Evil Dead Burn Review: Blistering, Bloody Rollercoaster is the Franchise’s Best Since the Original Trilogy
Souheila Yacoub (Climax) and Hunter Doohan (Wednesday) lead this harrowing sequel from director Sébastien Vaniček (Infested)
by Alex Kaan 8 July 2026
StudioCanal
In the wake of Backrooms and Obsession dumbfounding Hollywood with a combined global haul of $750 million, original indie horror stories have never had more caché. When a sequel like Evil Dead Burn rolls along, the question becomes whether a 45-year-old franchise can really connect with audiences as it has another go at a tried-and-true formula. However, after the unparalleled success of those debuts from Kane Parsons and Curry Barker, Evil Dead Burn proves that revived horror IP can still terrify audiences — so long as the right fresh blood is brought in.
After a fatal car crash, traumatised widow Alice (Souheila Yacoub) travels to stay with her in-laws as they grieve the loss of her husband, Will (George Pullar). Packed tight in their rotting, secluded family home, the mourning party includes Will’s mother (Tandi Wright), father (Erroll Shand), grandmother (Maude Davay), and brother, Joseph (Hunter Doohan). The latter family member, who has also brought his girlfriend, Thya (Luciane Buchanan), unwittingly unleashes havoc on the morbid reunion when, while researching a planned novel, he unwraps the fabled Book of the Dead and calls a horde of parasitic demons, known to any fan as Deadites.
StudioCanal
Breathless, brutal, and fuelled by a wicked sense of humour, Evil Dead Burn is a taut thrill ride packed to the brim with unseemly violence, visceral practical effects, and a demented conviction to never let its audience regain their composure after each gnarly set piece. The franchise’s sixth instalment strikes the perfect balance between the vintage Raimi thrills and the relentless intensity favoured by its new director, Sébastien Vaniček, whose impressive debut, spider creature feature Infested, was defined by an elegant balance of horror spectacle and character drama.
StudioCanal
Bringing those character moments to life is a stellar cast, with Souheila Yacoub and Hunter Doohan standing out with a pair of raw performances. Another highlight is a live wire, gonzo turn by Luciane Buchanan, who, spoiler alert (if you’re avoiding trailers), makes for a superlative deadite.
The strongest entry in the franchise’s standalone sequel trilogy, Evil Dead Burn is a relentless 100-minute rollercoaster with a ferocity and audacity that will have audiences gasping in the theatre.
Evil Dead Burn is in UK cinemas from July 9th and in US cinemas from July 10th.