The biggest criticism levelled at the latest wave of Evil Dead films is just how nasty and brutal they’ve become – a notion that always makes me chuckle.
Much of the fanbase has been won over by the slapstick humour and the wonderfully charismatic performance of Bruce Campbell’s Ash, a tonal shift that began with Sam Raimi’s masterpiece Evil Dead II before continuing into the medieval madness of Army of Darkness. For many, it’s the definitive Evil Dead film – and it’s my personal favourite too – but even I appreciate just how different its tone is from Raimi’s cherished 1981 original.
After being further spoiled by the excellent Ash vs Evil Dead television series, the argument that the Deadites have become “too nasty” in recent years feels misplaced when you remember the infamous tree attack that caused such controversy upon the release of the original film.
Even the previous entry, Evil Dead Rise, balanced pitch-black humour with genuinely shocking horror that had audiences turning their heads away. But director Sébastien Vaniček has little interest in making things “groovy” this time around. His sole ambition is to make the Deadites more vicious than ever before – and he succeeds spectacularly, going straight for the jugular and delivering an experience that will be memorable for all the right… or wrong… reasons, depending on your tastes.
Burn centres on a deeply dysfunctional family following the death of Will (George Pullar). Almost everyone mourns his passing except for his widow, Alice (Souheila Yacoub), who has secretly endured years of abuse and had been planning to leave him. But buried secrets rarely stay hidden for long. Cleverly tying elements back to the original trilogy, the story soon unleashes the Deadites once again – this time with a terrifying agenda of their own. The result is an all-out fight for survival as buckets of gore are splashed across the screen in one relentless assault after another.
This is absolutely not one for the faint-hearted.
Vaniček wastes no time announcing his intentions, opening with a vicious, unforgettable kill that immediately sets the tone. What follows is a succession of inventive, savage set-pieces that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.
There may be no Ash or his roaring chainsaw to relieve the intensity with a well-timed one-liner, but for hardcore horror fans, Burn will rival Obsession as the standout horror film of 2026.
Those longing for the days when a simple “Gimme some sugar, baby” could raise a smile may be left stunned by what is arguably the most relentlessly brutal Evil Dead film ever made.
Over to you, Wrath.
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