"Evil Dead Burn" is brutal and brilliant, but missing the franchise's original soul

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There isn't much left to prove about modern Evil Dead . Over the last decade, the franchise has accomplished what once seemed nearly impossible. It proved Evil Dead could survive without Ash Williams. It proved the series could embrace a darker, more emotionally punishing tone without losing its identity. Most importantly, it produced three outstanding horror movies that stand comfortably alongside Sam Raimi 's originals rather than in their shadow . Evil Dead Burn is the latest example of that success. It's a brutally effective horror movie that earns every uncomfortable reaction it gets. The violence is relentless, but what really sticks is the emotional cruelty. The Deadites don't rush through their work. They mock, taunt, manipulate, and drag every confrontation out for as long as possible because they're having far too much fun to simply kill someone and move on. Watching them pick apart a family before they pick up a weapon is often more unsettling than the violence itself. It's also hilarious.