Let me preface this by saying I only recently watched the 2013 version of Evil Dead. I surprised myself with how much I liked it. I guess having a 10 year separation made the tone of it work, harkening back to the relentless and serious tone of the original 1981 movie.
So Evil Dead Rise. I didn't hate it... but I sure didn't love it. It has some great moments but is largely bland. Beginning with a very late 90s factory horror film, it does ratchet up the tension and has a tremendous title sequence.
It meanders for a bit before all hell breaks loose (in the usual way) with one great performance and some solid gore. However, it felt like the director was holding back. It wasn't nearly as intense as the hype would have you believe. I have to assume there's and extended, unrated cut coming at some point. It was a bit inconsistent in the f/x department right to the end with the finale having both the best and worst examples side by side.
Hate to say it, but the messaging is a bit heavy handed in it, too. Not that there was anything I disagreed with but there was just too much for this type of film -- it felt awkward and forced.
The mom (Ellie played by Alyssa Sutherland) is easily the best character in the movie. The best character in the last 2 movies. Her physicality and acting chops made every darkly sadistic, comic line land perfectly.
One of the biggest problems with the movie is that I really don't care about any of the other characters - and that includes the main protagonist (Beth played by Lily Sullivan). Not that Evil Dead movies are known for their characters' depth, but at least they're interesting. A large part of this rolls on like a one dimensional soap opera about maternal instincts which could work in a context with more time to develop relationships and personalities.
There were tons of callbacks to previous Evil Dead entries (some of which just did not work with the overall serious tone of this movie) as well as classics such as The Shining and The Thing.
Is it worth seeing? Sure! It has enough fun stuff to keep you engaged and the change of setting away from the cabin is refreshing. Is it a game changer for the franchise and the scariest film of the year? No.
So Evil Dead Rise. I didn't hate it... but I sure didn't love it. It has some great moments but is largely bland. Beginning with a very late 90s factory horror film, it does ratchet up the tension and has a tremendous title sequence.
It meanders for a bit before all hell breaks loose (in the usual way) with one great performance and some solid gore. However, it felt like the director was holding back. It wasn't nearly as intense as the hype would have you believe. I have to assume there's and extended, unrated cut coming at some point. It was a bit inconsistent in the f/x department right to the end with the finale having both the best and worst examples side by side.
Hate to say it, but the messaging is a bit heavy handed in it, too. Not that there was anything I disagreed with but there was just too much for this type of film -- it felt awkward and forced.
The mom (Ellie played by Alyssa Sutherland) is easily the best character in the movie. The best character in the last 2 movies. Her physicality and acting chops made every darkly sadistic, comic line land perfectly.
One of the biggest problems with the movie is that I really don't care about any of the other characters - and that includes the main protagonist (Beth played by Lily Sullivan). Not that Evil Dead movies are known for their characters' depth, but at least they're interesting. A large part of this rolls on like a one dimensional soap opera about maternal instincts which could work in a context with more time to develop relationships and personalities.
There were tons of callbacks to previous Evil Dead entries (some of which just did not work with the overall serious tone of this movie) as well as classics such as The Shining and The Thing.
Is it worth seeing? Sure! It has enough fun stuff to keep you engaged and the change of setting away from the cabin is refreshing. Is it a game changer for the franchise and the scariest film of the year? No.