HBO Max Streaming the Shocking Sequel Critics Call a “Glorious mashup of gore and gags”
There’s something comforting about a horror sequel that returns to a beloved property years after the success of the original. Revisiting a familiar universe with fresh ideas is the best of both worlds. It’s like a nostalgic stroll down memory lane featuring new themes in a familiar space.
I especially like to see a sequel to a celebrated horror IP that is unafraid to mix things up by opting for an unexpected change of setting. While we might be used to seeing a particular franchise play out in a rural locale far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, that doesn’t mean that it’s entirely necessary to repeat the same pattern in each subsequent series installment.
Evil Dead Rise writer/director Lee Cronin (50 States of Fright) understands the benefit of shaking things up and does exactly that by relocating the action from the middle of nowhere to the heart of Los Angeles.
Cronin’s blood-soaked follow-up effort plays out as follows:
A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Both fans and critics connected with this 2023 follow-up effort thanks to a strong script that dares to be different and effective direction that builds and subsequently sustains tension for the duration. You don’t have to take my word for it, though. Dread Central’s Drew Tinnin previously spoke to this unhinged effort when he took the flick in out of SXSW circa 2023.
In the summation of his critique, Tinnin posits: “The further adventures of the Necronomicon venture into the city this time around and still deliver the same glorious mashup of gore and gags Evil Dead fans have come to know and love.”
If that endorsement has you keen to experience the film, or perhaps to pay it a repeat visit, there’s no time like the present to do just that. If you’re so inclined, Evil Dead Rise is now streaming on Max.
Well, that’s just about all that we have in store for you, for the time being. Please be sure to stay tuned to Dread Central in the near future for more recommendations from the streaming space. Until then, you can always find me on Threads if you’re keen for more of my musings. I am active on the platform as @FunWithHorror.
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