Drag Me To Hell - Sam Raimi

[scott1598]

this didn't appeal to me at first and the trailers didn't make it any better, but everyone seems to be loving it and i think it could be fun. i loved ED II and AoD and if anything like those it should be a campy good time.

[Jaymole]

Just saw this at a sneak preview and it was a fun little film...it seems Raimi substituted some gross-out moments for gore, as most of the moments that got audiences making noises were scenes of vomit, maggots, etc. There is a little gore, but I would have liked to see what Raimi would have done with an R rating.

The plot is not very original, and the film is pretty lightweight, but it is well directed and some of the scenes really made the audience jump...Raimi using sound quite a bit to achieve this.

The climatic confrontation (not the final scene) was something of a letdown as it simply did not live up to the other setpieces in the film, but overall I would give this *** out of 4 stars....a fun horror film.

[KillerCannibal]

For anyone interested there is a free sneak preview screening at the Arclight in Hollywood on May 19th and the 26th.

Details:
http://joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=16649

[mhg83]

i was watching a tv spot with my dad the other day. It looked good and we were finally excited to see someone come out with an R horror film. And then the rating hit

We both started yelling at the screen 'Bullshit! Sellout!'

This just pisses me off to no end. Are all horror films gonna be pg-13 from now on? I just wish someone in Hollywood would have the balls to make an all out hard R horror movie. Saw doesn't count anymore since the last one wasn't even pushing the gore and shock of the previous installments.

[scott1598]

Originally Posted by mhg83

i was watching a tv spot with my dad the other day. It looked good and we were finally excited to see someone come out with an R horror film. And then the rating hit

We both started yelling at the screen 'Bullshit! Sellout!'

This just pisses me off to no end. Are all horror films gonna be pg-13 from now on? I just wish someone in Hollywood would have the balls to make an all out hard R horror movie. Saw doesn't count anymore since the last one wasn't even pushing the gore and shock of the previous installments.

there are many, but too few and far between.
Hostel
TCM (remake)
Halloween (remake)
Friday the 13th (2009)
My Bloody Valentine 3-D
Planet Terror

[KillerCannibal]

I saw this last night. I'll post a full-length review later today, but in a nutshell: it's pretty good. There is some BAD CGI, some scenes that should be scary are a little too Raimi-goofy, the story isn't terribly original and the "3 days of torment" aren't very tormenting. I did like some of the practical FX work, the sound design (something I rarely notice) was fucking amazing(!) and the ending. Overall, I'd give it a 7/10. I don't see how it would have benefitted from an R-rating, as most of the blood/gore scenes (as any Raimi horror fan might expect) are often humorous and feature multi-colored ooze.

[RocShemp]

Cool. Look forward to your full review, KillerCannibal.

[KillerCannibal]

Review:

Spoiler:

It’s been almost 20 (!) long years since Sam Raimi waded into the genre pool with his last horror offering, 1993’s Army of Darkness. The film was the second, and most likely final, sequel to the Evil Dead film series, the trilogy which put Raimi’s name high up on the list of horror’s most beloved directors. After its release, everyone was wondering what kind of new horrors he would have in store for fans. However, rather than sticking to his low-budget roots, Raimi expanding into cinema with non-genre offering such as The Quick and the Dead (a much better film than it’s given credit for being), A Simple Plan (a well-received, and rightfully so, crime drama), For the Love of the Game (for the love of God, why?) and The Gift (a decent, if not bland, thriller). Fans, though weary of his output, held out hope for another masterpiece of horror. And then the announcement came that he would be directing Spider-Man. This was, in essence, the nail in his horror coffin, since once most low-budget directors go big (I’m looking at you, Peter Jackson) they don’t tend to revert back to relying on practical FX and smaller budgets. The Spider-Man film series has kept Raimi busy for the better part of the last decade, so when it was announced that he was taking a much-needed break to direct a low-budget horror film, well, needless to say, his longtime fans were frothing at the mouth. No, it wasn’t going to be the oft-discussed Evil Dead 4 (a project which, frankly, is past its expiration date), but an original piece written by Sam and his brother, and longtime collaborator, Ivan. The finished product, Drag Me To Hell, is a fun little horror flick, but there are some obstacles that keep it from being the low-budget jewel so many were hoping for.

Christine (Alison Lohman) is a loan officer at WilshirePacific Bank, where she’s hoping to snag the newly-opened Assistant Manager’s position. When an old gypsy woman comes in to get a third extension on her mortgage, Christine’s boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), tells her that an assistant manager has to make the tough decisions, so it’s her call. Knowing that her promotion may ride on her choice, she decides to deny to old woman her extension, even though she will lose her house. After work, the two have an all-out catfight in a parking lot, culminating in the old gypsy placing a curse on Christine. As told to her by a local soothsayer, Rham, the curse causes the recipient to be tormented for 3 days, after which the ground is opened up and they are literally dragged to Hell. Christine, and her boyfriend, Clay (Justin Long), now have to find a way to undo the curse before she suffers that very fate.

