2M80RT7 USA. Lily Sullivan in the (C)Warner Bros new film: Evil Dead Rise (2023). Plot: A twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. Ref: LMK110-J8683-100123 Supplied by LMKMEDIA. Editorial Only. Landmark Media is not the copyright owner of these Film or TV stills but provides a service only for recognised Media outlets. pictures@lmkmedia.com
Evil Dead Rise had its world premiere March 15 at SXSW. It is written and directed by Lee Cronin, the film stars Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher.
Synopsis
The film follows two sisters, Ellie (Sutherland) and Beth (Sullivan). Beth is a guitar technician and Ellie is a tattoo artist and mother of three. Following a gap of contact with one another, Beth discovers she’s pregnant, leading her to visit Ellie and her kids. While she’s there, it becomes clear that Beth missed a lot, including Ellie’s separation from her children’s father.
After becoming reacquainted, Ellie sends her kids Danny, Bridget, and Kassie off to buy some pizza. Once they return, the apartment is rocked by an earthquake, unveiling a hidden underground area. Despite Bridget’s protests, Danny explores the underground tomb, picking up some records and the cursed book, the Necronomicon. Once they return to their apartment, Danny does not hesitate to play the records, which unknowingly unleashes the book’s evil.
Overall
Following is a film filled with tons of blood and gore. I’ve never attended a film that induced the types of reactions that I heard with this film, so I would definitely recommend watching this with a crowd. The film sets everything up quickly and does not stop once it starts. Although the relationships were set up rather quicky, Ellie, Beth, and the kids felt like a real family. Sutherland as Ellie transformed into the creepiest character, and you could tell how much physicality she brought to the role. Likewise, Sullivan’s role as Beth involved a lot of physicality, and she brought a lot of intense emotion to her new role as protector.
Overall, the film is unrelenting, absurd, and a whole lot of fun. I give Evil Dead Rise a 4/5.
Are you excited to watch Evil Dead Rise?
Evil Dead Rise releases April 21.
