In a dark demented way, Evil Dead Rise resembles a fairytale. It’s something that reigns prominent throughout the film; a family reunion, a magical book, and of course, those pesky evil flesh-eating demons. In case you’re out of the loop, Evil Dead Rise premiered last month at SXSW’s Film & TV Festival to roaring applause and screams from an audience that stayed up way past our bedtime, watching the darkest fable we have ever witnessed since the absence of the franchise for the past 10 years. It’s the sort of film that you watch for the first time and feel so immersed into the story, you feel like you’re the third person in the room watching everything unfold before your very eyes.Â
As someone who grew up watching horror movies consistently with my family, I was so excited to hear anything involving Evil Dead Rise. I have always adored the Evil Dead franchise, and how it’s able to balance the two factors of intense fear and comedy throughout some of the franchise’s most iconic moments. Evil Dead Rise is able to pull that off tremendously, with standout performances from Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland as Beth and Ellie. Lee Cronin understands and respects the franchise while also being able to add a flair to Evil Dead that fans will be sure to appreciate when the film ultimately releases in theaters.Â
I spoke with Alyssa Sutherland and Lily Sullivan at the Evil Dead Rise College Journalist Roundtable about Beth and Ellie, their past roles, and wearing Dr. Martens while recreating the iconic chainsaw pose.Â
Leia Mendoza: Hi guys! I saw the film at SXSW and I LOVED it so much. I loved being there with y’all. You guys have worked on projects like Vikings and Picnic at Hanging Rock which are two vastly different projects compared to Evil Dead Rise. What was it about Lee’s writing style and execution of the script that made you want to take on Beth and Ellie?Â
Alyssa Sutherland: Yeah! I have had very different roles. I actually met Lee on the set of Vikings, strangely enough because he’s Irish and we filmed Vikings in Ireland. I met him on the set there although I completely forget having met him, thankfully I was charming and loving. *laughs* I think what made me want to work with Lee was the script and the role of Ellie because certainly as a woman, I just don’t have roles like that come my way. It’s so rare. But watching his first film, The Hole in The Ground is what really made me want to work with him. Watching the performances that he got with the actors that he worked with in that film, I was like “Sign me up! I want to be a part of it.”
Lily Sullivan: For me, I mean, reading the script, it was such a page turner. Also, like your childhood fantasy is to act out the most absurd scenes which is the beautiful thing of the horror genre. It’s like the boundaries are limitless! The bigger, the better. Entering primal and animal states, especially as a woman, I realized how not physical, you think of picking a hanging rock, you’re breathing shallow and just not in your body at all. It’s so nice to put on the Doc Martens, purple satin dresses, and hold a goddamn chainsaw above my head! *laughs*Â
LM: Thank you guys so much! I loved the film.Â
AS: Aw, Thanks Leia!
Evil Dead Rise premieres in theaters on April 21, 2023. A special thank you to Gina C. at Warner Brothers for giving me this opportunity to attend the college roundtable interview!Â