For director Sébastien Vaniček, making audiences scream isn't enough. With 'Evil Dead Burn,' he has an even more ambitious goal. He wants moviegoers to leave the theater feeling completely exhausted, as if they've just finished an intense workout.
Speaking to ¡HOLA! following a special fan screening in Los Angeles, Vaniček revealed that the film's relentless physicality was carefully designed to create an unforgettable theatrical experience. The latest chapter in the iconic horror franchise stars Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Tandi Wright, Erroll Shand, Maude Davey and George Pullar.
"I'd love them to go out of the theater feeling drained out of energy," Vaniček said. "Like they were at the gym and they did an hour workout. That's how I want them to feel."
The French filmmaker explained that creating physically demanding horror sequences has been part of his filmmaking style since his earliest short films.
© Marc Piasecki"That's something I'm building since my short movies," he said. "I want to make physical movies because that's the movies I like. I want the theatrical experience to be huge and big for the audience."
Vaniček also said he keeps moviegoers in mind throughout the creative process, believing audiences deserve an experience that feels larger than life every time they buy a ticket.
© Marc Piasecki"I know how much a ticket is," he said. "When people are paying for this ticket, they want to leave with something big, they want to leave with something huge."
Why horror needs humor:
While 'Evil Dead Burn' delivers brutal scares, Vaniček believes comedy is just as essential to making the horror effective.
After hearing audiences laugh during the screening, he said the reaction confirmed exactly what he had envisioned while writing the script.
© Marc Piasecki"For me, horror movies need to be funny too," he explained. "You need to release the pressure sometimes."
He compared the ideal horror experience to riding a roller coaster with friends. "When you're on a roller coaster, you're not just screaming—you are laughing, you're with your friends, and you're having a really good time, even if it's scary. That's how I see horror movies."
Living up to fans' expectations:
Stepping into one of horror's most beloved franchises also came with a sense of responsibility, though Vaniček said the pressure wasn't coming from producers Sam Raimi or Rob Tapert.
© Warner Bros.Instead, it came from himself, knowing how passionate 'Evil Dead' fans are. "There's a little bit of pressure, but not from the production," he said. "It's more from the fans. I know how much they love this franchise."
Rather than simply giving audiences what they expected, Vaniček wanted to surprise them while staying true to the spirit of 'Evil Dead.' "I need to create not the movie they want to see, especially not the movie they are expecting to see."
Bringing more emotion to Evil Dead Burn:
Beyond the relentless action and gore, Vaniček revealed that one of his favorite memories from filming in New Zealand came while working with lead actress Souheila Yacoub on several emotional scenes.
Watching her performance helped him realize the new installment was exploring territory that hadn't been as prominent in previous 'Evil Dead' films.
© David Jon"I discovered that I was trying to do something a little bit different from the previous Evil Dead movie because we are moving into something that is a little bit more emotional," he said.
He recalled being deeply moved by her performance, praising the emotional depth she brought to the role. Still, when audiences finally see Evil Dead Burn, Vaniček hopes they'll leave with one overwhelming feeling above all else. "If they leave the theater feeling like they just did an hour workout," he said with a smile, "that's exactly how I want them to feel."
