Evil Dead Rise

Evil Dead Rise is a 2023 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin. The film stars Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland as two estranged sisters trying to survive and save their family from Deadites. Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher (in her film debut) appear in supporting roles.

The film's development was preceded by scrapped plans for direct sequels to Evil Dead (2013) and Army of Darkness (1992), and a fourth season of Ash vs Evil Dead (2015–2018). By October 2019, Sam Raimi announced that a new film was in development, with Rob Tapert producing, Raimi and Bruce Campbell executive producing, and Cronin writing and directing the project. New Line Cinema (the first film's distributor) was announced as a production company involved. Principal photography took place in New Zealand from June to October 2021. The film was originally set to premiere on the streaming service HBO Max, but distributor Warner Bros. Pictures opted to release the film theatrically first after positive test screenings.

Evil Dead Rise had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 15, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States on April 21, 2023, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $147 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film of the series. At the 51st Saturn Awards, it earned two nominations: Best Horror Film and Best Make-up.

Cousins Teresa and Jessica, and Jessica's boyfriend Caleb, are vacationing at a lakeside cabin when a possessed Jessica scalps Teresa and decapitates Caleb before levitating above the lake.

One day earlier, guitar technician Beth discovers that she is pregnant and goes to her estranged sister Ellie for help. Ellie informs Beth that her husband has left the family, leaving her to take care of her three kids – Danny, Bridget, and Kassie – alone in their Los Angeles apartment. After the siblings return from dinner, an intense earthquake uncovers a hidden chamber beneath the parking lot. Danny investigates it, discovering religious artifacts, three phonograph records from 1923, and a strange book that he takes up to his room, hoping to sell it and help Ellie. The initial record details rejected efforts by a priest to research the book, revealed to be one of three volumes of the Naturom Demonto. The subsequent record reveals the priest continued his research in secret and recites an incantation that summons demonic entities known as Deadites.

The building's power fails and an unseen force possesses Ellie. She returns to the apartment in a trance, menacingly threatens her family, and dies after pleading with Beth to protect her children. Ellie's neighbors help lay her to rest in her bedroom and search for a way out. They find that the staircase has collapsed, the elevator is damaged, and they are unable to access the fire escape before Ellie revives and attacks the family, wounding Beth and Bridget. Beth and the children lock Ellie outside the apartment after she pursues and massacres the neighbors.

Danny confesses to Beth his recovery of the Naturom Demonto, and Ellie tricks Kassie into unlocking the door before attacking her. While Danny and Beth are distracted rescuing Kassie and locking Ellie out, Bridget's wound festers and she is possessed. Bridget attacks Beth before turning on Danny and Kassie, with the latter inadvertently impaling her through the head with a broken broom handle.

Beth listens to the third record to understand how to exorcise the Deadites, but learns the priest failed and his allies were all possessed, with only complete destruction of the host stopping the Deadites. Bridget revives and fatally stabs Danny, who sets Bridget on fire before dying as Ellie infiltrates the apartment using the vents. Realizing Beth is pregnant, Ellie attempts to rip the fetus out of her, but Beth and Kassie incapacitate her with scissors. Ellie fails to emotionally manipulate Kassie, who accepts the fact that her mother is gone.