Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment is bringing their gruesomely entertaining chiller “Evil Dead Burn” to home video. This is the sixth feature film installment in the popular Evil Dead franchise that began in 1981 with Sam Raimi’s original horror classic. Lee Cronin jumpstarted the series in 2023 with “Evil Dead Rise”. And earlier this year director Sébastien Vaniček gave us a wickedly satisfying sequel, “Evil Dead Burn” which fits snugly into the gleefully grisly Evil Dead catalog. And now fans won’t have to wait long to add it to their home video collection. Read my full review of the film HERE.
“Evil Dead Burn” is available to own today, September 22nd on 4K Ultra HD + Digital Copy and also on Blu-ray. See below for a full synopsis of the film as well as release information including a list of special features.
Rated R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, and language
“Evil Dead Burn” unleashes the franchise’s most savage and terrifying ride to date with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem. After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites—turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell—she comes to discover that the vows she took in life live on… even in death.
Special Features:
Evil Dead Burn Digital, 4K UHD, and Blu-ray contain the following special features:
Evil Dead: Blazing the Trail – Director Sébastien Vanicek and his crew explore how Evil Dead Burn honors the franchise’s ever evolving legacy while introducing a daring new vision.
The Hot Shot: Evil Dead Burn’s One-Shot Sequence – Dive into Evil Dead Burn’s most gripping scene as cast and crew detail the intense focus and synergy required to create the complex one-shot sequence.
This One’s Gonna Burn – Explore the fire-fueled chaos of Evil Dead Burn by witnessing how the stunts and effects teams brought the film’s physical horror to life.
It was seven years ago that filmmaker Quentin Tarantino gifted us with what I still consider to be his best film. I’m talking about “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, a movie brimming with memorable moments and memorable characters. One of the characters who stood out the most was Cliff Booth, Brad Pitt’s charming but volatile sidekick to Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton. Pitt was a legitimate scene-stealer and would go on to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Now he’s back, reprising the role that so many of us loved.
In “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” Tarantino handles the screenwriting but passes the directing duties to none other than David Fincher. Together to tell the next chapter in stuntman turned ‘studio fixer’ Cliff Booth’s fascinating journey. The film is set in 1977, some eight years after the events of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. While there has been a lot of mystery surrounding its story, the long awaited first trailer gives us a good sense of the film’s style and tone.
“The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth” will (strangely) be released exclusively in IMAX on November 25th before streaming on Netflix December 23rd. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Following the wide-ranging success of his highly acclaimed “Weapons”, writer-director Zach Cregger stays in the genre he knows best with his latest feature, “Resident Evil”. Yes, the long-running and wildly popular survival horror video game series that began all the way back in 1996. Cregger plucks a few things from the chilling and twisted franchise while bringing along his own grisly blend of horror and humor. The result is a mixed bag that has a better chance of satisfying casual horror fans and the RE faithful.
Of course this isn’t the first time Resident Evil has found its way onto the screen. Regardless of whether you’ve seen them all, most people are at least familiar with the six live-action Resident Evil features from creator Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich which ran from 2002 to 2017. Fewer will remember the failed attempt to reboot the series in 2021. Now Cregger is taking his own dramatically different swing at it.
It’s hard to tell Cregger’s level of affection for RE just by watching his adaptation. On one hand, the world he creates is dark, mysterious, and appropriately grotesque. The zombies are fittingly creepy and the mutating monsters are the kind of macabre creations that have frequented the RE games for years. But on the other hand, rather than making a gnarly, blood-lathered chiller, Cregger seems far more interested in making a gnarly, blood-lathered comedy. He routinely undermines the horror by rarely taking anything seriously. And it begins with with his relentlessly goofy protagonist.
Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures
Rather than pulling an established name from the pre-existing mythology, Cregger smartly introduces a brand-new character into the chilling RE world. Austin Abrams plays Bryan, an ordinary guy thrust into an extraordinary (and quite horrific) situation. Bryan is a medical courier by day, transporting critical and time-sensitive supplies between hospitals, clinics, and laboratories. But he’s somewhat distracted by his personal life, more specifically the news that his girlfriend Michelle is pregnant.
After delivering a vital organ to an awaiting surgeon, Bryan agrees to take an urgent late-night delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. He does so partially because he’ll be paid double, but also to avoid going home and facing the pregnancy with Michelle. But it doesn’t take long before the job takes an ill-fated turn. While slipping and sliding along a dark, snow-covered mountain road, Bryan strikes a woman who lurches out in front of his car. This kicks off a gruesome chain of events that propels the story forward.
