Movies
‘Evil Dead Rise’: A Timeline of The Film 30 Years in The Making
It’s time for the Evil Dead to rise once more, as the return of the Necronomicon promises a brutal, bloody show.
We’ve been excited to see this movie since it was first announced. Quite understandably so, as it’s poised to be one of the best horror movies of 2023 (which is saying something when you consider all of the scary movies on the horizon this year). The Evil Dead Rise trailer only confirmed what we’d suspected; this movie looks incredible.
Need a primer on all things Evil Dead? Then head over to our Deadites 101 article here!
It premiered at SXSW on March 15th to stellar acclaim from critics everywhere. Amidst all the appreciation and accolades, it’s necessary to revisit the hoops and bounds this film traversed to become possible.
The Long Road to Evil Dead IV
Fans had been pining for more Evil Dead content since Army of Darkness in 1992. Since it was not a box office success, Sam Raimi had difficulty procuring funding to make a sequel. The problem in creating a sequel was heightened by the fact that the director ran into a legal battle with Universal Studios over the rights to the film.
Into the millennium, Freddy vs. Jason fans may remember the rumors circulating that a sequel was planned; this time, it would be Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash. Though there was a comic book series with this name, the movie seemed destined never to happen.
It was unfortunate because, due to the insistence of Jason Goes to Hell director Adam Marcus, Jason Voorhees is a Deadite. Therefore, bringing Ash into the equation makes sense if you take the Deadite sideline as canon (I don’t, for the record, but our Editor-In-Chief does, so that’s all a discussion for perhaps another day.)
Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead IV Dreams
In 2009, news broke of a potential Evil Dead IV directed by Sam Raimi, co-written by brothers Ivan and Sam Raimi. Though this film seemingly disappeared into the ether, horror fans shouldn’t give up hope for a Sam Raimi-directed Evil Dead film, as Bruce Campbell recently went on record with Fangoria to say that if Sam Raimi directs another Evil Dead movie, he’ll come back as Ash. Though he has not indicated this will happen, Fangoria shared that Sam Raimi is interested in directing another horror movie. Maybe Sam Raimi will find this commitment inspirational? Fingers crossed.
In 2013, we finally received a new Evil Dead film. The Evil Dead requel, directed by Fede Alvarez, was a creepy watch, though its re-imaginative nature deemed it not considered Evil Dead canon. He was set to reprise the directorial seat for Evil Dead 2 but instead chose to direct Don’t Breathe. Thus, the film was relocated to the void until further notice. It began to crawl back out again with the premiere of a horror series and the return of Bruce Campbell.
Ash vs. Evil Dead
In 2015, Deadites everywhere, who knew, rejoiced as Ash vs. Evil Dead aired as a Starz Original series. It has an astounding 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and was beloved by fans of the franchise. However, creators sensed the end was coming prematurely, as Bruce Campbell said in an interview with Collider, “We knew the ratings were bad after the end of the second season. We just knew it. No one knew what Starz was.” After the third season, it was canceled.
An interview with the actor two years later would be much more positive.
The Evil Dead Sequel Confirmed
A 2020 interview with Empire would have Bruce Campbell reveal that a new Evil Dead movie was rising. He shared that Lee Cronin would be taking over as director, and Bruce Campbell would not be appearing in it, though he would be working behind the scenes in production. (Since the film’s release, Lee Cronin has said that there is a glimpse of Bruce Campbell in Evil Dead Rise and that he’ll give fifty dollars to the first person to spot him.)
By the Spring of 2021, Evil Dead Rise was announced as a straight-to-streaming release by HBO Max.
Evil Dead Rise on HBO Max
The hype grew over the following year, with a promo poster circulating online. However, as the summer of 2022 neared its end, anxiety over whether the film would be released grew. The release date had yet to be confirmed, and HBO Max had abruptly canceled other Warner Bros collaborations, Batgirl and Scoob!: Holiday Haunt despite production being almost complete.
There was additional worry surrounding the film’s fate, as there were rumors that the film would release theatrically after test screenings went remarkably well. It was debatable how executives at HBO Max may feel if they lost the right to premiere the movie exclusively.
Lee Cronin tweeted for horror fans to “Keep the faith,” while other horror fans came through with the plan if it did end up slain along with the other productions.
Finally, at the end of August 2022, the much-awaited news was announced—Evil Dead Rise releases on April 21st, but in theaters instead of on streaming.
