'Evil Dead Burn' Review: I really liked this one
Published on HivePostify by @namiks · Wed Aug 05 2026
I've been rather enjoying the return of the Evil Dead franchise lately. While they aren't always a hit each film, there's definitely a charm to them that isn't quite found in today's horror genre. While the horror genre is definitely peaking at moment, Evil Dead holds something that others aren't quite reaching: the mix of the paranormal, the gory, and the psychological. I saw a lot of mixed reviews regarding Evil Dead Burn and my expectations were definitely lowered going into it, but I found that the build up was quite interesting. The setup of family, the psychological abuse that the protagonist has faced in her relationship, only to be introduced to a really chaotic family that, even in the death of her partner, still insists on keeping her around. There's a weirdness to it all before teh supernatural elements really even kick in. It was a nice touch!
Though there's this aspect of the traditional Evil Dead narrative in which someone appears to have been doing something within the realm of cults, where that supernatural bridge comes into play. Here, it's established within the family, where the now gone grandfather left behind a bunch of papers, recordings, and the likes regarding demons and the occult. The family doesn't really believe his narrative of attempting to protect them and assume family drama took place that he just couldn't tolerate. It's an interesting setup and still different from the previous where it was more focused on a group of teens finding the book and then revealing everything. I liked that it wasn't the usual setup there in that sense.
The film was shot on Panavision anamorphics, which must like the previous ended up being a great decision. The bokeh being more oval, the softer look of everything. It adds to this mysterious, otherworldly aesthetic in which things are not clean nor overly detailed. The soft focus characteristics really made the moments of action a bit more intense. Though with this one being a bit more gory, it also added a layer of protection over hiding some of the special effects usage as it doesn't rely a whole lot on more practical ones like the previous did. That anamorphic separation between foreground and background also allows for some nice shots that show atmosphere and close ups of specific items, disconnecting them from the rest of the surroundings. Also useful in isolating a character in the moment!
I think the character development was pretty good here too, a little more flesh to them. Especially with how the story was related to the grandfather and his attempts to stop the book from being opened and used in the past. Meaning the demons have a very specific vendetta towards the family and actively want to hunt them down. There isn't a whole lot of development or story to them, but it's enough. Again even down to the psychological aspects. Even with the other son of the family being a bit more of a coward. Ultimately I ended up really enjoying this one too, I don't think it deserved the amount of negativity it received. It's certainly still an Evil Dead film, and does some fresh things to make sure it stands out.
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