When The Evil Dead premiered in 1981, few could have predicted it would become one of horror cinema’s enduring classics. Born from the collaboration of three childhood friends—Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell—this low-budget passion project evolved into a sprawling franchise. Over the decades the series has expanded into sequels, a television show, comics, video games, and even a stage musical, all feeding a wildly inventive and gory universe.
In this edition of Ranked, The Film Magazine examines the five feature films in the Evil Dead franchise, from Sam Raimi’s original 1981 The Evil Dead to 2023’s Evil Dead Rise. We rank the movies from weakest to strongest, evaluating elements like gore, iconic lines, and overall filmmaking quality.
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5. Evil Dead (2013)
Fede Álvarez’s 2013 reboot divided audiences. Intent on delivering a grittier, more serious take on a franchise historically rooted in camp and exaggerated horror, the film frequently feels tonally conflicted. At times Álvarez blends grim atmosphere with moments of over-the-top absurdity—an uncomfortable mix that can be provocative but occasionally falls flat.
Despite its uneven tone, the film’s central idea—centering on a recovering addict who returns to the infamous cabin—was inspired and offered a fresh angle. Álvarez stages several truly unsettling sequences that are effective in eliciting dread and nausea, proving he could produce visceral, memorable horror.
Evil Dead (2013) isn’t a flawless addition to the franchise, but it contains striking moments and a handful of strong performances. If you’re curious to see a darker reinterpretation of the familiar setup, it’s worth watching for its intensity and shocks, even if it lacks the franchise’s trademark humor and charm.
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