What to Expect from Evil Dead Rise
A decade after the last Evil Dead film was released, Evil Dead Rise is finally here. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell worked as executive producers, with Robert Tapert producing; the original trio worked together to make the first three Evil Dead films possible. Digital effects were used sparingly; even the wall-crawling scenes are the real deal. Evil Dead is back.
Lee Cronin shared in a SlashFilm interview that he used 6500 liters of blood (or approximately 1,717 gallons) to make Evil Dead Rise. For comparison, Stanley Kubrick used about 300 gallons of blood to make the elevator blood waterfall scene in The Shining. In fact, the film used so much blood that they had to utilize an industrial kitchen to make it all.
Evil Dead Rise Cast and New Elements
Evil Dead Rise stars Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, and Gabrielle Echols. One significant difference between this release and the many appearances of Evil Dead that have preceded it is the incorporation of children as main characters into the franchise.
Following a single mother’s exposure to the evil book during a reunion with her sister in her high-rise New York City apartment building, a prominent cast member (Nell Fisher) is only ten years old- a first for an Evil Dead movie.
In an interview with Fangoria, Bruce Campbell said: “We wanted to show audiences the next generation of Evil Dead, which is way more horrifying now. I mean, the shit that you can do and the tricks that you can play now? This audience is doomed!”
Why Evil Dead Rise Tops 2023 Horror Movies
With outstanding reviews, Evil Dead Rise looks to rank high amongst top contenders for the best horror movie of 2023. I doubt we will need to wait another decade for another installment in the franchise after the success of this film’s debut.
Watch Evil Dead Rise yourself in theaters on April 21st, 2023! Expect it to release to HBO Max sometime later.
Movies
The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in April 2026
Shudder is still being coy about its Halfway to Halloween programming. Which means none of us know the full April line-up yet. However, that is not going to stop me from telling you what to watch on the app. I have taken it upon myself to list five of my favorite movies on the streamer. These are movies I have not had the chance to gush about, as they are not new. Most of the five titles are Shudder Exclusives and/or Originals that are the reason I committed to the app. So, if we have similar tastes in films, you might dig some of these gems almost as much as I do. Get ready to laugh, cry, and sleep with the lights on because I have curated a very weird list of bangers you can stream now.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
A Jane Doe is rolled into a coroner’s office, where he and his son soon learn there is more to this murder victim than meets the eye. The Autopsy of Jane Doe is one of the scariest movies I have seen in my adult life. It is suspenseful, wicked, quiet, and unassuming. This witch is serving mystery, immaculate vibes, and the kind of chills we never get anymore. While I usually praise the acting when gushing about this creepy banger, it is the unsettling atmosphere that truly sends me to hell each watch. Do yourself a favor and hit play on Jane Doe this month while she is on Shudder. You’ve earned a nice waking nightmare, and this is the girl. Also, can Emile Hirsch please do more horror because he’s so damn good in this?
Scare Me (2020)
Two strangers tell each other stories in a secluded cabin during a power outage. Scare Me is one of the main reasons I started getting the yearly Shudder subscription. I describe it as a weird feminist love letter to theatre kids because it hit all of those parts of my brain. It is a clever way to pull off an indie anthology and was surprisingly laugh-out-loud funny. Also, Aya Cash wears an iconic sweater in this movie that will become your new personality. I love Werewolves Within and Heart Eyes. However, I am always telling the Josh Ruben stans they need to check out this gem. Scare Me is for the nerds like me and you (I am assuming if you’re reading all of this).
The Dark and The Wicked (2020)
Two adult siblings head to their family’s secluded farmhouse because their father is dying. They soon discover their father’s impending death is the least of their worries when something evil begins tormenting them. Bryan Bertino screws with the rhythm of the scares, which amps up the creepiness of this terrifying tale. This movie also introduced most of us to Marin Ireland who is becoming a horror staple these days. This movie is a moment for so many reasons and I hope you remember to watch it with the lights off. Shudder fully snapped when they added The Dark and The Wicked to their library. There are so many disturbing moments that live rent-free in my brain, and I guess I am welcome.