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its intense focus on survival horror which happens to be where it resembles the RE video games the most. Cregger thrusts Bryan into a series of harrowing encounters, leaving him to manage each on his own despite being in way over his head. He fumbles with guns, fights off ferocious dogs, scrambles to find keys, navigates tunnels, etc., all while running for his life from an array of hideous and vicious nasties. The pacing is electric and there is no shortage of insanely imaginative carnage.
Image Courtesy of Sony Pictures
At the same time, outside of the opening few minutes, it’s hard to consider any of “Resident Evil” scary. That’s because the frequent attempts at humor overpower nearly every effort to frighten us. And it starts with Bryan. When he’s not endlessly muttering profanities at himself for laughs, he’s comically blundering about which often puts him in more precarious situations. Yes, the idea is that he’s just a normal guy who’s ill-equipped for the crisis he’s facing. But his mishaps are too often played as jokes. I’m certainly not opposed to moments of levity. But when it neuters the impact of the horror, it’s too much.
The above frustrations might have been easier to overlook if the movie could have delivered a solid finish. Instead we get a glaring non-ending, where stupidity is laced with brutality, right up to the point where Cregger seems to shut the camera off mid-scene. It’s a silly and hollow final fifteen minutes. And despite a couple of good blood splats and some delightfully disgusting monster mutations, it leaves you with an unsatisfying aftertaste.
Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” can be a maddening experience. It does so much well – the crisp pacing, the chilling world, the gruesome monster mayhem. But its fixation on injecting some degree of humor into nearly every situation often kills the suspense. And the ludicrous and lazy non-ending certainly doesn’t help. Still, the film packs some truly wild and gory set pieces and has enough Easter Eggs scattered throughout to entertain those with their expectations in check. But it’s a far cry from being the movie it could have been.
One of my most anticipated films of the year has been director Padraic McKinley’s “The Weight”. Everything about the movie excited me – the rich period setting, the rugged throwback story, and especially the impressive cast. I missed seeing the movie during its world premiere at Sundance, but early word of mouth only raised my excitement. Now here’s the best part – “The Weight” doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it stands out as one of the year’s best films.
“The Weight” is an astonishing feature debut for McKinley. He’s made a film that calls back to a kind of against-the-odds action-adventure movie that was once a staple of Hollywood. Sadly we rarely get them anymore which is one of many reasons that this one stands out so strongly. But there’s more than just nostalgia. It’s the riveting storytelling, the compelling characters, the immersive world-building, and the savvy craftsmanship. It also doesn’t hurt having Ethan Hawke doing some of his very best work.
The story takes place in 1933 Oregon, some four years into the Great Depression. Hawke plays Samuel Murphy, a street-smart mechanic and single father who’s struggling to make enough money to provide for his beloved young daughter Penny (Avy Berry). After being evicted from his small apartment in Eugene, Murphy sells what little they have in order to afford another place for them to stay. But while looking, a misunderstanding leads to a tussle with an unforgiving cop. Murphy is arrested and sent to prison while Penny is placed in a shelter.
Image Courtesy of Vertical
Murphy finds himself caught in the gears of a broken system. He’s sent to a labor camp ran by Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe) where he has to serve at least six months. But Penny only has one month until she’s handed over to the state to be put up for adoption. After hearing of Murphy’s predicament, Clancy makes him a high-stakes proposition – complete an illegal and potentially dangerous job and he’ll have his sentence commuted in time to be reunited with his daughter.
So what’s the job? Murphy is to select three inmates he trusts and report to an area mining camp to receive their orders. Once there, they meet a man named Taggert (Alec Newman) who informs them that President Roosevelt has ordered the seizure of all hoarded gold from mining operations. But rather than letting the government take it, Taggert tasks Murphy and his fellow inmates Rankin (Austin Amelio), Singh (Avi Nash) and Olson (Lucas Lynggaad Tonnesen) with smuggling four backpacks full of stolen gold bars through the unforgiving Oregon wilderness to a secret rendezvous point.
To ensure the inmates follow their orders, they’re escorted by two of Taggert’s armed henchmen, Amis (Sam Hazeldine) and Letender (George Burgess). They’re also accompanied by Anna (Julia Jonesy), an Indigenous runaway who shrewdly maneuvers her way into their group. Together they form an intriguing cadre of characters who are firmly rooted in the world McKinley creates. And at the center is Hawke’s Murphy, grizzled and world-weary, but also a man of honor and integrity. And the only thing that drives him is reuniting with his daughter.
