Evil Dead Rise has been one of the most anticipated scary movies of 2023, and it carries the massive burden of following in the footsteps of the 1981 cult classic and the 2013 remake. While Evil Dead Rise does not break the mold like the original, it is a crowd-pleasing horror film that isn't afraid to lean into the gore associated with the Evil Dead name.

Directed and written by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise is a stand-alone film with the potential for numerous sequels and spinoffs. A family reunion between Beth (Lily Sullivan) and her sister Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) takes a turn for the worse when Ellie is the victim of The Book of the Dead, becoming a Deadite with her sights set on her three kids -- Bridget (Gabrielle Echols), Danny (Morgan Davies), and Kassie (Nell Fisher).

While the original is a classic cabin-in-the-woods movie, Cronin cleverly sets Evil Dead Rise in a run-down apartment. The Deadites are the main obstacle, but the environment becomes a challenge on its own, from the numerous deadly weapons found in a kitchen to the nightmarish, unreliable elevator, which is home to two memorable, horrific sequences, reminiscent of a classic Stephen King adaptation, that embrace the violence and blood of the franchise. Restricting Evil Dead Rise to a small apartment does come with some challenges, though. At times, it feels too convenient that most of the characters ignore something suspicious that's going on in just the other room. Especially given the high stakes, one would think they would be more vigilant of one another and their surroundings, but these illogical moments add to the campy nature of the movie, making Evil Dead Rise fun to watch with a group.

Evil Dead Rise is not trying to break the mold. Instead, Cronin has written and directed a scary movie that is the epitome of a big studio horror film. It aims to please the widest audience it can. To achieve this, Cronin creates a movie that keeps audiences engaged through bloody attacks and moments where viewers can cheer for the characters in one moment while yelling at them the next.

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Evil Dead Rise could do more to explore the genre and the franchise further. The gore is a lot, especially by big studio standards. But with indie films like Terrifier 2 redefining what it means to be a gory movie, Evil Dead Rise leaves viewers wanting a more unique approach to the violence. Audiences know Cronin and creature designer Adam Johansen can deliver on this given their approach to the Deadites, which embraces blood and body horror.

Movies like Malignant and M3GAN have paved the way for a new era of camp horror movies, and Barbarian subverts audience expectations while delivering dark and funny moments. Fans might expect Evil Dead Rise to continue this trend in horror, especially given its franchise's history. The script does deliver some darkly funny lines, but those are primarily reserved for Ellie.

Sutherland does not hold back in this role, and she chews the scenery, as well as every vulgar one-liner that's thrown her way. Her physicality sells Ellie's transformation from a loving mom to a woman from hell with a twisted mission. It's no easy task to capture the tragedy, comedy, and brutality that comes with being a Deadite, and Sutherland succeeds. Evil Dead Rise earns the tagline "Mommy loves you to death" thanks to Sutherland's commitment to becoming a horror icon. The makeup department sells her Deadite look by turning Ellie into a walking corpse who looks like she's rotting from the inside out.

Sutherland is not the only one to give a memorable performance. Evil Dead Rise is Fisher's first major role on the big screen. The whole family is going through a nightmare, but Kassie is a little girl going through this, and Fisher has to sell that genuine fear and tragedy. This is a mighty task for a 12-year-old, and Fisher lives up to it, as viewers easily empathize with her. She even delivers some funny lines in the middle of Kassie's nightmare.

In recent years, a lot of classic horror movies are receiving sequels, reboots, and remakes. While some pale in comparison to their original films, Evil Dead Rise delivers a stand-alone movie that is a bloody crowd-pleaser thanks in large part to Sutherland's performance and the violence. However, compared to other gory and campy horror movies that have come out in recent years, Evil Dead Rise could have risen more to the occasion, but at the end of the day, it's a lot of fun.