Satan’s Slaves (2017)
Death is just the beginning for one mother. This Joko Anwar remake is one of the most chaotic things on Shudder. It is haunting, cool, and messy in the best ways. I take advantage of this movie and Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion being on the app and watch them back to back every year. If you somehow missed the Anwar fan wagon, you will want to have someone save you a seat for after you watch these movies. Satan’s Slaves is serving fucked up families, fuck them kids, and demons. What more could we possibly ask for in our cinema? I personally am still hoping we will get a third entry because I love this world so much.
Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)
A girl joins a group of street children after her mother disappears. Issa Lopez’s tragic tale is beautiful, upsetting, and so human it hurts. She wove magical realism and social commentary into what was the first Shudder film to make me cry. I was in no way ready for this devastating emotional journey, and I cannot recommend this title enough. Tigers Are Not Afraid introduced me to Lopez’s work and what a damn good way to get to know her as an artist. Brace yourselves for some crying, and thank me later.
Those are five of my favorite movies that happen to be on Shudder. They are all over the place, but excel in their lanes. They each remain some of my favorite titles on the beloved streamer, and I do not see that changing soon. Let us know your five favorite movies on Shudder in the comments.
Movies
The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in April 2026
Netflix heard it was spring and broke out the good stuff. They are helping us throw off that winter sadness and get into that death business. Suns out, guns out…or however that saying goes. To be fair, the lineup has been pretty packed lately, which has resulted in a bottleneck in my Netflix queue. Admittedly, that is my favorite of all of my problems I have at the moment. But still, I must push forward because there is so much to catch up on. This is why most of my picks this month are titles that also have homework for me. Some are international, some are horror, and some are gangsters serving face. However, I am excited for each of them and so ready to tell you why I think they are the best bets this month.
So, hop into my mind palace and see what five Netflix goodies I am checking out this April.
The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month
Death Whisperer (2023)
A man returns to his hometown and discovers his sister is suffering from a bizarre illness. This sounds like a possession film to me, and I am finally hitting play. I looked up one day and realized there were three of these films on Netflix. I am not a huge fan of franchises, but I know how most streamers treat films from Thailand. So, this one getting a whole trilogy seems like something I can get involved with. It is also set in 1972 and based on a novel, so the horror vibes will be immaculate. I also found out this was the first Thai movie to be shown in IMAX, and that is a very cool fact. Hopefully, it is as good as I need it to be.
The Green Knight (2021)
A24 adapted Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with Dev Patel. That is all I need to know to get me to sit at this knight’s round table. It is described as a dark fantasy, and I cannot believe I missed this when it came out. I am adding this to the list of things the pandemic took from me as I hit play. I might even have to watch this a couple of times…for research. Is that research looking at Dev Patel and bullying more friends into watching Monkey Man? Who can say?
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026)
Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is pulled back into the life he left behind to end it one way or the other. I am using this movie arriving on Netflix to force me to finally finish this binge that I keep pausing. I do not enjoy being the last person to finish Peaky Blinders. So, I know I would hate not being one of the first people to hit play when it hits the streamers. Aside from thirsting over Murphy, this movie looks sick. It also gives my couch potato heart the promise of closure that I am not sure the show had the chance to give to fans who watched it in real time. So, this is one of those times being late works in my favor. Sorry to everyone who had to wait an eternity for this while I just hop into the express lane.
Re/Member: The Last Night (2025)
Six high school students are forced to break a curse in order to escape a deadly time loop. Re/Member has been on my list since it landed on Netflix. It is a Japanese horror based on a popular manga about kids dying in a time loop. So, all those words lead me to believe this is my kind of party. However, I never got around to it and am so ashamed. Which is why I’m double-focusing on both movies this month. I hope they give me nightmares because that is the only way I will learn my lesson. I also just really miss horror movies that are actually scary.
That Night (2026)
A single mother gets entangled with a murder, and her sister’s attempts to help backfire. This limited series is a Spanish Netflix Original, and it looks fun. Listen! I also firmly believe in supporting women in crime, and I get the impression this group will commit at least a couple of crimes. I am ready for some murder, secrets, drama, and thrills! This winter was rough and I want to feel alive this April. I am hoping that this might be the binge to do it. Wish me luck and I will see you on the other side!
I know it is no surprise that I will be avoiding the outdoors this month. However, I appreciate Netflix for making it easy for me. Why would I go anywhere when I have these titles at home? Thanks for reading my thoughts on all these things I hope I like. Feel free to let us know what you’re watching this month in the comments.


