Prime Video just got one of the best horror movies of the last five years (2024)

Prime Video just got one of the best horror movies of the last five years (1)

Last year’s “Evil Dead Rise” was not just one of the best horror movies of 2023, but also among the best the genre has seen for several years. This blood-drenched supernatural romp has just arrived on Prime Video, and you need to give it a watch.

It might seem strange to describe a horror movie as “fun” but “Evil Dead Rise” isn’t especially concerned with giving its viewers nightmares, instead it trades away scares to focus on deliciously unhinged thrills. Plus, there’s blood by the bucket load.

The “Evil Dead” series has a remarkable consistency in an era where horror sequels can be pretty terrible. “Evil Dead Rise” might be the best of the bunch. That’s no small accomplishment when 1987’s “Evil Dead II” is ranked as a genre heavyweight. So, let’s dive into what makes “Evil Dead Rise” such a devilishly enjoyable watch.

What is 'Evil Dead Rise' about?

EVIL DEAD RISE - Official Trailer - (Redband) - YouTubePrime Video just got one of the best horror movies of the last five years (2)

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Operating as a standalone entry in the horror series with only minor connective tissue to the ‘80s original, “Evil Dead Rise” is an epic franchise refresh. It moves the action away from an isolated cabin in the woods and instead takes place in a Los Angeles apartment complex.

After a chilling opening, packing one of my favorite title cards in cinema history, viewers are introduced to Beth (Lily Sullivan) and Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland). These two estranged sisters are polar opposites but reunite when the former discovers she is pregnant and has nowhere else to go. But this family reunion is quickly cut short.

Evil is lurking just around the corner, and when an earthquake reveals a hidden underground chamber hiding a sinister book known as the Naturom Demonto, one of Ellie’s teenage children accidentally summons a demonic presence. What follows is a battle for survival against a flesh-possessing creature with a thirst for blood.

'Evil Dead Rise' is blood-soaked brilliance

If I haven’t made it clear enough already, I’ll state it outright — “Evil Dead Rise” is a total gorefest. Of course, this is to be expected when it comes to the “Evil Dead” series, but it’s important to note that this horror flick isn’t for the squeamish. If you can’t handle blood, guts and viscera, I would advise you to skip this one.

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But for those who don’t mind the sight of rivers of sticky (fake) blood, “Evil Dead Rise” is a riotously enjoyable horror movie. It’s also seriously creative, making smart use of its claustrophobic apartment setting in increasingly inventive ways and offering just enough emotional stakes to make you genuinely care for its core characters. Lily Sullivan especially is a real champ, and turns Beth into a gold-tier "final girl".

I was also pleasantly surprised to see “Evil Dead Rise” take a few narrative risks that I didn’t see coming. I watch a lot of movies, and a lot of horror movies specifically, and it’s rare for the genre to surprise me these days, but “Evil Dead Rise” goes in a direction I didn’t foresee. I'll say no more to avoid spoilers, but it's not predictable.

You need to watch 'Evil Dead Rise' on Prime Video

I’m not the only one impressed with “Evil Dead Rise”. The 2023 movie currently holds an 84% score on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes which is enough for a Certified Fresh seal of approval. Its audience score of 76% is also solid, especially when you account for the fact horror tends to score lower with viewers as the genre is very divisive.

If you’re looking for something new to watch on Prime Video this week, I urge you to give “Evil Dead Rise” a chance. So long as you can handle pretty extreme gore, you’ll be treated to a wickedly enjoyable horror movie that isn’t afraid to take a few narrative risks.

Meanwhile, if you want even more viewing recommendations, check out our list of the top new movies arriving on the best streaming services this week which includes Prime Video’s new astronaut-themed comedy "Space Cadet" with Emma Roberts.

You can stream “Evil Dead Rise” on Prime Video right now.

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Rory Mellon

Entertainment Editor (UK)

Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team.

