What I Watched in July 2026

For some reason EVIL DEAD BURN (2026) has divided the franchise’s fanbase. Before I could see the film I was already aware that it featured a fractured family at its core leading to a lot of negative online commentary about this element of the story. I immediately smelled idiocy as the previous film EVIL DEAD RISE (2023) featured a troubled family as the central focus of its narrative. The claim that family dynamics are suddenly being injected into the Evil Dead world is the kind of silly nonsense that the need for internet ‘content’ generates in an attempt to provide clicks. It marks itself as ‘bot crap and anyone influenced by it should be thinking for themselves. But enough about politics.

  

I was unaware of actress Souheila Yacoub’s work even though she is featured in the recent DUNE sequel. She nearly carries EVIL DEAD BURN on her shoulders suffering mental and especially emotional indignities that put most classic final girls to shame. I’d be happy to see her continue in the series as the character she plays here. The film seems to pride itself on a return to the vicious violence and emotional degradation I associated more with the first film in the series than with the more over the top gushers of blood the first two sequels presented. This (re)turn to harrowing, visceral bodily destruction seems to have been a shock to some viewers. I found it much in keeping with the series’ recent tone and enjoyed the unpredictability of the manner and type of physical cruelty dished out by the Deadites this time around.

 

In the final analysis I think I slightly prefer EVIL DEAD RISE but only because I love the siege style story it leans on and the claustrophobic feel of DEMONS 2 (1986) it evokes. I’m enjoying the continuing series with new creators taking fresh shots at the concept. Bring on the next entry!

The List

THE BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL (2020) – 7 (Irish bloodsucker tale)

REFLECTIONS IN BLACK (1975) – 7 (giallo)

ZARDOZ (1974) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

TOY STORY 5 (2026) – 7 

THE SINFUL NUNS OF ST VALENTINE (1974) – 6 (rewatch)

KING SOLOMAN’S MINES (1950) – 7 

EVIL DEAD BURN (2026) – 8 

REVENGE (1986) – 4 (low budget sequel to Blood Cult)

ROAD HOUSE (2024) – 7 (rewatch)

SUPERGIRL (2026) – 8 

METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED SYN (1983) – 3 (well – I watched it)

CALL IT MURDER (1934) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) (cinematic play adaptation)

THE ODESSEY (2026) – 8 

HUNTERS OF THE GOLDEN COBRA (1982) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

SCENE OF THE CRIME (1949) – 7 (rewatch) (sharp film noir)

IVANHOE, THE NORMAN SWORDSMAN (1971) – 5 (odd combination of Robin Hood and the sword in the stone myth)

MOTOR CITY (2026) – 8 (pure action cinema)

PHANTOM OF DEATH (1988) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)

THE BIRTHDAY (2004) – 4 (interesting idea but it needed a rewrite and major trims)