Evil Dead Burn reached No. 1 on HBO Max’s U.S. movie chart just days after its early October streaming debut, according to FlixPatrol. The latest sequel got there despite mixed reviews.
Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, the film stars Souheila Yacoub as Alice, who is grieving her husband’s death. She retreats to a secluded family home with her in-laws, but their attempt to process the loss becomes a fight for survival when demonic forces turn the family into Deadites: possessed, undead monsters that attack the living.
Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan and Luciane Buchanan also star. Following 2023’s Evil Dead Rise, the film adds another standalone story to the franchise’s increasingly gruesome run.
Evil Dead Burn has a 70% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Polygon’s review was less positive, arguing that the film struggles to balance the series’ grotesque horror with its slapstick comedy. The review praised the inventive kills, camera work and sound design, but found that the film’s attempts to explore grief and family violence never quite come together.
The contrast between its chart performance and divided reception leaves the bloody set pieces as the clearest reason to press play. For viewers after demons, practical effects and gore pushed to the limits of good taste, Evil Dead Burn is now streaming on HBO Max.
