New Evil Dead film shortly after Evil Dead: Burn!
The next chapter in the horror series is about to begin
Although "Evil Dead: Burn" is not due in cinemas until July 24, the next chapter of the Necronomicon is already being written behind the scenes. According to the industry magazine Deadline, another "Evil Dead" film is in the works.
It will be directed and written by Francis Galluppi, who previously attracted attention with "The Last Stop in Yuma Country". The cast includes "Mortal Kombat" actress Jessica McNamee as well as Josh Helman and Ella Newton. Specific information on the plot and a start date are not yet known. The only thing that is certain is that the film will follow on directly from "Evil Dead: Burn".
Evil Dead through the ages: the current status of a cult horror franchise
The "Evil Dead" series is one of the most enduring, influential and versatile franchises in the horror genre. For over four decades, it has achieved something that many horror series fail to do: it remains relevant without losing its roots. From cheap indie shockers to grotesque splatter humor to modern prestige horror, "Evil Dead" has reinvented itself time and again – and this is precisely where its special status within the genre lies today.
The beginnings: low budget, maximum influence
When Sam Raimi made his debut in 1981 with "The Evil Dead", nobody could have imagined the reverberations this film would have. Shot on a minimal budget but with maximum creativity, the film set new standards for physical camera movements, handmade gore and an uncompromising escalation of evil. The story about a group of young people who unleash demonic forces in a forest cabin was simple – the execution revolutionary. The film quickly became a cult classic and established Ash Williams, played by Bruce Campbell, as one of the most iconic characters in horror cinema.
Horror meets humor: the Raimi era
With "Evil Dead 2" (1987) and "Army of Darkness" (1992), the tone of the series shifted significantly. Raimi combined splatter with slapstick, horror with cartoon logic. Ash developed from a tortured survivor to a loud-mouthed anti-hero. This mixture of comedy and horror was polarizing, but formative. "Evil Dead" became synonymous with anarchic genre humor and influenced generations of filmmakers – from Peter Jackson to Edgar Wright. The series thus occupied a special position within the horror genre: it was brutal but never cynical, grotesque but deliberately playful.
The reboot: brutal seriousness
In 2013, the franchise ventured a radical reboot. "Evil Dead" by Fede Álvarez almost completely dispensed with humor and instead focused on uncompromising, extreme body horror. The film divided the fan community, but was praised by critics for its consistency and craftsmanship. In the context of the horror boom at the time – characterized by remakes and reboots – "Evil Dead" proved that the brand could work without Ash Williams. The film re-established the series as serious, hard horror material and opened the door for future interpretations.
Series success and fan service
At the same time, Bruce Campbell made a comeback from 2015 with "Ash vs Evil Dead". The series combined the humorous Raimi trilogy with modern serial storytelling and explicit gore. It was a love letter to longtime fans, but at the same time accessible to new viewers. Although the series ended after three seasons, it cemented the status of "Evil Dead" as a multimedia franchise and showed how flexible the universe is.
Modern expansion: Evil Dead Rise and co.
With "Evil Dead Rise" (2023), the series took another decisive step forward. Director Lee Cronin moved the action from the classic forest cabin to an urban high-rise and combined family drama with brutal demon action. The film grossed around 147 million dollars worldwide and became the biggest financial success of the series. It was not only the box office success that was decisive, but also the perception: "Evil Dead" was finally anchored in modern mainstream horror without losing its identity.
Current status in the horror genre
Today, "Evil Dead" is considered one of the few horror franchises that enjoys great trust among both hardcore fans and studios. Unlike many brands, the series is not cannibalized on an annual basis, but developed further in a targeted manner. Each new entry is allowed to strike its own tone as long as central elements – the Necronomicon, demonic possession, physical horror – are retained. This makes "Evil Dead" more akin to a horror universe than a classic film series.
Today, "Evil Dead" plays a special role in the horror genre: it is simultaneously a cult, a field of experimentation and a safe brand. While other series such as "Halloween" or "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" struggle with continuity and reboots, "Evil Dead" benefits from its thematic openness. Demons, possession and physical decay are timeless motifs that can be reinterpreted again and again.
Conclusion
The status of the "Evil Dead" films in the horror genre is stronger than ever. The series has proven that it can adapt to changing viewing habits without losing its core. It combines handmade horror with modern staging, respects its past and at the same time looks to the future. At a time when many franchises are suffering from creative exhaustion, "Evil Dead" is a prime example of how enduring horror can work: bold, flexible and uncompromising.