Movie Review

Evil Dead Burn reignites horror franchise with relentless gore

Luciane Buchanan in Evil Dead Burn.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Horror franchises tend to endure because of several reasons. First and foremost, the title conjures up nostalgia for older viewers, as the many of the most popular ones started in the 1970s or ‘80s. Sequels can recycle key elements of past films as long as they tweak the formula enough to offer something original. And they’re also relatively cheap to make, as new films can bring in young or lesser-known actors to be terrorized.

All of those reasons make Evil Dead Burn a smashing success, giving viewers reminders of the past while still becoming its own thing. The film is almost non-stop from the jump as a series of people, known colloquially as “deadites,” get infected by a malevolent force. A long, 15-minute opening set piece introduces the main characters, including Alice (Souhelia Yacob), her brother-in-law Joseph (Hunter Doohan), his girlfriend Thya (Luciane Buchanan), and his parents, Susan (Tandi Wright) and Edgar (Erroll Shand).

They’re all mourning the death of Alice’s husband Will (George Pullar), who they think died while driving drunk. However, the infection in Will’s corpse soon latches on to Edgar, whose descent into murderous rage is initially masked by his intense grief. With the family all gathered together in an older, decaying home, no one is safe from the rampage of the supernatural force.

Written and directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vanicek and co-written by Florent Bernard, the film is aimed directly at horror fanatics who are used to copious amounts of blood and gore. From the opening scene to the film’s final intense moments, Vanicek and his team come up with numerous hide-your-eyes sequences that test the stomachs of weak-willed viewers. But for those who can’t get enough of such things, they also indicate a creativity and willingness to push boundaries that is both thrilling and entertaining.

While some previous entries in the Evil Dead series leaned comedic, this entry follows the previous two films in 2013 and 2023 as as a pure horror. However, that doesn’t mean that the film is devoid of lightness. One of the most enjoyable aspects is Vanicek comically adhering to the concept of Chekhov’s gun. So many different potential weapons are introduced and later used that you can’t help but laugh when they come into play.

Ultimately, it’s the performances by the lesser-known cast that make the movie what it is. Doohan (Wednesday) plays a mild-mannered character who seems to be the main protagonist early on, but he cedes the spotlight to Yacob as the film goes along. The French actress knows how to hold the screen through both her actions and line deliveries. Shand, with his craggy face and bald head, turns into a superior villain, able to chill with just his intense stare.

Evil Dead Burn is not for everybody, but it’s another great addition to what’s turning out to be a banner year for horror movies. With highly effective, cringeworthy action sequences, moments that lighten the mood when needed, and a cast that carries the story, it’s an announcement of bigger things to come for all involved.

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Evil Dead Burn opens in theaters on July 10.

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on the move

New Blue Bell truck doles out free ice cream across Dallas this summer

Blue Bell Ice Cream Lone Star Scoop Tour

Blue Bell Ice Cream/Facebook

Blue Bell's Lone Star Scoop Tour is mooving into Dallas throughout the summer.

Everyone deserves a cold treat in the sweltering summer heat, and an iconic Texas creamery is going on tour to deliver free ice cream across Dallas-Fort Worth and North Texas for the rest of the summer.

Texas' beloved Blue Bell is celebrating 119 years with its new Lone Star Scoop Tour stopping in local Texas communities all year long. A specially decorated Blue Bell ice cream truck and trailer will cruise across the state to give out free hand-dipped ice cream and frozen snacks, host giveaways, and offer special merchandise for sale.

Since the tour's debut in its hometown of Brenham in March 2026, Blue Bell has already made stops across Central Texas and Houston.

Now, the Lone Star Scoop Tour will kick off its North Texas leg at the Benbrook Walmart (8840 Benbrook Blvd.) on Friday, July 10. It will continue to more than 60 different locations across the Metroplex over the next seven weeks, with a final stop at Market Street in Wichita Falls (4590 Kell W. Blvd.) on Friday, August 28.

