I recently had the opportunity to participate in a press conference with team members from the coming-soon-to-theaters movie, “Evil Dead Rise.” This involved interviewing writer Lee Cronin and actresses Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland. Especially after having exclusive access to the film before it is released to the public, this was a wonderful experience which helped me further appreciate a movie I thoroughly enjoyed.
“Evil Dead Rise” is the fifth film in the “Evil Dead” series and I was quite impressed with the in-your-face gore, raw emotions, and the unexpected psychological drama throughout the movie. The 2023 addition to the “Evil Dead” series follows a family and their trauma as their mother, Ellie (played by Alyssa Sutherland) becomes possessed after an ancient text reawakens a demon. Unlike in many other horror films, this movie takes place in an apartment building in Los Angeles and features a dynamic family structure of only women.
During the press conference with writer Lee Cronin, he explained how his “Evil Dead Rise” story aimed to defy the horror stereotype of a haunted cabin in the woods and instead created an intimate fear in which the haunting entered the comfort of a happy home. Cronin gives his inspiration for this domestic horror story to classic movies such as “The Shining”: where an evil spirit divides a family. His goal to traumatize the audience by mixing the elements of terror and gore with the comfort found at home and in a mother was definitely successful.
Another interesting element in this story is the use of a peephole. Cronin explains how they used a real peephole when filming to really establish that distorted viewpoint we get when looking out our front door. These shots are similar to those from the cellar door in the original “Evil Dead” movies and represent the “viewpoint into that [evil] world.” I for one don’t know if I could look through my peephole at night without imagining the unsettling grin of Ellie.
Lee Cronin, despite his modern and unpredictable setting, is a traditional horror fan at heart. This can be seen through his use of the much-loved chainsaw motif. Actress Lily Sullivan especially looked forward to this scene and her line: “I’m not a groupie you psycho bitch.” Although I will not give away any spoilers for my fellow horror fans, I can promise the incorporation of various weapons and bloody fight scenes in “Evil Dead Rise” is equally disgusting as it is satisfyingly gorey. Cronin has truly outdone himself with this film.
From the perspective of stars Lily Sullivan (Beth) and Alyssa Sutherland (Ellie), who play sisters in “Evil Dead Rise”, being a part of this project was extremely rewarding. Both Australian actresses reported excitement at the prospect of acting out a horror script, especially one as unique as Cronin’s. They enjoyed working together, probably because they share many similarities (including the same home-town), and bragged about the wonderful chemistry between the whole cast. Sullivan and Sutherland bonded over the absurdity of the film and learned to embrace their rawest emotions through the script and need to portray female rage. Both stars look forward to acting in future horror films.
When asked specifically about their preparation for a scene, both women had different methods. Lily Sullivan – who plays the scrappy hero, Beth – used dance, pushups, and breathwork so she was ready to let out primal screams and “let go of all inhibitions” once the cameras turned on. Contrastingly, Sutherland found inspiration for her “dead-eye-Ellie” stare and twitching movements by having fun and “squeezing out all the juice that I could” in order to illustrate “sinister creepiness.” Both actresses swooned about the “gift as a woman to play with your emotions” and thoroughly enjoyed the play of becoming enraged and unconsolable.
If you like gore, jump scares, and non-traditional films, “Evil Dead Rise” is the movie for you. I thoroughly enjoyed Lee Cronin’s use of classic horror motifs like chainsaws and possession while also creating a new type of fear I haven’t seen in many other horror movies. Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland were bad-asses on the screen and I love their willingness to get a little bloody, so I cannot praise their performances enough. “Evil Dead Rise” is a must see.