Lee Cronin's Evil Dead Rise hits number 2 spot in UK and Irish box offices

Written and directed by the Irish filmmaker Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise from Studiocanal came out this past Friday on April 21st. Since, it's now broken into the top 2 film slot this past weekend in both Ireland and in the UK.

A New Line Cinema / Renaissance Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures production, the film has grossed over €1.7 million in Ireland and the UK alone and approximately $40 million worldwide.

The fifth instalment in the Evil Dead series, pioneered by the titular 1981 film The Evil Dead, it starts out as a reunion between sisters the single-mother Ellie and the estranged Beth. With the resurrection of the Deadites and their demonic entity that have possessed Ellie, it quickly transforms into a story about survival.

With Lily Sullivan playing Beth and Alyss Sutherland playing Ellie, they're joined by Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher as the main cast for Evil Dead Rise.

Known for his debut work on The Hole In The Ground, Cronin recently detailed in an interview with Hot Press influences and aspirations that went into the making of the film.

Rob Tapert is the acclaimed horror film's producer, joined by the original creator of the series Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, the cult legend horror star of the original trilogy, as executive producers.

Other producers include John Keville, Macdara Kelleher, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Romel Adam and Victoria Palmieri.

Evil Dead Rise is in cinemas now.

Check out the Hot Press interview with Lee Cronin here: