Evil Dead Burn is about to ignite theaters next week, but last night Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema held fan events across the country to give Evil Dead fans their very first taste of the latest entry in the saga Sam Raimi created more than 40 years ago.
Dread Central hosted screenings in Chicago and Atlanta, and I was personally on hand in Chicago to get a first look at the film and see if it lives up to the hype.
Our official Dread Central review will be coming next week. But in the meantime, the social embargo is up, and horror fans are finally sharing their first reactions online.
Walking out of the theater, my biggest takeaway was just how much fun I had.
Evil Dead Burn is right there with Evil Dead Rise for me. It’s a gory blast that’s jam-packed with gross-out scenes, nastiness, and moments that had my entire theater either laughing or squirming. More than once I caught myself wondering how the hell some of this made it through with an R rating.
What surprised me most, though, was the comedy.
Ever since Fede Álvarez‘s Evil Dead hit theaters in 2013, the franchise has leaned hard into brutality. Evil Dead Rise continued that with one of the nastiest studio horror movies we’ve gotten in years. Evil Dead Burn keeps all of that brutality, but it’s the first time since Army of Darkness that the [film] franchise really leans back into absurdity.
Not slapstick. Not goofy.
Just the kind of situational comedy where things get so outrageous that the audience can’t help but laugh.
I kept thinking about the French horror wave while I was watching it. Inside. Frontier(s). Martyrs. High Tension. It has that same brutality and that same willingness to just keep going. But then it gives you that little elbow to the ribs and reminds you you’re here to have a good time, too.
Oddly enough, that’s what it reminded me of most: Damien Leone‘s Terrifier films.
Not because the movies are the same, but because they understand that horror audiences love being shocked, laughing at the insanity of it all, and then immediately getting hit with something even crazier. Evil Dead Burn has that same energy. It’s brutal, it’s hilarious, and it’s built to be seen with a crowd.
Is it perfect? No.
I definitely have some criticisms, and I’m sure you’ll read about some of those for our full review next week. But if we’re talking first reactions, this is exactly what I wanted. It’s a worthy entry in the Evil Dead saga, and I’ll gladly revisit it alongside the rest of the franchise.
There really aren’t any losers in this franchise. That’s incredibly rare in horror, and I think a lot of that comes down to Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Robert Tapert continuing to oversee these films and making sure each new filmmaker brings something different to the table while still respecting what came before.
Of course, I wasn’t the only one walking out impressed.
With the social embargo now lifted, fans and critics have started sharing their first reactions across social media. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites below, including my own immediate reaction from the screenings.
My reaction:
EVIL DEAD BURN rules. It’s right there with EVIL DEAD RISE for me. Just wall to wall gore, gross out insanity, and scenes that had the whole theater either laughing or squirming. More than once I caught myself wondering, “How the hell is this only rated R?” pic.twitter.com/OYXEo9CGiX
— B/R/A/D/80 @ Dread Central (@bradmiska) July 1, 2026
More first reactions:
#EvilDeadBurn is relentless. An onslaught of gore, violence, and unexpected laughs. A familiar setup with new ideas and clever callbacks that prove the franchise still has teeth… and they’re ready to feast on your soul. pic.twitter.com/AzpzmpRsSt
— Dustin (@dustinddh) July 1, 2026
#EvilDeadBurn is both incredibly gory & incredibly emotional.
— POC Culture (@POCculture) July 1, 2026
The film of the Summer for slasher fans. Sébastien Vaniček takes the helm and lives up to the spirit of the franchise.
Releasing July 10. @EvilDead pic.twitter.com/VtY5F0tWZF
#EvilDeadBurn is gloriously mean-spirited and violent to the point it might even be offensive. It doesn’t stray from the series formula, but its dark humour, hard R rating, and some killer tracking and one shots give it personality. I winced and had a ball! pic.twitter.com/tGBUjmLDwZ
— Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) July 1, 2026
#EvilDeadBurn Ramps up the gore and the laughs for one HELL of a time! This time around adding bits of fun lore while taking the carnage to BRUTAL levels that’s very unforgiving to the cast. Must be seen with a crowd for the reactions😂 another huge win for the series. LOVED IT🩸 pic.twitter.com/RfWx9MRqqq
— Cris Parker (@3CFilmss) July 1, 2026
Mean, nasty, & quite possibly the most brutal film in the series? That’s #EvilDeadBurn, baby! Sébastien Vaniček brings a New French Extremity edge to the Deadites, one which cuts deep emotionally & physically. Its sick sense of humor makes it the perfect new member of the family. pic.twitter.com/J5415MkQCD
— Bill Bria (@billbria) July 1, 2026
#EvilDeadBurn is seriously nasty and pretty fucked up. It’s relentless, jaw-on-the-floor nightmare fuel. Director Sébastien Vaniček goes hard and delivers a dark, unhinged, and tactile vision that does not hold back. Also, there’s a post-credit scene that you won’t want to miss! pic.twitter.com/vKhv6sshmz
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) July 1, 2026
Evil Dead Burn does NOT screw around. The most consistent horror series continues with a gross, mean-spirited, insane, and exceptionally satisfying entry. The subtext hits as hard as a truck with some sequences that made me yelp with glee and horror. #EvilDeadBurn pic.twitter.com/GiTLmzG5d4
— Hunter Bolding (@HunterBVideo) July 1, 2026
Attended Special Fan Screening #EvilDeadBurn is a terrifying, intense, and highly entertaining horror film filled with suspense, shocking gore, memorable performances, and edge-of-the-seat thrills must-watch for every horror lover
— Kuldeep Gadhvi (@kuldeepgadhvi70) July 1, 2026
4 / 5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ @warnerbros @EvilDead pic.twitter.com/uc8EhtS26w
Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, Evil Dead Burn arrives in theaters on July 10.
Our full Dread Central review will be up next week. Until then, let me know what you think once you’ve seen it. Hit us up on Instagram, TikTok, X, or Facebook. This is one of those horror movies that’s made for a packed theater, and I have a feeling horror fans are going to be talking about it all month.
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