Recent Horror Flicks: A Treat for Genre Fans
Horror aficionados have been in for a treat lately, with several much-talked-about horror films hitting the screens.
While critical reception has been mixed, these movies offer a great way for horror fans to pass the time.
Scream VI
For instance, Scream VI has arrived, continuing its meta-horror antics.
Renfield
Then there’s Renfield, a film centered around Dracula and his loyal servant, which doesn’t skimp on the gore.
The Pope’s Exorcist
And let’s not forget The Pope’s Exorcist, purportedly based on true events, featuring a character who claims to have performed tens of thousands of exorcisms over several decades.
These recent releases offer a variety of scares. But if none of these quite pique your interest, there’s another, particularly brutal and wicked horror film worth keeping an eye on.
Evil Dead Rise: A Bloody Good Time
Released in North America in April, Evil Dead Rise is a must-see for horror junkies.
This film is seriously intense.
As a reboot of the renowned Evil Dead series, it presents a fresh narrative, distinct from previous installments, making it accessible even to those unfamiliar with the originals.
Moreover, it has enjoyed remarkable box office success.
Originally intended for a direct-to-streaming release on HBO Max, given its modest budget of $15-19 million, the film’s overwhelmingly positive test screenings prompted a theatrical release.
The decision paid off, with the film grossing over $100 million worldwide to date, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
With its impressive reviews—84% on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 7.2, and 7.1 on IMDb—Evil Dead Rise is definitely worth checking out.
Why is it so popular?
The film’s popularity stems from its sheer brutality and relentless intensity. It’s a visually stunning experience, albeit one that many viewers may find too extreme for the big screen.
The Evil Dead series, a hallmark of Sam Raimi’s B-movie horror style, has always been known for its over-the-top gore and madness.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead Rise, the fifth installment in the series, is executive produced by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, with Lee Cronin taking on directing duties.
The film serves as a reboot, featuring new characters and settings, moving away from the classic cabin in the woods to a dilapidated apartment building slated for demolition.
The protagonists are now a single mother and her estranged sister, along with her teenage children.
The close-knit family dynamic amplifies the horror when demonic possession and violence erupt.
As in previous Evil Dead films, the family unwittingly unleashes evil by discovering the infamous “Book of the Dead” and playing its incantations.
The Evil Dead series follows a familiar formula: demonic possession leads to the torment and manipulation of the victims’ bodies.
The demons don’t simply kill; they “play” with their victims, subjecting them to gruesome and sadistic acts. This installment is no exception, delivering intense body horror that challenges viewers’ limits.
Prepare for scenes of dismemberment, eye-gouging, and other disturbing acts. One particularly memorable scene involves a possessed character attempting to devour glass shards to kill the “worms” inside their stomach, resulting in graphic depictions of the shards piercing through the esophagus.
Another scene features a character grating their own leg with a cheese grater.
The Evil Dead formula involves a gradual, escalating torment of its characters, prolonging the suffering and amplifying the horror.
The film’s intense visuals are largely achieved through practical effects, eschewing CGI whenever possible.
The actors’ contorted movements and grotesque crawling further enhance the visceral impact.
The film also boasts an astonishing amount of blood, with director revealing that over 6,500 liters of blood were used during production.
That’s equivalent to the blood volume of over 1,300 adults!
The film also pays homage to The Shining with its elevator blood scene, adding to the overall intensity.
The use of real blood enhances the visual impact, although it comes at a cost. The film also references previous Evil Dead installments, with the female lead wielding a chainsaw.
The film employs retro split diopter lenses, a technique rarely used today, to create a sense of claustrophobia and unease.
The film’s horror is rooted in the mysterious Book of the Dead, a tome that summons evil spirits.
The book’s cover is adorned with veins and sharp teeth, while its pages contain disturbing illustrations.
Evil Dead Rise’s success can be attributed to its relentless brutality and wicked atmosphere, offering a cathartic experience for horror fans.
While the absence of Bruce Campbell in this standalone reboot may disappoint some, his voice can be heard in the film, providing the sound of someone eating an apple during a particularly gruesome scene.
Evil Dead Rise is currently one of the hottest horror films in North America.
If you’re a horror enthusiast who enjoys intense, gory films, this one is definitely worth checking out.