HOLLYWOOD—I will admit I have not always been a fan of the “Evil Dead” franchise. Yes, the 1981 original is a classic, but silly. I was never a fan of the second entry or that terrible third outing. However, that all changed with the 2013 remake “Evil Dead” was a thrill-a-minute.

Then we got the 2023 sequel “Evil Dead Rise” that continued the trend of a family in danger as the Book of the Dead and those Deadites aimed to tear 2 estranged sisters apart. In 2026, we have the latest entry into the franchise with “Evil Dead Burn” which takes the antics of the Deadites to new heights, and I mean so much to the point that you squirm more than you can imagine.

There is a bonus for this latest entry, we finally learn of something that can actually stop these flesh-eating demons that possess those who read from the Book of the Dead: the Kandarian Dagger. I recall hearing about that in one of the earlier sequels, but this movie brings it front-and-center for the narrative.

Just want to point this out: if there is a book that warns the dangers of reading it, it might be smart to NOT actually read from the book. That seems to be a mistake made in every single entry in the franchise that I just cannot understand. At the root of the mayhem this time around is the Price family who is mourning the loss of Will Price (George Pullar).

Will is out celebrating his younger brother, Joseph’s (Hunter Doohan) birthday, when a fight with his wife Alice (Souhelia Yacoub) pushes him to get into his car drunk, where he crashes into a Deadite that burns him alive. I won’t spoil who that Deadite is, but if you watched the previous movie, you already know what I’m talking about. Will’s death ultimately leads to an onslaught at Joseph’s home which happens to be his grandfather’s that was passed down to him by his mother Susan (Tandi Wright). Will’s grandfather was deemed looney for his obsession with the Necronomicon and protecting his family from the Deadites. That is a very important plot-point for this movie.

Little too late, as by the time the family discovers there is a problem the Deadites have already started possessing family members. I will never look at a headrest in a vehicle the same after witnessing “Evil Dead Burn.” I’m also going to be very weary of how I place silverware into the dishwater. Is this movie bloody? Absolutely, just look at the past two movies. So, if you know that coming into the theater, you’re ok, but even one scene involving dentures was too much for me, but you’re invested in this narrative.

You want to see if anyone is going to survive, and if so to what degree what will be left intact. Missing a hand, a leg, an ear, or some other body part. This might be the most ruthless I’ve seen the Deadites in any film in the franchise, and this notion of kill or be killed comes to the forefront. I’ve seen previous movies where it was either them or you, this movie presents a hiccup with a weapon that the Deadites fear because it can destroy the demon from possession its host.

I had a ball watching “Evil Dead Burn” because I was invested in the characters that are well developed and proves yet again going the family route in horror is proving to be a way to connect with the audience. The pacing works well, the visual effects are amazing and the chaos is over-the-top, but should one expect any less from a movie in this franchise. Oh, it’s very R-rated so be aware of that going into the theater.