“Horror allows you to experience some of the darker sides of life without actually going through them”: Lee Cronin on Evil Dead Rise

Evil Dead Rise, the much-anticipated fifth movie in the horror franchise, has been dubbed a range of things: a reboot, a remake… but could most aptly be called a mash-up of all that’s gone before it. Drawing on the core tenets of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead universe (namely the existence of the flesh-bound Book of the Dead and its ability to raise evil spirits when read aloud), as well as absorbing many of the elements of horror meets comedy meets gore that have been present in varying levels in the each of the instalments, it is nonetheless its very own beast.

Despite luring viewers in with its opening sequence that is once again a cabin in the woods, the action transports us instead to the novel setting of a dilapidated LA apartment, where we find Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland), a struggling single mother of three, and her sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), a touring guitar technician, whose unexpected visit is met with apprehension. Any doubt that such a setting, particularly minus the beloved Bruce Campbell, could be any less terrifying is quickly nullified, as the pandemic-reminiscent claustrophobia of being trapped inside four walls with your familial dysfunctions is dialled up to 11. Brace yourself for blood by the bucketload and some of the most imaginatively created scenes involving kitchen appliances in any movie of any genre. Be warned: you might struggle to step into a lift or make use of a cheese grater any time soon…

The Upcoming chatted to Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) about crafting this dark roller coaster ride for audiences and combining the terror of horror with pure entertainment. He candidly shared how his childhood fascination with horror, ignited by watching films with his family, now drives him to impress them through his work. He also delved into the significance of character development and how he fostered a genuine on-screen family by encouraging off-screen bonding among the cast. The director also opened up about his hopes for future Evil Dead entries and his excitement to tackle new projects in the horror genre, experimenting with diverse tones and styles.

Sarah Bradbury

Evil Dead Rise is released nationwide on 21^st April 2023.

Watch the trailer for Evil Dead Rise here: