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He's back! No I'm not talking about Freddy, Jason, Chucky or Michael. I'm talking about Sam...as in Sam Raimi. It's been almost 17 years since Raimi has helmed a horror flick and he hasn't lost his touch. Drag Me to Hell feels like the ugly (real ugly), long lost sister of Evil Dead II. It blends jump-outta-your-seat scares with Three Stooges style slap stick. If that sounds like an odd combination then you've never watched a Raimi horror movie before...

Drag Me to Hell is a basic morality tale. The whole thing feels like a polished episode of Tales from the Crypt. The story follows Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a young woman who is looking to move up the corporate ladder at the bank where she's employed. Her boss tells her that she must learn to make the hard decisions if she wants a promotion and the first time she attempts this she forecloses the house of a disgusting, old, gypsy woman (Lorna Raver). If classic horror has taught us anything it's that you don't EVER screw with gypsies (or carnie folk). The dilapidated crone waits for Christine in the parking garage (in Raimi's beat up Oldsmobile!) and applies the 'Curse of Lamia'. The Lamia is a devil goat that loves the taste of souls. It takes three days to fully manifest and then the demon comes looking for its meal which gets dragged back to Hell for consumption.

Christine is perfectly portrayed by Lohman and I'll be damned if that girl doesn't have some spunk! She is cute as hell and has a knack for physical comedy. One thing about Raimi is that he loves to put his actors/actresses through the ringer. Lohman is a trooper as she gets hit in the face with maggots, mud, blood, drool etc... See that's the beauty of this film. Every time something terrifying happens it's quickly followed up with some disgusting gag that makes you cringe and then burst into a fit of laughter. It's a really great group experience...much like a well executed haunted house.

Justin Long plays Lohman's love interest, Dr. Clay Dalton, and to be honest it seems like he's just along for the ride. Make no mistake about it, this is Lohman's movie and she easily carries it all on her own. The rest of the cast is merely there to witness Christine physically and mentally fall apart as the Lamia's curse intensifies.

My only real complaint is that Raimi actually had the budget to create some CG effects. While they don't ruin the movie, I would have loved to see him stick with the real stuff instead. My main problem is that the things he uses CG for could have easily been done with practical effects.

Drag Me to Hell is horror done right. Sam Raimi has crafted one of the best horror films I've seen in the past 5 years. You've got elements of Evil Dead, The Exorcist and Dead Alive all stirred into the wicked witch's brew that is Drag Me to Hell. The packed theatre I sat in seemed to really get into it, but I'm afraid some folks simply won't wrap their heads around all the goofy stuff that Raimi does. Make sure you drag as many friends as possible to see it. Rest assured that everyone will be jumping in their seats, covering their eyes, screaming and giggling like prepubescent schoolgirls! Drag Me to Hell is just flat out fun cinema. Go see it.

Final Grade: A

Sam Raimi sure does have a consistent view of what the demons from Hell look like, sound like and act like. And these are some of the meanest, scariest demons ever conjured into the world of film-making.

In Evil Dead II (Raimi's Horror Classic rumored to be in re-make mode), words spoken from a tape recorder bring some nasty demons over that ruin the day for a group of folks stuck in a spooky cabin in the woods. In Drag Me to Hell it seems that there are some gypsies that you don't want to cross that know words similar to those spoken on the Evil Dead II tape recorder...And if you hear them spoken...you're dead whether you're alone in the woods or surrounded by suburbia.

So if you happen to be an aspiring local bank manager...check that...aspiring *assistant* bank manager, and a gypsy comes in asking for an extension on an overdue loan payment...give it to her!

Sam Raimi may not have outdone himself with Drag Me to Hell, but he has certainly succeeded in giving Horror fans something to cheer about. There are really scary moments, funny moments, grotesque moments and very deliberately over-the-top moments. There are even moments that are clearly a tip of the hat to Raimi's Evil Dead collection (open wide and say Eyyyyyee!).

Alison Lohman keeps the action and scares rolling along almost solo for like 60% of the movie. She's no Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead's Ash Williams), but she does a fine job of taking her role seriously and stepping into Raimi's humorously sinister world of diabolical demons. Then there's the gypsy women played devilishly by TV actress Lorna Raver; Raimi turns this little old lady into one memorably hideous villain. Justin "I'm a Mac" Long plays Lohman's boyfriend and has some short, mostly unmemorable appearances. In fact, Justin Long's acting in the final memorable scene would have lost him the job if I were involved; I wouldn't be surprised if Raimi thought the same thing but complacently had to settle since it was indeed the last scene.

Like I said, Drag Me to Hell ain't no Evil Dead II, and it's by far no Spider-Man Trilogy, but it's a super fun ride in the Horror genre that's worthy of your collection. Add it to your cart or at minimum your rental queue.

Drag Me To Hell is a very good film for what it it, a Sam Raimi film to be exact. All in all it's not my top fave horror of the summer but it still is a good film none the less.

Sam Raimi gives the film an interesting story and interesting characters which makes the film worth while in my opinion.

The only major downside of the movie is the film isn't very gory and it relies on the story more than anything else.


I bought the Blu Ray to Drag Me To Hell and I will say that the picture quality is amazing and the bonus features are good for what you paid for.

I will totally recommend to anyone who loves horror with a slight of humor to it!!

4 out of 5 stars!!

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4.0 out of 5 stars A good date movie.
Firstseen this movie on commercial T.V. Definitely a keeper.
Love the ending. The perfect film to see with your girlfriend.

Published 4 hours ago by T.V. Addict

2.0 out of 5 stars It's a drag alright
Sam Raimi's career has been mainly downs, in terms of box office takings at least. His only highs have been the Spider-Man movies (which I hated) while some of his better work... Read more

Published 12 days ago by Inspector Gadget

5.0 out of 5 stars four stars
my husband loves horror movies and this was a great fit to our movie collection and it scared me to death thank you very much!

Published 13 days ago by argendorf1

4.0 out of 5 stars Horror Comedy
This is one of the few horror movies that I have watched more than once. I know that it is supposed to be scary but it is one of the most enjoyable horror films that made me... Read more

Published 15 days ago by J.D.

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic scary movie
"Drag Me to Hell" is a classic scary movie, equal to but different from "The Exorcist", "Psycho", "Night of the Living Dead", "Halloween", and "Jaws". Read more

Published 20 days ago by Tycereom

2.0 out of 5 stars I want to like it.
I was so excited when I went to see this movie in theater. It didn't do much for me though. It has some parts that did scare me. But I've seen better scary movies.

Published 1 month ago by Sugga40827

4.0 out of 5 stars Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi returns to his roots with a campy, boisterous, and downright exhilarating horror that oozes campy vintage. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Jordan David

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable except for the ending!
Sam Raimi delivers pretty well in his horror comedy comeback. The only complaint is the ending with the button is too predictable. Otherwise, a fun watch.

Published 1 month ago by Iron maiden 77

3.0 out of 5 stars Sam Raimi returns to his roots.
Remember that kid that liked to show you his chewed up food? Well, this is what happens when that kid grows up and becomes a film maker. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Aaron M.

3.0 out of 5 stars Deja Vue
Doesn't anyone else realize this is a remake of Curse of the Demon (also kown as Night of the Demon)?

Published 1 month ago by Randall Sams

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