Evil Dead Burn is utterly fantastic. For a franchise of such superb quality spanning 4 decades, to have its sixth cinematic entry crack a Top 3 spot in the series ranking feels like it should be more of a surprise than it is yet here I stand, drenched in blood, grossed out beyond my years, and grinning wickedly from ear to ear.
Burn unequivocally and unilaterally, speaking in a scientific manner, RIPS. Featuring some of the cruelest deadite carnage as well as some of the biggest belly rupturing laughs, Burn once more proves that the idea of handing the reigns of an established horror IP to innovative, hungry directors will inject fresh blood into the franchise and have audiences cringing and gasping in their seats. Burn features the best camera work seen in Evil Dead since Raimi himself was behind the camera and has some of the most gorgeous shots seen in a horror flick in recent memory. There's scenes and shots in this that feel like we're in the hands of a future great. The score is tremendously effective in slathering the film in such a foreboding, fraught, devilish tone. Souhelia Yacoub brings the absolute goods as the damaged Alice, whose torment began long before any incantation brought the Evil Dead back to life. Erroll Shand is terrifying as the patriach of the Price family while Tandi Wright is one screwed up matriach herself. Maude Davey brings a Henrietta-esque performance as an elderly deadite that is heaps of fun. Hunter Doohan and Luciane Buchanan are great in supporting roles.
Some of the best, bloodiest, gnarliest punishment given out with some terrifying themes of domestic abuse and breaking the shackles of unwanted family, Evil Dead Burn didn't disappoint me one bit. I have one complaint and while decently noticeable:
The final boss form of Will, Alice's ex husband, is a bit too much of a CGI fire monster for my liking.
But outside of that, they continue to keep making Evil Dead films and they continue to have not made a single bad one yet. Favorite film of the year and I doubt it gets dethroned. For now, my franchise ranking is as follows:
1 - Evil Dead II
2 - Evil Dead (2013)
3 - Evil Dead Burn
4 - The Evil Dead
5 - Evil Dead Rise
6 - Army of Darkness
Not a single one less than 4 stars, not a single bad film. It's my favorite horror franchise of all-time and it IS the greatest horror franchise of all-time, argue with your possessed granny after she swaps her upper dentures with you!