Filming for "Evil Dead Burn" has begun
A star from "Wednesday" is part of the cast!
Time for another chapter from the Necronomicon: two years after "Evil Dead Rise", the next bloody prank in the cult horror series is in the starting blocks. Via Instagram, "Infested" director Sébastien Vaniček announced that filming on "Evil Dead Burn" has begun!
Virtually nothing is yet known about the plot of "Evil Dead Burn". The only thing that is certain is that the typical trademarks of the series will once again play a central role: Demons, chainsaw action and lots of blood. Whether the film will pick up on content threads from "Evil Dead Rise", the reboot by Fede Alvarez from 2013, or even from the original trilogy by Sam Raimi, remains a secret for the time being.
Familiar faces such as Hunter Doohan, known from the Netflix series "Wednesday", Souheila Yacoub, Luciane Buchanan and Tandi Wright will be seen in front of the camera. The film is being produced by genre veteran Sam Raimi, the creator of the series. The theatrical release is scheduled for July 24, 2026.
'Evil Dead' and its significance for the horror genre: a bloody legacy
When talking about milestones in the horror genre, there's no getting around "Evil Dead". What began in 1981 as a low-budget project by young director Sam Raimi developed into one of the most influential horror series ever. The "Evil Dead" films have not only inspired countless directors, but have also shaped the way in which horror can be combined with humor, splatter and surreal madness.
A bold start with little money and a lot of creativity
The original "Evil Dead" was made under extremely modest conditions. Raimi and his team had hardly any financial resources, but boundless creativity. With homemade camera rigs, handmade effects and an uncompromising vision, Raimi created a film that surpassed everything else in mainstream horror at the time in terms of intensity and atmosphere. The story about a group of young people who find the Necronomicon in a remote forest cabin and use it to summon ancient demons was simple but effective. The raw brutality, combined with surreal camera angles and a sense of utter hopelessness, made "Evil Dead" a cult classic.
The success of the film showed that horror is not dependent on big budgets, but on a strong idea and a bold stylistic will. For many later filmmakers – from Peter Jackson to Eli Roth – "Evil Dead" became the blueprint for how to achieve maximum impact with little money.
The birth of the horror-comedy genre
While the first part was still uncompromisingly dark, "Evil Dead 2" (1987) struck a new tone. Raimi combined splatter effects with slapstick elements and black humor. Bruce Campbell, who played the role of the involuntary hero Ash Williams, finally became a cult star. His exaggerated facial expressions, absurd approach to horror and legendary scenes such as the fight against his own severed hand made "Evil Dead 2" one of the first genuine horror-comedy films.
This mixture of fear and laughter was revolutionary. It showed that horror could not only be disturbing, but also entertaining and even amusing. Without "Evil Dead 2", there would probably be no "Shaun of the Dead" or "Tucker & Dale vs Evil". Raimi proved that horror can be even more intense when contrasted with absurd moments.
From the forest hut to the Middle Ages and beyond
With "Army of Darkness" (1992), Raimi took the series in a completely new direction. The film was less horror and more a fantasy adventure with comedy elements that catapulted Ash into the Dark Ages. Despite this completely different tonal direction, the film remained an important part of the cult surrounding the series. It proved that "Evil Dead" was versatile and could always shed light on new facets of the genre.
In the 2010s, the series returned in a much more brutal, serious form with Fede Alvarez's "Evil Dead" (2013). The film was an uncompromising remake that upped the splatter and shock factor of the original and showed modern audiences that the concept also works in a new era. Later, "Evil Dead Rise" (2023) revisited the spirit of the series and shifted the horror to a more urban setting.
Influence on the genre and pop culture
The "Evil Dead" series has shaped horror in several ways. Firstly, it proved that innovation is more important than budget. The creative camera angles, practical effects and idiosyncratic tone have influenced countless filmmakers. Secondly, it made horror comedy socially acceptable and showed that humor and bloodshed can go hand in hand.
Furthermore, the character Ash Williams has defined a new kind of horror hero. He is neither the classic, courageous action hero nor a completely helpless victim. Instead, he is an unwilling fighter who survives because he has no other choice – a concept that was taken up in many later films and series.
Pop culture as a whole was also shaped by "Evil Dead". The Necronomicon, the iconic chainsaw and the camera shots from the demon's perspective are now firmly anchored symbols of horror. Series such as "Ash vs Evil Dead", video games and numerous homages prove how long-lasting and influential this legacy is.
A legacy that lives on
With the upcoming "Evil Dead Burn", the series continues once again. Each new film shows that the concept of the cursed book, demons and exaggerated horror is timeless. "Evil Dead" has not only enriched the horror genre, it has changed it forever. It showed that horror can be more than just jumpscares and monsters – it can be stylistic, creative and both disturbing and entertaining.
The legacy of "Evil Dead" is proof that true innovation often comes from courage and passion – and that even the bloodiest horror can inspire an entire generation.