The Evil Dead franchise is a cornerstone of horror cinema, born from Sam Raimi’s low-budget 1981 debut The Evil Dead. It introduced the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (the Book of the Dead) and the relentless Deadites, demonic entities that possess the living in grotesque, violent ways. The original film follows a group of friends at a remote cabin who unwittingly unleash ancient evil, delivering raw terror through practical effects, inventive camerawork (like the iconic “Raimi cam”), and unrelenting gore. Raimi followed it with the more comedic Evil Dead II (1987) and Army Of Darkness (1992), which cemented Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams as a chainsaw-wielding, one-liner-spouting icon blending slapstick humour with over-the-top horror.
The series evolved with a darker, more intense reboot in 2013’s Evil Dead, directed by Fede Álvarez, which ramped up the visceral body horror without the camp. This was followed by Evil Dead Rise (2023), shifting the action to an urban apartment building and focusing on family trauma amid demonic mayhem. This week sees the release of Evil Dead Burn, the latest entry unleashing the franchise’s most savage ride yet with fresh characters facing a brutal new chapter of possessions and carnage. Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, it continues the emphasis on brutal, stylish practical effects while expanding the lore of familial horror and demonic forces.
6. Evil Dead (2013)
5. Army Of Darkness (1993)
4. Evil Dead Rise (2023)
3. Evil Dead Burn (2026)
2. The Evil Dead (1981)
1. Evil Dead 2 (1987)
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