Evil Dead Rise
A twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Despite a moderate budget of $15.0M, Evil Dead Rise became a box office phenomenon, earning $147.2M worldwide—a remarkable 881% return.
4 wins & 32 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Evil Dead Rise (2023) exhibits strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Lee Cronin's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Beth arrives at Ellie's rundown apartment building. Ellie is a struggling single mother of three (Danny, Bridget, Kassie) facing eviction, while Beth is a guitar tech living a rootless life.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when An earthquake opens a hole in the parking garage. Danny and his friend explore it and discover a hidden vault containing three ancient Necronomicon books and recordings made by a priest who was studying them.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Ellie is possessed by a deadite in the parking garage. She returns to the apartment transformed, marking the point of no return as the demonic force has entered their world and the real horror begins., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The neighbor is possessed and killed in the hallway, and the deadites gain control of the building's elevator, trapping the family in the apartment. The stakes escalate from survival to complete hopelessness as escape becomes impossible and more people become possessed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Danny is dragged into the ceiling by possessed Ellie and Bridget. Beth loses all the children, seemingly failing completely in her protective role. She is alone, wounded, and the family she was supposed to protect is gone - a symbolic death of her chance at redemption., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Beth battles the deadites to save Kassie. The possessed Ellie fuses with Bridget to create a monstrous creature. Beth uses a chainsaw and improvised weapons in brutal combat. She attempts to destroy the book using the woodchipper in the parking garage, fighting the massive deadite amalgamation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Evil Dead Rise's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Evil Dead Rise against these established plot points, we can identify how Lee Cronin utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Evil Dead Rise within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Beth arrives at Ellie's rundown apartment building. Ellie is a struggling single mother of three (Danny, Bridget, Kassie) facing eviction, while Beth is a guitar tech living a rootless life.
Theme
Ellie tells Beth that "family is supposed to be there for each other," establishing the film's central theme about familial bonds and responsibility, particularly as Beth reveals she's pregnant.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the dysfunctional family dynamics: Danny is a rebellious teen, Bridget is the responsible middle child, Kassie is the innocent youngest. The building is deteriorating, neighbors are hostile, and the family is broke. Beth and Ellie's estranged relationship is revealed.
Disruption
An earthquake opens a hole in the parking garage. Danny and his friend explore it and discover a hidden vault containing three ancient Necronomicon books and recordings made by a priest who was studying them.
Resistance
Danny brings the records and book home. Against warnings, he plays the recordings which feature the priest reading incantations from the Necronomicon. The family experiences strange occurrences but doesn't understand what's happening yet.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ellie is possessed by a deadite in the parking garage. She returns to the apartment transformed, marking the point of no return as the demonic force has entered their world and the real horror begins.
Mirror World
Beth must step into the maternal/protective role as possessed Ellie attacks. This inverts Beth's rootless, responsibility-avoiding lifestyle and forces her to become the mother figure the children need - the role she's been running from.
Premise
The siege horror begins. Possessed Ellie stalks the family through the apartment. The elevator becomes a death trap. The group tries to survive and understand what's happening while the building becomes increasingly hellish. Danny researches the book for answers.
Midpoint
The neighbor is possessed and killed in the hallway, and the deadites gain control of the building's elevator, trapping the family in the apartment. The stakes escalate from survival to complete hopelessness as escape becomes impossible and more people become possessed.
Opposition
The deadites multiply and grow stronger. Bridget is possessed. The apartment becomes a nightmare realm of blood and gore. Beth and the remaining children are pushed to their physical and emotional limits as family members become monsters.
Collapse
Danny is dragged into the ceiling by possessed Ellie and Bridget. Beth loses all the children, seemingly failing completely in her protective role. She is alone, wounded, and the family she was supposed to protect is gone - a symbolic death of her chance at redemption.
Crisis
Beth experiences her darkest moment, devastated by failure. She confronts the horror of what's happened and nearly gives up. The deadites taunt her with her failures as an aunt and future mother.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Beth battles the deadites to save Kassie. The possessed Ellie fuses with Bridget to create a monstrous creature. Beth uses a chainsaw and improvised weapons in brutal combat. She attempts to destroy the book using the woodchipper in the parking garage, fighting the massive deadite amalgamation.
Transformation
Beth and Kassie stand amid the carnage. Though they survived, Beth is severely wounded and covered in blood. The rootless woman who avoided family responsibility has been transformed through trauma into a fierce maternal protector, but at devastating cost.