7. [REC]
[REC] 2007
– Filmax)
If you haven’t seen 2007’s [REC], now is a good time to fix that. The Spanish found footage style horror film follows a reporter and her cameraman who go with a group of firefighters on an emergency call to an apartment building where they discover a sinister infection spreading and results in the building being sealed with its occupants for a quarantine. Stuck inside, the reporter and other survivors find themselves unable to escape and having to somehow survive while figuring out why all of the residents have now become murderous and insane. The film does have an American remake — 2008’s Quarantine — but do yourself a favor and watch the original.
6. Hereditary
A24’s Hereditary was released in 2018
– A24)
2018’s Hereditary — which happens to be Ari Aster’s feature directorial debut — follows a family grieving the death of their secretive grandmother and finds them tormented by dark and sinister occurrences. It’s disturbing and chilling and with the family component makes it a great watch after Evil Dead Rise. It also stars Toni Collette in a genuinely fantastic performance.
5. Ready or Not
Samara Weaving in Ready or Not
– Searchlight Pictures)
Earlier this year it was announced that Ready or Not is getting a sequel so that just gives you even more reason to add this film to your post-Evil Dead Rise watch list. Released in 2019, Ready or Not stars Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O’Brien, Elyse Levesque, Nicky Guadagni, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell and follows a young bride (Weaving) who finds herself hunted as part of a twisted wedding night ritual by her new in-laws who just so happen to worship the Devil. It’s bloody and violent, but it’s also at times a little darkly funny. Maybe it’s not exactly like Evil Dead Rise in terms of subject matter, but it does make for a nice palate cleanser of sorts that keeps things within the horror genre.
4. Battle Royale
You’ve probably heard of this film described as a bloodier Japanese take on The Hunger Games, but that’s not exactly the case — it predates The Hunger Games but certainly is bloody and gory. The film follows a group of students who are forced by a totalitarian Japanese government to fight to the death as part of an attempt to curb juvenile delinquency. It’s very violent and very provocative, but it’s honestly a fantastic movie that if you haven’t for some reason watched yet put it on your list.
3. Malevolent
Florence Pugh in Malevolent.
– Netflix)
Starring Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Scott Chambers and more, 2018’s Malevolent follows a team of scammers who make money by faking paranormal encounters except, during an assignment to a country house things get a little real and they each begin to lose their grasp on reality. It’s a little creepy and not over the top scary, but it makes for a nice complement to Evil Dead Rise and it’s just a good watch as spooky season kicks off.
2. Drag Me To Hell
Directed and co-written by Sam Raimi — who created the Evil Dead horror franchise — Drag Me to Hell follows Christine (Alison Lohman), a loan officer who has to prove she can make difficult decisions at her job and thus doesn’t extend an old woman’s mortgage. The woman ends up cursing Christine in which she will be sent to Hell for eternity but not until she’s endured three days of ever escalating torment. It’s a solid story and is at times funny and frightening and let’s be real, you just can’t really go wrong with Raimi.
1. Evil Dead (2013)
Evil Dead 2013
– Sony Pictures)
While we could easily suggest that you simply watch any of the films in the Evil Dead franchise, we’re specifically going to suggest 2013’s reboot directed by Fede Alvarez who notably just directed Alien: Romulus. The film follows a group of five people who find themselves under attack by deadites — parasitic demonic spirits that feed on the souls of the living and possess their bodies, super creepy — while in a remote cabin in the woods. You don’t necessarily need to watch Evil Dead along with Evil Dead Rise — the latter is a standalone film — but we’d be remiss to not suggest something from the franchise and this one is a solid watch.
