20 Horror Movies Nobody Expected To Be Good

Whether it was Sam Raimi's insane original trilogy, Fede Álvarez's blood-soaked reboot, or the short-lived Ash Vs Evil Dead show, there has never been a bad entry in the Evil Dead franchise. The news that Evil Dead Rise, the first cinematic instalment in over a decade, would be substituting the cabin in the woods setting for a rundown apartment was enough for fans to worry that the series could see its first misfire. From the visceral, scalp-tearing opening moments, though, it was clear that this picture was far from a forgettable spin-off.

The second feature from Irish writer-director Lee Cronin, following his underrated folk horror The Hole in the Ground, Evil Dead Rise sees a family fall victim to sadistic terror when mother Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) is possessed by a demon. There's no shortage of sickening gore as the chaos unfolds, with a cheese grater and tattoo gun deployed to disturbingly creative effect.

The new setting likewise worked brilliantly to the film's advantage. The near-empty building that the family is trapped in creates a claustrophobic and eerily isolated environment as the rain pours down outside, and the overall result is a relentlessly brutal outing from beginning to end that fans are guaranteed to adore.