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    FAQs

    What is the scariest movie on Amazon Prime? ›

    Here are the 40 best horror movies on Amazon Prime:
    1. Rosemary's Baby. Year: 1968. Director: Roman Polanski. ...
    2. The Descent. Year: 2005. ...
    3. Night of the Living Dead. Year: 1968. ...
    4. Ginger Snaps. Year: 2000. ...
    5. Hellraiser. Year: 1987. ...
    6. The Wicker Man. Year: 1973. ...
    7. We Need to Talk About Kevin. Year: 2012. ...
    8. The Invisible Man. Year: 2020.
    May 1, 2024

    What is the no. 1 ranked horror movie? ›

    1. The Exorcist (1973)

    What is the #1 scariest movie on Netflix? ›

    1. His House (2020) This ghost story centers on a young refugee couple who have arrived in the U.K. from South Sudan.

    What scary movie should we watch? ›

    Creature features (King Kong, The Fly) nestle with Best Picture nominees (The Exorcist, Get Out). Slashers (Scream), zombies (Dawn of the Dead), vampires (Let the Right One In) abound with terror of the more psychological persuasion (Don't Look Now, The Innocents).

    What is the scariest rated horror movie of all time? ›

    The Exorcist (1973)

    You may not agree that The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever, but it probably also isn't much of a surprise to see it at the top of our list — with a whopping 19% of all the votes cast.

    Which is the most viewed horror movie? ›

    Highest-grossing horror films
    RankFilmWorldwide gross
    1It$701,842,551
    2The Sixth Sense$672,806,292
    3I Am Legend$585,349,010
    4World War Z$540,007,876
    45 more rows

    What's a scary movie on Netflix that nobody can finish? ›

    The horror movie "Veronica" is known for terrifying viewers so much that people stop watching halfway through.

    Which horror movie is banned? ›

    Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

    The film by Ruggero Deodato was banned on account of the graphic, realistic violence depicted in various forms in the film.

    What's the worst horror on Netflix? ›

    1 The Open House (2018)

    The Open House stands as one of the worst Netflix horror movies of all time for several reasons. In The Open House, a mother and her son are looking to sell their family home following the death of her husband, but strange occurrences befall them.

    What is the 1 scariest movie? ›

    100 Scariest Movies of All Time
    1. The Exorcist. 19732h 2mR. 8.1 (459K) Rate. ...
    2. Hereditary. 20182h 7mR. 7.3 (386K) Rate. ...
    3. The Witch. 20151h 32mR. 7.0 (305K) Rate. ...
    4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. 19741h 23mR. 7.4 (186K) Rate. ...
    5. The Babadook. 20141h 34mNot Rated. ...
    6. High Tension. 20031h 31mR. ...
    7. Get Out. 20171h 44mR. ...
    8. Sleep Tight. 20111h 42mNot Rated.

    What movie on Netflix has the most jump scares? ›

    There's nothing quite like the thrill of a good jump scare, and The Midnight Club has them in spades. The series, premiering on Oct. 7, just got the Guinness World Record for most scripted jump scares in a single episode — specifically, there are 21 leap-from-your-seat moments scattered throughout the series premiere.

    What is the most common horror movie? ›

    filters
    1. 1 The Silence of the Lambs67%
    2. 2 The Shining58%
    3. 3 Hannibal55%
    4. 4 The Invisible Man46%
    5. 5 From Dusk Till Dawn45%
    6. 6 The Purge44%
    7. 7 Halloween (2018)44%
    8. 8 Goosebumps44%

    Is the movie The Taking of Deborah Logan real? ›

    The Taking of Deborah Morgan, as you must have gathered by now, is a faux-documentary that begins as a sort of record of deterioration. I can think of no better word than "deterioration", since Deborah Morgan falls apart both mentally and physically over the course of the film.

    Which is the most horror full movie in the world? ›

    Most Dangerous Horror Movie
    1. It. 20172h 15mR. 7.3 (613K) Rate. ...
    2. The Loved Ones. 20091h 24mR. 6.6 (44K) Rate. ...
    3. The Witch. 20151h 32mR. 7.0 (305K) Rate. ...
    4. Lights Out. 20161h 21mPG-13. 6.3 (143K) Rate. ...
    5. Bone Tomahawk. 20152h 12mNot Rated. 7.1 (120K) Rate. ...
    6. Inside. 20161h 29mNot Rated. 4.6 (5.1K) Rate. ...
    7. The Exorcist. 19732h 2mR. ...
    8. Annabelle. 20141h 39mR.

    Is Candy Man scary? ›

    Not very scary, either- although the part where Candyman slices off a young boy's genitalia and throws them in a toilet goes beyond any John Waters movie in the ugly bad taste department. This movie has a lot of good ideas, and the art direction is good, but the slow pacing and dull characters really hurt it.

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