50 States of Fright: Lee Cronin helms 13 Steps to Hell

Lee Cronin, the director of the upcoming Evil Dead Rise is behind the camera for 13 Steps to Hell as Sam Raimi’s 50 States of Fright returns to Quibi for a second season.

Lee Cronin, the director of the latest installment in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise is behind the camera for Sam Raimi’s Quibi series, 50 States of Fright. The hit show returns for its second season on Sept. 28.

Fans of this inventive program about urban legends as well as Raimi’s famous cult films will be paying close attention to one episode in particular, “13 Steps to Hell.” Why? Because they will get a glimpse of the directing style of Cronin who made his debut with the haunting Irish flick, The Hole in the Ground.

“13 Steps to Hell” takes place in Washington state. Maltby’s Cemetery is the location for this particularly terrifying tale. A popular haunt luring adventurous teens and ghost hunters, it is not for the faint of heart.

At the center of the lore is thirteen steps that descend to an affluent family’s crypt. Basically, visitors to the site would dare one another to go underground, touch the door to the tomb and return to the outside.

It sounds innocuous enough but of course, as with any scary story, circumstances don’t always go according to plan. Apparently, several individuals claimed to have seen hell when they turned around to look at the door. Some were so distressed by the ordeal that they couldn’t speak. If you visit the graveyard now, the steps have been covered so that no one can find them.

In “13 Steps to Hell,” directed by Lee Cronin, two children are playing in an abandoned cemetery when one of them loses a toy. As to be expected, the retrieval of the beloved item is going to be unnerving.

Rory Culkin and Lulu Wilson star in this episode which was written by Sarah Conradt.

Here are some of the other states that will be explored in future segments:

• Iowa: “Almost There” is about an engineer who must contend with her mother’s ghost haunting her while she attempts to fix a turbine during a frightening storm. Taissa Farmiga, Ron Livingston and Katie Stuart are cast in this episode written by A Quiet Place scribes, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
• Colorado: “Red Rum” centers around a famous hotel that is known for its unusual paranormal activity. When a group of annoying media influencers show up, the entities that reside there aren’t exactly hospitable. Christina Ricci stars with Jacob Batalon, Victoria Justice and Colin Ford.
• Missouri: “Dogwood-Azalea” moving to a new state can be rough on young children but not if you find a “friend,” featuring actors Erica Tremblay, Elizabeth Reaser and Warren Christie.

Season 2 of 50 States of Fright begins on Sept. 28 on Quibi.

What did you think of season 1? Are you looking forward to checking out Lee Cronin’s episode? Let us know in the comments.