May 27th, 2009 
James Shotwell 
Film: Drag Me To Hell
Director: Sam Raimi
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Studio: Ghost House
Distributer: Universal
Oh how harsh public criticism can wake one up. Sam Raimi, the innovative mine behind both the Evil Dead and Spiderman trilogies has been out of the limelight for a minute following the intense lashing and public outcry about the debacle that was Spiderman 3. However, Raimi, much to the delight of horror fans and the kind of people who attend events like ComicCon, is now back behind the Camera with a script he and his brother wrote in the genre he’s always done completely right – Horror, with a tinge of comedy. Drag Me To Hell which stars the obviously struggling Alison Lohman and seemingly all round good guy Justin Long, is a truly original tale told as only the Raimi family can.
For thos eof you unfamiliar with the plot, it’s actually quite simple if you’ve ever read a fairy tale. All round good girl Christine Brown [Lohman] disregards her good nature in order to get a better chance at promotion and in turn forecloses on an elderly women’s house and the women in turn places a curse on Lohman in which a demon will torment her for three days and then “drag her to hell.” It’s simple, classic Raimi stylings with seemingly normal people in a completely ridiculous scenario.
The film itself looks great. Raimi uses many of the same filters and such as we’ve seen in the Spiderman movies which gives something of this caliber an unusually clean look. I can’t picture the character of Ash running around in something so smooth looking, but Raimi is working on Evil Dead 4 so we will see I guess. The effects are stunning without being overdone. For instance, when the floor cracks and “hell” is seen shooting light from below the ground, it’s obviously done for a campy effect, but it works given the overall feel of the flick. Also, the “witch” for lack of a better term seems to use all make-up instead of CGI which, in all honesty, makes her more frightening. It’s an image I’m sure will stick with filmgoers both young and old.
The humor and terror both struck high with me and the audience of contest winners and critics I was surrounded by. Raimi’s own brand of saracastic wit, matched with a more classic gross out style of comedy helps scenes that would normally be weakly scary evolve into something much more pleasing as it hits audiences on various levels. For instance, a scene involving the witch attacking Lohman eventually finds Lohman cutting a rope that’s holding a near cartoonish anvil that’s directly above the which and causes her eyes to pop out, Like Looney Tunes on crack.
Acting wise, Lohman struggles to be believable when she’s not screaming. I’m sorry, but being timid all the time doesn’t give the impression of you being a nice person at heart, it just makes us think you’re too nervous to carry a film. Long does his normal mildly awkward, yet hip guy routine, but hey, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The supporting cast is hit and miss at times, but with a film meant to be mildly corny like this, only people not getting that point will find it a problem.
Overall, Raimi has completely reclaimed his crown in the horror world. Drag Me To Hell is a roller-coaster of screams and laughter that burns itself into your subconscious. Outside of some acting issues with the lead, you’ll be completely sold on the world Raimi creates and find yourself hanging on to every moment right up until the credits hits the screen.
Please Sam, stick to this and make Evil Dead 4 before you return to Spidey. I don’t need more patriotism disguised as a comic book movie. I need Ash!
Score: 9/10
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