Evil Dead Rise shifts the horror franchise to a Los Angeles setting

Lee Cronin’s latest entry, Evil Dead Rise, moves the long‑running Evil Dead franchise from its traditional forest cabin to a cramped Los Angeles condominium. The film follows a mother who, after a brief visit to her sister’s apartment, becomes possessed and turns against her children, with an ancient cursed book serving as the catalyst.

The franchise began in 1981 with Sam Raimi’s low‑budget The Evil Dead, starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. Over six films released across 45 years, each installment has been handed to a new director, abandoning the usual franchise reliance on a recurring hero. The series is described as an “anti‑franchise” because the cursed book, not a single villain, links the stories, and the lead character Ash has been retired from the big screen. Upcoming entries include Evil Dead Wrath slated for 2028.

Evil Dead Rise earned $147 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, demonstrating strong commercial performance despite mixed critical scores. The tagline “Mamma ti ama da morire” (Mother loves you to death) underscores the film’s blend of maternal terror and supernatural horror.