Nell Fisher in Evil Dead Rise: Kassie and Her Role
Nell Fisher played Kassie in Evil Dead Rise (2023), the youngest daughter of Ellie, portrayed by Alyssa Sutherland. Directed by Lee Cronin, the supernatural horror film follows a family trapped in a Los Angeles apartment building after an ancient evil possesses their mother.
Kassie becomes an important part of the story as she struggles to survive alongside her aunt Beth, played by Lily Sullivan. The role also gave Fisher experience with demanding horror scenes before she joined Stranger Things as Holly Wheeler.
| Movie Detail | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | Evil Dead Rise |
| Actress | Nell Fisher |
| Character | Kassie |
| Character’s mother | Ellie, played by Alyssa Sutherland |
| Character’s aunt | Beth, played by Lily Sullivan |
| Character’s siblings | Danny and Bridget |
| Director and writer | Lee Cronin |
| Film genre | Supernatural horror |
| U.S. theatrical release | April 21, 2023 |
| Filming location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Nell’s age during filming | Nine, according to Lee Cronin |
| Kassie’s fate | Survives alongside Beth (spoiler) |
Nell Fisher in Evil Dead Rise: Who Does She Play?
Nell Fisher portrays Kassie, the youngest of three children living with their mother, Ellie, in a Los Angeles apartment building. Her older brother Danny is played by Morgan Davies, while Gabrielle Echols portrays her sister Bridget.
According to the Rotten Tomatoes cast listing, Fisher appears alongside Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Morgan Davies and Gabrielle Echols. Lee Cronin wrote and directed the film, which opened in U.S. cinemas on April 21, 2023.
Kassie is an imaginative child who creates unusual homemade toys and shares a close relationship with her family. Her aunt Beth becomes particularly important when an unexpected supernatural threat turns their home into a dangerous place.
The role placed Fisher in a major international horror production at a young age. Her earlier work, childhood and career development are covered in our Nell Fisher biography.
Why Is Kassie Important to the Evil Dead Rise Story?
Kassie is important because Evil Dead Rise explores supernatural horror through a family’s relationships, especially the bond between a mother and her children. As the youngest child, Kassie provides a different perspective on the terrifying events.
The story changes when an earthquake exposes a hidden chamber beneath the apartment building. Danny discovers an ancient book and recordings that release a demonic force known as a Deadite.
Ellie becomes possessed, transforming from a caring mother into a threat to her children. Kassie struggles to understand why someone familiar and trusted has suddenly become dangerous.
One memorable sequence involves Kassie looking through the apartment door’s peephole while her possessed mother waits outside. The scene creates tension through the child’s uncertainty and the audience’s knowledge of the threat.
As the situation worsens, Beth takes responsibility for protecting Kassie. Their relationship becomes central to the film’s final act, when the two must confront the supernatural threat together.
What Is Staffanie in Evil Dead Rise?
Staffanie is Kassie’s homemade toy, created from a doll’s head attached to a stick. Although it initially looks like a strange childhood creation, it later becomes an improvised weapon.
Kassie uses Staffanie to defend herself during an encounter with her possessed sister Bridget. The object briefly gives the young character a way to fight back against someone much stronger.
In an April 2023 Dread Central interview, Lee Cronin explained that Staffanie was inspired by a real toy made by his niece while he was working on The Hole in the Ground.
Cronin incorporated the idea into Evil Dead Rise, drawing inspiration from his own family experiences. He also explained that the fictional siblings were influenced by his sister’s children.
Staffanie therefore serves two purposes: it reflects Kassie’s creativity and gives her a practical means of defending herself during a frightening encounter.
Does Kassie Survive in Evil Dead Rise?
Spoiler Warning: This section reveals the ending of Evil Dead Rise.
Yes, Kassie survives Evil Dead Rise alongside her aunt Beth. Although several members of their family become possessed, the two escape the building after confronting the film’s final creature.
During the final act, Ellie, Danny and Bridget merge into a monstrous entity called the Marauder. The creature pursues Beth and Kassie as they attempt to escape through the damaged apartment building.
The confrontation continues in the parking garage, where the Marauder captures Kassie and threatens her with a chainsaw. Beth returns to protect her niece and manages to distract the creature.
Kassie helps during the struggle by activating a wood chipper. Beth then forces the Marauder into the machine, destroying its body and ending the immediate threat.
According to GamesRadar+’s interview with Lee Cronin and the cast, the finale required a combination of prosthetic effects, stunt performers and visual effects to create the merged creature.
Beth and Kassie eventually escape together. Their survival completes the film’s central relationship, with Beth moving from uncertainty about motherhood to protecting her niece against extreme danger.
Although Kassie survives, her ending does not establish that Nell Fisher will reprise the character in a future Evil Dead film.
How Old Was Nell Fisher During Evil Dead Rise Filming?
Nell Fisher was nine years old during production, according to director Lee Cronin. Filming took place in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2021, before the movie’s theatrical release in April 2023.
The New Zealand Film Commission confirms that the production was filmed in Auckland as an official New Zealand-Ireland co-production. Although the story takes place in Los Angeles, the apartment interiors and other important locations were recreated in New Zealand.