The film’s trailers don’t do a whole lot to make it look like anything other than a generic horror flick, but fans of Raimi’s prior films will know this is likely to be anything but. Raimi is known to combine horror and slapstick comedy, a trademark in full effect here. That’s both a blessing and a curse, since many scenes that should be terrifying end up as slightly campy due to the humor. This isn’t necessarily a slight on the film, but I think that there should have been a stronger undercurrent of terror running throughout the picture. A few gags are repeated once too often, especially the possessed handkerchief. Yes, you read that right. It worked once, but it doesn’t do much the second time it pops up. My biggest complaint has to be the overuse of shoddy CGI. I had hoped Raimi would use almost 100% practical effects here, since he’s known for having some of the best in his films, but many of the intended scares were diluted by the poor computer renderings. That fact left me dismayed since I had hoped to get some spectacular gross-out set pieces, only to find haphazard computer work. I will say, though, that what practical effects are shown on-screen are rightfully nasty and definitely got the audience hooting and hollering.

I wasn’t entirely sold on Alison Lohman in this role. She does a reasonably good job, but she often has an uneasy delivery to her lines that tended to throw me off. I can’t complain too much, however, since the lead was originally intended to go to Ellen Page, she of (the worse fucking film of 2007) Juno fame. Her inclusion here would have kept me from seeing the film at all. I loathe her on so many levels. But I digress… Lohman does seem to be sleepwalking a bit here, but as I said, she does well enough that I’m not going to complain much.

One actor who always shines, in my opinion, is Justin Long. Even though it’s a slight stretch casting him as a college psychology professor (I don’t know, maybe my mental image is of someone who looks a bit more distinguished, or like Dr. Weil), the guy can still hold a film together. He was one of the highlights in Jeepers Creepers, but I’ve found his best work to be in comedy. He’s got some serious chops in that department. See Zack and Miri Make a Porno and you’ll know what I mean. Though he doesn’t have a whole lot to do here aside from acting concerned, and providing a major plot point at the end, his presence is still a plus for the film.

Here’s something I rarely notice in films today: sound design. Drag Me To Hell has some of the most incredible sound I’ve heard in a theater in a long time. It’s abrasive, unnerving, tormenting and VERY FUCKING LOUD. I doubt this is going to win an Oscar or anything, though it should, but the sound design here alone is worth the price of admission. I’m sure it’ll sound sweet as hell on a decent home theater system, but don’t wait for the Blu-ray to come out. This is definitely something you need to experience in a theater. Raimi has always had a penchant for creative use of sound, Evil Dead II is a perfect example of this, but the uninitiated will be in for quite the auditory treat.

I’m recommending you see this, but it’s a mild recommendation. I really wanted to be blown away by this movie, but some of my minor quibbles keep it from being a full-blown return to form for Sam Raimi. For one, the torment Christine goes through for 3 days isn’t nearly as tormenting as I had anticipated. Truth be told, it’s rather tame. There are some worthy practical FX on display, but for every one of them there’s any equally appalling CGI monstrosity that sucks you right out of the action. I will say this, though: the ending has some balls, and those are in short supply these days. Don’t let the PG-13 rating dissuade you here. Anyone familiar with Raimi’s films knows that he has a tendency to use multi-colored oozes and puss in lieu of traditional red blood, and there’s no need for nudity here, so an R-rating isn’t required. Many great horror films haven’t been R-rated, not that this is great, but it’s simply not an issue for this particular flick. Summer could use a few good scares, so go see it to diversify your summer viewing schedule.

[asianxcore]

Though I mentioned earlier the original trailer made me laugh (failed loan= get cursed) I really want to see this.

Hopefully I'll be able to catch a showing this weekend with a friend.

[RocShemp]

Thanks, KillerCannibal. Looking forward to it.

Spoiler:

The possessed handkerchief sounds a bit like the possessed hand in Evil Dead II.

[KillerCannibal]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

Spoiler:

The possessed handkerchief sounds a bit like the possessed hand in Evil Dead II.

Kinda, but nowhere near as effective or cool.

I hope this does well, though, since it's great counter-programming and it is a fun little film.

[The O]

The movie is a total blast and I hope all you Raimi fans will head out this weekend and support it.

[Suprmallet]

Gonna catch it Thursday at midnight.

[JumpCutz]

Originally Posted by The O

The movie is a total blast and I hope all you Raimi fans will head out this weekend and support it.

Absolutely loved your review. Can't wait to see this.

[McLovin]

The trailers didn't excite me, but all the buzz has me wanting to see this now. FWIW, I'm not the biggest fan of Raimi's post-Evil Dead efforts (including the Spidey movies). This sounds like a return to form for him.

