I used to easily say Sam Raimi was a genius, but after the awfulness that was Spider-Man 3, I wasn't so sure. I tried not to blame the guy, as we all heard of the horrors and annoyances he had to deal with while making that slapdash money-grabber. So you can completely relate to the guy wanting to get to his roots, to a comfort zone he knows so well. Some might even call the move genius. Well, I think it's rather safe to say Drag Me To Hell was indeed genius!
Prior to the three Spider-Man movies, Raimi made a another quasi-trilogy, one that is far more beloved in the grand scheme of things: The Evil Deads. Those movies featured a man battling hellish evil in a classic, sometimes hysterical way. It was like watching the Three Stooges meets The Exorcist. With Drag Me To Hell, Raimi successfully returns to those evil haunts. While not as blatantly slapstick, the horror in this movie has that signature Raimi aspect to it. It's fun to be evil, and there is no doubt that the evil spirits wrecking Alison Lohman's life are having a grand ol' time.
The story is a simple one, Lohman's character, a loan officer, refuses to give an extention to an old gypsy lady on her home, even after the woman begs. Feeling shamed, she places a curse on Lohman. One that may "drag her to hell"! The theme of greed is front and center, and it really helps the story move along. The supporting cast is better than its stars, Lohman and Mac Guy Justin Long, but the actress' performance ends up playing well. You'll have to watch to know what I mean.
What's really great about this movie, is that Raimi proves that you don't need to maim and torture folks to pull off a fantastically horrific movie. My girlfriend was screaming at parts, a testament to the success of the film. I, myself, was giddy with each scene. Little bumps and boos were so spot on, every little effect had the proper gross-out, but never did it feel like it was too much. Ultimately, Raimi whipped together a "harvest cake" that tasted just right. If you haven't seen it yet, I can highly, and happily, recommend that you do. It's what movies should be: fun.
Rent Drag Me To Hell now.
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