Evil Dead Burn (2026)

Evil Dead Burn (2026) is written and directed by Sébastien Vaniček, making his first major Hollywood feature after gaining attention with his French horror work. He immediately proves to be a stronger character writer than plot writer, as the film spends much of its first half developing its cast while the overall story takes longer to find its footing. It is not until midway through the film that Vaniček's eye for visual storytelling truly takes over, delivering several memorable horror sequences with confident camera work and effective tension. By the time the credits roll, it becomes clear that he is currently a better director than screenwriter, though that is hardly a criticism considering this is an impressive Hollywood debut.

Hunter Doohan, known for Wednesday and Your Honor, initially appears to be the film's central protagonist. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes apparent that Souheila Yacoub, known for Dune: Part Two and Climax, is the true lead. Yacoub delivers a solid performance and handles the physical and emotional demands of the role well, while Doohan's character unfortunately falls into the familiar trope of the weak male protagonist. The imbalance comes more from the screenplay than either actor's performance, leaving Doohan with less opportunity to leave a lasting impression.

Luciane Buchanan, known for The Night Agent and Chief of War, steals several scenes as the film's standout deadite. Even beneath layers of gruesome makeup and practical effects, she delivers an energetic and unsettling performance that makes her the most memorable possessed character in the film. It's also hard to hide how pretty she is.

Erroll Shand, known for The Twelve and Little Secret, also deserves recognition for his role as the grieving father of the terrorized family. He brings genuine masculine emotion to the part, grounding the supernatural horror with a believable sense of loss that helps elevate several key moments.

Overall, Evil Dead Burn is a worthy addition to the Evil Dead franchise. While its screenplay doesn't always capitalize on its promising characters, Sébastien Vaniček demonstrates real talent behind the camera and delivers some of the series' strongest visual horror in years. It stands as an improvement over Evil Dead Rise, offering memorable deadites, confident direction, and enough brutal set pieces to satisfy longtime fans. Result: B

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