Evil Dead Rise Review: 6 Ups & 4 Downs

5. The Outstanding Cast

Evil Dead Rise might actually boast the most consistently strong ensemble cast of the entire franchise.

Lily Sullivan makes protagonist Beth a likeable and sympathetic lead trying to work through an impossible situation, while the performers playing her sister's kids all feel believable in their roles while sidestepping most of the "annoying child" cliches.

But there is a sure MVP among the small cast, and that's Alyssa Sutherland, who gives a sublime performance as Beth's sister Ellie - the first member of the family unit to become possessed.

As the possessed Ellie, Sutherland gives perhaps the best and most unnerving Deadite performance in the entire series, all of it suffused by an undeniable underlayer of tragedy when the few remaining slivers of humanity bubble to the surface.

While 2013's remake was largely hung on the brilliantly committed performance from Jane Levy, Rise at least has a lot going for it across-the-board acting-wise.