Image Courtesy of Vertical
With the party set and on their way, “The Weight” turns into a good old-fashioned survival thriller that brings to mind such rugged classics as William Friedkin’s “Sorcerer” and Henri-Georges Clouzot’s “The Wages of Fear”. Their first battle is with the land itself, with its steep rocky terrain, vast gorges, and perilous rivers. Then there are the people living off the land who may not take kindly to strangers. Lastly and most deadly, is the battle within their ranks. “People get funny around gold” are words that ominously linger throughout their journey. And soon trust is the hardest thing to come buy.
Matthew Booi and Shelby Gaines co-write the film’s muscular script, infusing their story with a slow-boiling tension and a potent allegorical undercurrent. McKinley douses it all in rich atmosphere and a gritty authenticity. Visually, he and DP Matteo Cocco use a combination of sweeping landscape shots, realistic natural lighting, and deep nighttime shadows to capture nature in all its beauty and menace. Their use of extreme closeups have a similar effect, but on intensely emotional and psychological levels.
“The Weight” has all the ingredients you look for in an old-school period thriller. Hawke offers up a sturdily classic film protagonist while Crowe’s quiet, calculated menace can be felt in every second of his limited screentime. Even the throwback end credits conjure feelings of nostalgia. But surprisingly, the engine that runs it all is a gripping father-daughter story with emotional stakes that can felt throughout. McKinley’s ability to balance it all is what makes “The Weight” such a profoundly satisfying experience.
Several studios have dropped terrific new posters for movies set to release this Fall. The first of the bunch is a killer new poster for “Clayface”. This is the third feature film is the DC Universe and (thankfully) a drastically different movie that the two that came before it. It’s essentially the origin story for long-time Batman villain Clayface. The first trailer introduced a cool R-rated body horror chiller with a smaller budget and more focused storyline. Now we have a new poster that fits nicely with movie’s creepy vibe.
DIRECTOR – James Watkins
WRITERS – Mike Flanagan, Hossein Amini
STARRING – Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, Wil Coban, Joshua James, Francesca Corney, Ruby Sear
RELEASE – October 23, 2026
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Ben Affleck steps back into the director’s chair with “Animals”. He also writes, produces, and stars in this highly anticipated crime thriller which marks his second straight collaboration with Netflix. The gritty and intense story follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate who’s forced to pay a ransom after his son is kidnapped. But doing so may bring some of their family’s dark secrets into the light. The film had a rocky production cycle consisting of script battles, cast changes, and release delays. Now the movie is close and Netflix has released a cool new movie poster to help get us ready.
DIRECTOR – Ben Affleck
WRITERS – Connor O. McIntyre, Billy Ray, Ben Affleck
STARRING – Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Matt Gerald, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Mark Kassen, Christopher Woodley
RELEASE – October 9, 2026
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Jessica Chastain jolted theater audiences with the gonzo first trailer for the upcoming horror film “Other Mommy”. Mixing both psychological and supernatural horror, this gnarly paranormal chiller is based on the 2024 novel “Incidents Around the House”. The movie’s title references a malevolent entity that takes on the appearance of a young girl’s mother. Chastain looks to be having a blast in a dual role, and the new poster captures her at her most creepiest. I’m looking forward to this one.
DIRECTOR – Rob Savage
WRITER – Nathan Elston
STARRING – Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Arabella Olivia Clark, Dichen Lachman, Arian Moayed, Karen Allen, Sean Kaufman, Adam Silver
The upcoming biographical drama “Tenzing” had its world premiere at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival and just screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Now Apple Studios has set a streaming release and a limited theater release that is right around the corner. The film comes from Australian director Jennifer Peedom who’s working from a script by Luke Davies (“Lion”, “News of the World”). Together with an intriguing cast, Peedom tells what looks to be a fascinating and gorgeous true story. Check out the new trailer to see what I mean.
The inspirational story follows on Nepalese-Tibetan sherpa Tenzing Norgay’s 1953 ascent of Mount Everest with New Zealand philanthropist and climber Sir Edmund Hillary. The movie sees Genden Phuntsok playing Tenzing while Tom Hiddleston takes the role of Hillary. The film also features William Dafoe as British Army officer John Hurt and Caitríona Balfe as a trusted ally to Tenzing, Jill Henderson. A great cast, stunning cinematography, and an extraordinary story – all exciting ingredients for what looks to be a real crowd-pleaser.
“Tenzing” opens October 9th in select theaters and will stream October 16th on Apple TV. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
