Horror fans’ favorite playful demons are making their way to shelves with Evil Dead Rise. The latest installment in the Sam Raimi-created franchise centers on a world-weary woman who visits her single-mother sister and her children while in the midst of a crisis, only for the discovery of the infamous Naturom Demonto to unleash the haunting Deadite curse upon them and the crumbling L.A. apartment they’re in.
Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland lead the cast of Evil Dead Rise alongside Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher, Noah Paul, Richard Crouchley, Mirabai Pease, and Anna-Maree Thomas. Written and directed by The Hole in the Ground‘s Lee Cronin, the movie marks the second Evil Dead to not be helmed by Raimi, and yet the new voice behind it finds a way to hold its own against its acclaimed predecessors.
In honor of the movie’s home release, FilmmakerFocus spoke exclusively with Lee Cronin to discuss Evil Dead Rise, the unique challenges of making the acclaimed horror sequel, how he sought to break open the Deadite lore, his hopes of returning for another sequel, as well as another fresh voice at the helm.
Lee Cronin on Evil Dead Rise & the Franchise’s Future
FilmmakerFocus: Congrats, first and foremost, on Evil Dead Rise, it is another amazing entry to the Evil Dead franchise. How does it feel now, after all that work and all the blood that you had to go through, to be able to see fans like myself embracing the movie?
Lee Cronin: Yeah, it’s great. I couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone. Making a movie is not easy, ever, making an Evil Dead movie has its own unique challenges, as well. One of those being making sure, me being one of them, that fans would be happy. You can’t please everybody, all the time, but I think for the vast majority, people have really embraced what this movie is.
I think Evil Dead fans love experiencing something new within the familiar, or within the universe that they love, and with that tonality, and all of those things. So, yeah, it’s been great, it’s been great to excite and engage what is a really super fan base, and then also to bring in some new younger fans that maybe haven’t experienced Evil Dead before. This is their gateway, and then they can travel backwards in time and experience the foundations that allowed me to make this movie.
I couldn’t agree more. Much like with 2013’s Evil Dead, I love that this does sit on its own just enough that it can be an introduction to the franchise. You’ve talked about this movie with so many different publications, including myself, what is one element of the movie that you’ve really wanted to talk about, but nobody’s asked you up to this point?
Lee Cronin: Oh, one element of the movie that no one’s asked me about — I’m trying to shuffle through, I’m trying to jump through the chapters in my head right now, you’ve got me on the spot a little bit there. I think something — this is a small detail, but people often talk about how hard it is to make a movie, and maybe I’ve touched on this a little bit before, and it is tricky making something so technical and so practical, but what’s really tricky is having a nine-year-old on set doing that. And not in terms of — people have asked me about, “Does rnrnIn an Evil Dead movie, there’s always a bit of DIY and improv involved. It’s not just about scares and practical effects, but also about the practicalities of filmmaking. Take Gabby Echols, who plays Bridget in the film. She was at a certain age where we had to find clever ways to include her in scenes without blowing our schedule. Scheduling may sound boring, but it’s actually a highly creative aspect of filmmaking.
One person who played a crucial role in making this movie happen was my first assistant director, Daire Glynn. He had to be incredibly creative in finding ways to use doubles and create access to the younger performers on set. We had to do a lot of “fake shemping” in this movie, just like they did in the original Evil Dead. It’s amazing how the spirit of filmmaking from 40 years ago still influences how we approach and make films today.
Speaking of the film itself, one thing I really appreciate is its visual language. From the camera angles to the lighting, we wanted to honor Sam Raimi’s iconic style while bringing our own approach. I’m a filmmaker who writes with the intention to direct, so a lot of those visual ideas were formulated during the development and writing process. I wanted to create a unique experience for the audience, not just scene to scene, but shot to shot.
We paid attention to every detail, including the number of cuts in the movie. I believe we have around 2000 cuts, each contributing to the kinetic visual energy we wanted to capture. It’s not just about how things look, but how that look creates a tonality and enhances the overall experience of the film.
Despite the claustrophobic setting inside the building, we wanted to maintain a widescreen cinematic feel. We drew inspiration from films like Alien, where you feel trapped but still get a sense of spectacle. It was a challenge, but my director of photography and I worked hard to achieve that epic canvas feel.
In the end, Evil Dead Rise is a movie that combines practicality with creativity, paying homage to the original while bringing something new to the table. It’s a thrilling and visually stunning experience that fans of the franchise will surely appreciate.
One aspect of this film that continues to intrigue me about the franchise as a whole is how the Deadite curse spreads. In the earlier films, it was often through an injury, but in this film, Beth gets stabbed in the hand and doesn’t get the curse. Did you discuss the rules with Sam beforehand, or did you approach it on your own?
Lee Cronin: I followed my instincts. While I’ve had many conversations with Sam about what makes an Evil Dead movie work, I wanted to bring my own perspective to it. For me, it’s all about intent. The way I see it, you get to play with nightmare logic, which is fantastic.
Evil Dead exists in a world where the rules have a certain flexibility, and I love that because it allows for creativity. Alyssa Sutherland, who plays a key role in the film, understood the importance of the Deadites having fun. In my mind, she’s like the ultimate Deadite – serious, maniacal, and a psychopath. It’s all about the intent of who’s next and what’s next. She wants Beth to suffer and witness the destruction of family. She’s in control until Beth fights back and blows her limbs off. That’s when Ellie becomes even more sinister with the help of her kids.
You’ve mentioned having future ideas for this franchise and even included a Bruce Campbell Easter egg. How are discussions with Sam and Bruce going? Are you all pushing for you to direct another film in this world?
Lee Cronin: The potential for another film is definitely there. Right now, we’re enjoying the success of this movie, so we don’t want to rush into anything. We’ve always had discussions about different ideas and possibilities. With Evil Dead Rise, I’ve also opened up the possibility for other voices to contribute. I’ve expanded the universe and clarified the existence of three books, which adds to the lore and broadens the canon.
As a filmmaker, I love the challenge and excitement of making these fun, terrifying movies. There are thoughts and ideas floating around, and when and how they come to fruition is up to fate.
For my final question, Bruce has said he’s retired from Ash outside of an animated series. How hard are you going to try and push, if you come back, to at least have him pop in for a quick moment?
Lee Cronin: When you’ve got a man as robust as Bruce Campbell, and he has created as an iconic hero as Ash, there’s no pushing him around. So, I think if Ash ever resurfaces, that’s going to be down to Bruce more than anybody else. I’m sure there’s lots of people in his ear all the time and, again, I can’t speak for him, but it’s always possible in the movie world for something unexpected to happen.
About Evil Dead Rise
In Evil Dead Rise, the action moves out of the woods and into the city, and tells a twisted tale of two estranged sisters, played by Sullivan and Sutherland, whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Check out our previous Evil Dead Rise interviews with:
- Alyssa Sutherland & Lily Sullivan
- Lee Cronin (Pre-Release)
- Production Designer Nick Bassett
Evil Dead Rise hits shelves on 4K Ultra-HD, Blu-ray and DVD on June 27 and is now available on VOD and digital platforms.