This leg of the tour also coincides with the launch of Blue Bell's newest ice cream flavor — Chocolate Lava Cake — released in commemoration of National Ice Cream Month in July. The limited-edition flavor combines the creamery's classic vanilla ice cream with decadent pieces of chocolate cake, chocolate sundae sauce, and a picturesque swirl of dark chocolate fudge. The flavor will be available in half gallon and pint sizes for a limited time, Blue Bell says.

New cities and dates will be added to the Texas-wide ice cream tour every month. Dates and times may change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, so check the website for updates.

Here's where you can find the Blue Bell ice cream truck across the Metroplex this summer:

Friday, July 10
Benbrook — Walmart, 8840 Benbrook Blvd., Benbrook, TX 76126; 10am – 12pm

Monday, July 13
Forney — Kroger, 500 Marketplace Blvd., Forney, TX 75126; 10am – 12pm

Tuesday, July 14
Gun Barrel City — Walmart, 1200 W. Main St., Gun Barrel City, TX 75156; 10am – 12pm
Mabank — Brookshire’s, 1200 S. 3rd St., Mabank, TX 75147; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, July 15
Crandall — Brookshire Brother’s, 102 W. Gleason St., Crandall, TX 75114; 10am – 12pm
Dallas — Migalito’s, 1050 S Beltline Rd, Dallas, TX 75253; 1 – 3pm

Thursday, July 16
Dallas — El Rio Grande Latin Market, 3035 N. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228; 9 – 11am

Friday, July 17
Royse City — Walmart, 494 I-30, Royse City, TX 75189; 10am – 12pm
Fate — Fresh by Brookshire’s, 5100 I-30, Fate, TX 75189; 1 – 3pm

Monday, July 20
Midlothian — Kroger, 2200 FM 663, Midlothian, TX 76065; 10am – 12pm
Midlothian — Brookshire’s, 1400 E. Main St., Midlothian, TX 76065; 1 – 3pm

Tuesday, July 21
Midlothian — Tom Thumb, 4221 FM 1387, Midlothian, TX 76065; 10am – 12pm
Waxahachie — Tom Thumb, 1940 N Hwy 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, July 22
Cedar Hill — Kroger, 235 FM 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104; 10am – 12pm
Cedar Hill — Albertsons, 427 E. FM 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104; 1 – 3pm

Thursday, July 23
Arlington — Kroger, 5701 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., Arlington, TX 76016; 10am – 12pm
Arlington — Albertsons, 301 Southwest Plaza, Arlington, TX 76016; 1 – 3pm

Friday, July 24
Arlington — Tom Thumb, 1701 W. Randol Mill Rd., Arlington, TX 76012; 10am – 12pm
Arlington — Kroger, 2210 S. Fielder Rd., Arlington, TX 76013; 1 – 3pm

Saturday, July 25
Arlington — National Medal of Honor Museum; 1861 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011 11am – 2pm

Monday, July 27
Lewisville — Kroger, 4620 SH 121, Lewisville, TX 75056; 10am – 12pm
The Colony — Scheels, 4450 Destination Dr., The Colony, TX 75056; 1 – 3pm

Tuesday, July 28
Denton — Kroger, 1592 S Loop 288, Denton, TX 76205; 10am – 12pm
Denton — Albertsons, 2321 W. University Dr., Denton, TX 76201; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, July 29
Irving — Savers Cost Plus, 504 N O’Connor Rd, Irving, TX 75061; 10am – 12pm
Irving — Fiesta, 1145 W. Airport Fwy., Irving, TX 75062; 1 – 3pm

Thursday, July 30
Gainesivlle — Scivally’s Grocery, 2808 US 82, Gainesville, TX 76240; 9:30 – 11:30am
Sanger — Tom Thumb, 1413 W. Chapman Dr., Sanger, TX 76266, 1 – 3pm

Friday, July 31
Carrolton — Tom Thumb, 4112 N. Josey Ln., Carrollton, TX 75007; 10am – 12pm
Aubrey — Kroger, 26585 US-380, Aubrey, TX 76227; 2 – 4pm

Saturday, August 1
Hickory Creek — Walmart, 1035 Hickory Creek Blvd, Hickory Creek, TX 76210; 10am – 12pm