[RoboDad]

It's currently at 93% at RT with 43 reviews.

[RocShemp]

I just came back from seeing it. What a great ride. The audio was intense and it really kept you on the edge of your seat. I love the She-Bitch homage (though with a guy this time) towards the end of the movie. That said, although the ending was very good, I feel it fell just short of greatness.

Spoiler:

Aside from how eye-rollingly predictable the envelope shuffle was (I saw it coming when the button was first sealed in the envelope), I would have prefered if the boyfriend (Justin Long), as the final possesor of the button, would have been the one to go to hell. That would been the truest torment for the protagonist given all her preable regarding to whom she was to give the button.

That minor issue aside, it's a fantastic movie and one that will find a welcome home in my BD collection.

[hapgilmore]

cannot believe this is at 95% on RT! Can't wait to see it

[droidguy1119]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

Spoiler:

Aside from how eye-rollingly predictable the envelope shuffle was (I saw it coming when the button was first sealed in the envelope), I would have prefered if the boyfriend (Justin Long), as the final possesor of the button, would have been the one to go to hell. That would been the truest torment for the protagonist given all her preamble regarding to whom she was to give the button.

This is what I thought was going to happen too. But the

Spoiler:

shot of Alison Lohman's face disintegrating into a screaming skull was so awesome and haunting it almost made up for it.

I thought it was great. I'll be seeing it again this weekend...

[KillerCannibal]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

Spoiler:

Aside from how eye-rollingly predictable the envelope shuffle was (I saw it coming when the button was first sealed in the envelope), I would have prefered if the boyfriend (Justin Long), as the final possesor of the button, would have been the one to go to hell. That would been the truest torment for the protagonist given all her preable regarding to whom she was to give the button.

My buddy predicted that same fate, but

Spoiler:

since she never technically gave him the button, she still would have gone to Hell whether he gave it back to her or not.

As I said, my only real complaint was the overuse of CGI and the torment was a little weak, but otherwise this is a damn fun flick.

[dino88]

Going to see this in a few hours, can't wait. I'm using Terminator movie cash (something good has to come from that movie), so unfortunately I won't be contributing my money to a worthy film (I hope). But they'll get my money from the dvd purchase if it's as good as the reviews have been saying.

[GenPion]

Eh... I don't know. I'm a huge Raimi fan and I love the Evil Dead movies but this wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It wasn't as effective as horror OR comedy based on my initial viewing tonight. It was still a fun little flick, but that's about it. ***/****. Nothing too remarkable but entertaining for the entire run time. I'm hoping to see it again soon though to see if my opinion of it can improve.

Also, I kept hearing about how GREAT the audio was but there was hardly anything going on with the surrounds AT ALL. Was this my theater messing it up? I'm going to guess that it is because it came no where CLOSE to being as good as I expected. Seriously, it was like it was all coming from the front and it wasn't that intense. My home theater sounds a lot better. Of course, I've noticed this with more and more movies... but still. It also depends on the theater I guess. I saw Cloverfield at the same theater I saw Drag Me to Hell tonight and there was NO surround use at all. When I saw it at another theater a week later it was almost non-stop the entire film and REALLY intense, just like my Blu-ray edition is. Hmmm....

[toddly6666]

I would give it three out of four stars as well - raimi is still an awesome director. Nothing beats army of darkness and quick and the dead though!

The main purpose of Drag Me to Hell was to show the world that Allison Lohman is a perfect replacement for Kirsten Dunst in Spiderman 4 - Lohman is not only cute and hot, but in many scenes she looked just like Dunst.

[golden_rod]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

The main purpose of Drag Me to Hell was to show the world that Allison Lohman is a perfect replacement for Kirsten Dunst in Spiderman 4 - Lohman is not only cute and hot, but in many scenes she looked just like Dunst.

And unlike Dunst, Lohman can actually act. Loved her ever since "Pasadena," I'd kill for a DVD release of that show. An amazing cast with a wonderfully twisted & perverse story.

[DonnachaOne]

Drag Me To Hell is the best film I've seen all year. I saw The Brothers Bloom last October.
It's so much fun. At no point does Raimi treat his audience like idiots and the work shows through; characters are funny without being strictly comic, likable without being sappy, and bloody scary without being stupid. The well-crafted story is predictable, but satisfyingly so, reinventing all the scenes we've seen handled so poorly before in lesser horror and showing us just how strong they can be in the hands of talented filmmakers who care about what they're doing. Great directing, great performances, and Christoper Young's score might be the best of his I've heard since his Hellraiser days. Nothing is handled obviously. Through all the scares and nervous aftershock giggles is a very involving character-driven story - no line 'em up and watch 'em die idiocy, just a look on how much torment someone can take, and what they're willing to do to escape it. It is scary. It is shocking. And it is so much fun to experience.
I may watch it again tomorrow.