‘EVIL DEAD RISE’ ON HBO IS A HORROR FAN’S GORY DREAM

“This is my boom stick!” “Give me some sugar, baby.” “Groovy.” If you or your weird friend that can’t stop talking about horror movies uses these on a regular basis, then you know the “Evil Dead” horror franchise started by director Sam Raimi. I was first exposed to it as a kid at a graduation party where the older kids were watching it and I somehow got wrangled into watching from behind a pillow at times. It was filled with crazy camera shots, gory deaths, and some of the scariest monsters I had ever seen. A few years later I was more accustomed to the horror genre and had to see the sequel. It was just as crazy and even campier than the first one as its cult fandom grew. By the time the third movie came out, known as “Army of Darkness” it was more of a comedy than a horror movie. With the Halloween season in full swell, I sat down and activated HBO MAX and watched the latest installment called “Evil Dead Rise”. While the trailer looked interesting, I figured it would not be anywhere near the level as the previous installments that have become a cult staple.

The story focuses on Beth played by Lilly Sullivan and her sister Ellie, Alyssa Sutherland. Ellie lives in a dilapidated building with her three kids Danny, Bridget, and Kassie. After an earthquake Danny finds the Book of the Dead. This is the catalyst that every “Evil Dead” movie is based on with someone finding the book and a series of demon activating words being said. Then everything goes crazy with possessions and all out bloody chaos. After they make the mistake of opening the book Ellie is possessed and Beth and the kids do their best to fend her off after locking themselves in the apartment with no apparent escape. How will Beth and the kiddos get away and how will they defeat Ellie and the demon inside her?

If you are associated with this movie franchise, you know that it is almost a no holds barred gore fest with the amount of blood that would actually pour out of a body. There are flying camera shots that induce motion sickness at times for some folks and there is some humor mixed in. To stay true to Raimi’s original vision they keep these elements along with some Easter Eggs thrown in. This movie is terrifying. To the uninitiated you will have trouble watching this movie as it is a level above most horror films. The unique acting needed to play the part of a “deadite” is equivalent to Linda Blair in “The Exorcist”. It’s so weird that it makes it even scarier. Beth and the kids run the gamut of emotions dealing with the loss of their sister and mom while screaming their way through the continuing level of horror. No one is safe from being attacked or covered in a shower of blood pouring from a victim or possessed individual. I’m warning you that you had better be prepared if you have a weak stomach or if nightmares are caused by watching something like this. They come up with interesting ways for people to get injured. It goes to extremes! That is part of what endears fans to the series that has spawned remakes and even a TV show based on Bruce Campbell’s hero of the franchise, Ash. It is insane and it makes it actually better instead of campy, laughable material. This movie will truly rattle you and make you want to sleep with the light on for a night or two even if you love the franchise. Fanboys and girls will love it as it ties into the original story and keeps the spirit of the gore and fun they know and love. If you truly want to be scared this Halloween weekend, then I suggest you watch this on HBO MAX and make sure the younger kids are nowhere nearby or you’ll be up with them after numerous nightmares during the next week or so. It delivers on the horror that any fan of that genre desires and then some. Good? Bad? I’m the guy with the computer.