Monday, August 3
Celina — Walmart, 400 Icy Trail, Celina, TX 75009; 9:30 – 11:30 am
Frisco — Market Street; 11999 Dallas Pkwy., Frisco, TX 75034, 1 – 3pm

Tuesday, August 4
Anna — Brookshire’s, 1325 W White St, Anna, TX 75409; 9:30 – 11:30am
Melissa — Kroger, 2721 Sam Rayburn Hwy, Melissa, TX 75454; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, August 5
McKinney — Tom Thumb, 6800 Virginia Pkwy, McKinney, TX 75071; 9:30 – 11:30am
McKinney — Tom Thumb, 3001 S. Hardin Blvd., McKinney, TX 75070; 1 – 3pm

Thursday, August 6
Allen — Kroger, 1212 E, Bethany Dr,, Allen, TX 75002; 9:30 – 11:30am
Allen — Kroger, 1210 N. Greenville Ave., Allen, TX 75002; 1 – 3pm

Friday, August 7
McKinney — Kroger; 1801 N. Lake Forest Dr., McKinney, TX 75071; 9:30 – 11:30am
McKinney — Walmart, 1721 N. Custer Rd., McKinney, TX 75071; 1 – 3pm

Saturday, August 8
McKinney — Walmart; 2041 Redbud Blvd, McKinney, TX 75069; 11am – 2pm

Monday, August 10
Dallas — Foodland Markets, 1314 South Buckner, Dallas, TX 75217; 10am – 12pm
Dallas — Foodland Markets, 8411 Lake June Rd., Dallas, TX 75217; 1 – 3pm

Tuesday, August 11
Dallas — Tom Thumb,7700 W. NW Hwy., Dallas, TX 75225; 10am – 12pm
Dallas — Tom Thumb, 5809 E. Lovers Ln., Dallas, TX 75206; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, August 12
Wylie — Kroger, 2608 W FM 544, Wylie, TX 75098; 10am – 12pm

Thursday, August 13
Dallas — Tom Thumb, 7117 Inwood Rd,, Dallas, TX 75209; 10am – 12pm
Dallas — Kroger, 5665 E. Mockingbird Ln., Dallas, TX 75206; 1 – 3pm

Friday, August 14
Argyle — Tom Thumb, 1046 Market Way, Argyle, TX 76226; 11am – 2pm

Monday, August 17
Glen Rose — Brookshire’s, 607 SW Big Bend Trail Glen Rose, TX 76043; 10am – 12pm
Granbury — Kroger, 3915 E Hwy 377, Granbury, TX 76049; 2 – 4pm

Tuesday, August 18
Fort Worth — Albertsons, 9300 Clifford St, Fort Worth, TX 7610; 10am – 12pm

Wednesday, August 19
Grapevine — Grapevine Farmer’s Market, 520 S. Main St ., #203, Grapevine, TX 76051; 11am – 2pm

Thursday, August 20
Fort Worth — Kroger, 113 E. Bonds Ranch Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76131; 10am – 12pm
Fort Worth — Kroger, 4750 W. Bailey Boswell Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76179; 1 – 3pm

Friday, August 21
Fort Worth — Kroger, 1653 Basswood Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76131; 10am – 12pm
Saginaw — Albertsons, 1201 N Saginaw Blvd, Saginaw, TX 76179; 1 – 3pm

Monday, August 24
Southlake — Kroger, 2110 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake, TX 76092; 10am – 12pm
Colleyville — Market Street, 5605 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville, TX 76034; 1 – 3pm

Tuesday, August 25
Decatur — Walmart, 800 US-287, Decatur, TX 76234; 10am – 12pm
Bridgeport — Brookshire’s, 1203 US Hwy 380, Bridgeport, TX 76426; 1 – 3pm

Wednesday, August 26
Graham — United Supermarkets, 1229 TX 16, Graham, TX 76450; 10am – 12pm
Olney — Stewart’s Food Store, 1204 W. Main St., Olney, TX 76374; 2 – 4pm

Thursday, August 27
Burkburnett — United Supermarkets, 311 S. Ave. D, Burkburnett, TX 76354; 1 – 3pm

Friday, August 28
Wichita Falls — Market Street, 4590 Kell W. Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76309; 11am – 2pm

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