recordings coming from various speakers, and the more action-packed sequences overtaking the room. The dialogue is clean and clear and the score will let you know when danger is near without question. As a whole, this is another one-two winning combo punch from the home entertainment side of things and fans will be pleased.
Special Features:
Evil Dead: Blazing the Trail – We get a quick featurette that’s just under six-minutes in length and sees Vaniček, Producer Rob Tapert and cast members talk about various moments on set and what it was like making the movie.
The Hot Shot: Evil Dead Burn’s One-Shot Sequence – This one comes in at just over 5-minutes in length and sees the same folks talking about a five-minute continuous shot that takes place during the film’s second act. It’s pretty impressive when watching and fun to see them talk about it, as they do mention that at any point during it if someone messes up that the entire tack is ruined – and this is an intense scene with a lot going on in it.
This One’s Gonna Burn – Here we get to hear about the practical effects and make-up used throughout the film in another short, but still interesting featurette.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this Blu-ray was sent to me to cover in honest and truthful fashion.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents Evil Dead Burn. Directed By: Sébastien Vaniček. Written by: Sébastien Vaniček and Florent Bernard. Starring: Soulheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Tandi Wright, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand, George Pullar. Running time: 110 Minutes. Rating: R. Released on 4K Blu-ray: Sept. 22, 2026.
About Brendan Campbell
