‘Evil Dead Burn’ review: A horror sequel that fails to ignite

It is always a cause for celebration when a long-running horror franchise delivers a late entry so impressive it reminds audiences why they fell in love with the series in the first place. The Evil Dead films have largely delivered the gory goods since the original installment emerged from the woods in 1981, but few expected the fifth entry, released more than 40 years later, to be a standout. Yet, 2023’s Evil Dead Rise proved to be an all-timer: a five-star masterclass of blood-letting brilliance. Consequently, the follow-up, Evil Dead Burn, arrived with significant anticipation.

The film begins with a doomed fishing trip, setting a pace that is initially well-handled. Director Sébastien Vaniček, who demonstrated a knack for mounting fierce fright scenes in his 2023 debut Infected, looks to elevate his craft here, sharing screenwriting duties with Florent Bernard. The narrative quickly shifts to a domestic crisis following a fatal car accident involving Will (George Pullar), which leaves his widow, Alice (played by Souheila Yacoub), to navigate the hostility of her in-laws.

The family dynamic is fraught with tension. Mum Susan (Tandi Wright) embodies the archetypal difficult mother-in-law, while gran Polly (Maude Davey) offers brief moments of levity. As is tradition for the franchise, the situation descends into chaos when the Book of the Dead is unearthed, leading to possession and carnage. Erroll Shand, portraying the father, Edgar, delivers a particularly ferocious performance as the supernatural elements take hold.

Despite having all the necessary ingredients for a gripping horror yarn—a claustrophobic setting, a family at odds, and a resilient protagonist—Evil Dead Burn never quite catches fire. While flames provide some of the film’s most striking imagery, the movie ultimately lacks the visceral impact of its predecessor. It is not a poor entry by any means, but it suffers from a lack of genuine scares and a surprising restraint regarding the brutality fans have come to expect. Where Rise leaned into inventive, gory set-pieces, Burn pulls its punches, leaving the audience with a slightly disappointing experience that fails to live up to the high bar set by the previous chapter.