In a 2023 Movies.ie interview, Cronin recalled working with Fisher when she was nine. He described her ability to prepare for demanding emotional scenes and portray fear while understanding the fictional nature of filmmaking.
Her age also made communication with her family an important part of the production process, particularly because the movie involved frightening makeup, simulated violence and extensive practical effects.
How Were Nell Fisher’s Horror Scenes Filmed?
The filmmakers used practical effects, prosthetic makeup and artificial blood to create the disturbing situations shown in Evil Dead Rise. Lee Cronin wanted Nell Fisher to understand how these effects worked before performing alongside them.
In an April 2023 interview with Business Insider, Cronin described introducing Fisher to containers of fake blood and simulated vomit used by the effects department.
He allowed her to examine the materials and understand how the production created frightening images. His goal was to make the difference between the fictional horror and the real filming environment clear to her.
The director also discussed building trust with Fisher’s parents before production. These preparations helped establish a working environment in which the young actress understood what the scenes involved.
How Did Alyssa Sutherland Work With Nell Fisher?
Alyssa Sutherland, who portrays Kassie’s possessed mother Ellie, worked closely with Fisher during several emotionally demanding scenes.
In a July 2023 SciFiNow interview, Sutherland explained that Fisher was introduced to her frightening makeup under bright lighting before filming scenes on darker sets.
The actress said Nell could observe the makeup application and understand what Sutherland would look like before the cameras started rolling.
This preparation was particularly relevant because Ellie transforms into a frightening creature, while Kassie must react as though her familiar mother has become an immediate threat.
Sutherland praised Fisher’s performance and described working with her positively. Her firsthand account provides insight into the practical arrangements behind their on-screen relationship.
What Did Lee Cronin Say About Nell Fisher?
Lee Cronin praised Fisher’s acting abilities in interviews about Evil Dead Rise, particularly her ability to portray vulnerability, fear and determination.
In his Movies.ie interview, Cronin recalled that Fisher sometimes asked for a few minutes alone before filming so she could prepare for an emotional scene.
He also explained that involving young performers in the preparation process helped them understand the technical side of horror filmmaking.
Cronin’s comments describe the professional approach he observed while directing Fisher. They also help explain how an intense horror performance could be created through preparation rather than exposing a young actor to unexpected frightening situations.
Did Nell Fisher’s Parents Approve Her Evil Dead Rise Role?
Yes. According to Lee Cronin, Nell Fisher’s parents had read the screenplay before she participated in the production.
In his 2023 Business Insider interview, Cronin explained that establishing a relationship with the parents and earning their trust were essential parts of casting a young performer.
He also mentioned that Fisher’s father had previously worked as an actor and was familiar with the Evil Dead franchise.
Nell’s father, Toby Fisher, is a New Zealand barrister and former actor, while her mother, Laura Clarke OBE, is a former British diplomat and ClientEarth executive. Their careers and family background are discussed in our article about Nell Fisher’s parents.
The director’s account confirms that the family understood the nature of the screenplay before filming began. It does not establish every private decision made during the casting process.
How Did Evil Dead Rise Influence Nell Fisher’s Career?
Evil Dead Rise became an important early acting experience for Nell Fisher. Before appearing in the horror film, she had worked on the New Zealand production Northspur.
In a November 2025 Teen Vogue interview, Fisher recalled spending approximately three months working on Evil Dead Rise, surrounded by artificial blood and other practical horror effects.
She explained that the experience helped her realise acting was something she wanted to pursue seriously, rather than simply an unusual opportunity.
The production also allowed her to work with established actors, a professional filmmaking crew and complex special effects at an early stage of her career.
She subsequently appeared in Bookworm alongside Elijah Wood and later joined Stranger Things. These productions are included in our guide to Nell Fisher’s movies and TV shows.
Did Evil Dead Rise Help Nell Fisher Get Cast in Stranger Things?
Yes. Evil Dead Rise helped bring Nell Fisher to the attention of the creators of Stranger Things, although it was not the only reason she secured the role of Holly Wheeler.
In a December 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matt Duffer explained that he noticed Fisher while watching the Evil Dead Rise trailer. He thought she might be suitable for Holly and showed the trailer to his brother, Ross Duffer.
Fisher then became part of the casting process overseen by casting director Carmen Cuba. Her performance in the trailer drew attention, but she still needed to audition for the television role.
In her Teen Vogue interview, Fisher described submitting an initial self-tape, meeting the Duffer brothers through a video call and travelling to New York for a final audition with Sadie Sink.
She eventually secured the role of Holly Wheeler in the fifth season, where the character became much more prominent than in earlier seasons.
Our article on Nell Fisher in Stranger Things explains her casting, Holly Wheeler’s storyline and her work alongside the show’s established cast.
The two productions also demonstrate different sides of Fisher’s work in supernatural storytelling. In Evil Dead Rise, Kassie is a child trying to survive a threat within her own family. In Stranger Things, Holly faces a different supernatural danger within the fictional world of Hawkins.
For Fisher, playing Kassie was an important early acting experience. It gave her the opportunity to work on a major horror film, helped shape her interest in acting and contributed to the visibility that preceded her later television career.
