JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonDrag Me To Hell (2009) - Sam Raimi Interview Included
October 16th 2009 00:00
The Invisible Evil of an Entertaining Camp Fire Spooker.
Drag me To Hell - Available on DVD
Director: Sam Raimi
Writer: Sam and Ivan Raimi
Starring: Justin Long, Alison Lohman, David Paymer, Lorna Raver, Adriana Barraza, Dileep, Rao
Here is how Director Sam Raimi described the film in an interview over on Cinematical:
“…Thematically, it's a story about a girl who tries to be a good person in this world, but succumbs to the sin of greed and makes a decision for her own self-interest at the expense of this old woman. It's a story about how she pays for that choice, and it's also a story about the digression of a character – how one bad choice leads to another and another and another until she really becomes quite a despicable character at the picture's end, even though she's very pretty and likeable, supposedly, and somebody hopefully who the audience wants to root for.”
Bad breath again gets in the way of unhelathy lesbianism...
A good soul, Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is already fighting for an identity as we begin. Ashamed of her farm girl beginnings she is in her car trying to learn proper pronunciation from a CD to remove any trace of her hick origins. It is inferred early on that she also suffers an eating disorder and though now trim and pretty she was once overweight.
Despite this she is smart and savvy but under-valued in her job as a loan officer for a small banking firm. Struggling to get a promotion, she competes with an overly proactive newbie colleague who is prepared to be immoral. Desperation and disappointment are slowly creeping into her life.
Determined to succeed, when a crusty, crazy eyed old gypsy woman named Mrs Ganush (Lorna Raver) begs her for an extension on her mortgage Christine is forced to impress her boss (David Paymer) with a cold refusal. It is this act that unleashes Mrs Ganush’s wrath that comes in the form of a violent demon curse.
Seeking solace in her doting, supportive boyfriend’s (justin Long) arms, soon determined flies, foreboding shadows and invisible ghouls dominate Allison’s existence, threatening to corrupt her purity and drag her soul to hell for eternal damnation. Fun Times.
Finally she-warrior Alison Lohman fullfills John Doe's Mud Wrestling fantasies
John Doe says:
Controlling tensions with solidly constructed suspense, then achieving laughs seconds later with over the top gross out gags, Raimi’s deft direction shows a flawless fluency in cinema language. From human frailty to visceral thrills, the pedestrian sounding set up is testament to the old adage that a good filmmaker can bring life to even the most overused of devices.
Right from the start when the 1980’s style Universal Pictures logo first appears and the fatalistic art of the opening credits, the film proudly displays its love of traditional, old fashioned supernatural thrillers. You know, the kind that make you fidget as the strings are pulled tighter and then give you quick relief in the form of farcical happenings.
The horror, the horror, the horror.
The lasting effect comes down to memorable imagery and a honed screenplay that balances character and staging with an unyielding dedication to its conclusion. The garage fight is as instant rewind moment and some CGI eye balls still lurk, but it is the finale that really sticks, demanding evaluation.
The kind of movie where you must empathize with the protagonist as she leaves no option unconsidered in her battle to survive, Alison Lohman (Where The Truth Lies, Matchstick Men) achieves this in the part of Christine. Replacing Ellen Page at the preproduction stage, Lohman tackles the tender moments with the same care as the unhinged balls-to-the-wall fight for life terrors she is ambushed by.
JD has to admit to being a fan of Apple boy Justin Long (Galaxy Quest, Die hard 4, Jeepers Creepers) and so though admittedly he shows no new range or depth here relying on his eyebrows to show concern. Still he is one of the few likable presences in modern cinema that doesn’t seem insincere.
Lorner Raver is appropriately extroverted in her role as the kibosh loving gypsy and naturally dominates any frame that has her threatening presence.
David Mamet regular David Paymer (Redbelt, Spartan, State and Main, Get Shorty) is, as always undistracted in the role of Christine’s Boss. Bringing the right amount of ruthless, smarminess and vulnerability to make Mr Jack’s all too relatable.
Adriana Barraza (Babel) as the vendetta carrying nemesis to evil spirits and Dileep, Rao (Avatar, Inception) as the seer with no scruples about being paid for his work are both amusing and ambiguous.
Still not good enough to knock Evil Dead from its perch as Raimi’s greatest achievement, Drag Me To Hell is still a pleasant breath of fresh air to mainstream horror. More so for John Doe it ranks in the top 5 PG-13 horror films of all time. A list occupied by Arachnophobia, Poltergeist, Gremlins and Eight Legged Freaks.
Director Sam Raimi discusses Drag Me To Hell
A great example of the films glorious three stooges style can be found in the hilarious Garage scene
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Return to form for Sam.
One to own.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
A fun ride and a brilliant example of genuine thrills without excessive bloodletting.....not that Im not a gore hound as you know
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I do have the CD, and a ripping great score from Christopher Young it is - another near magnum opus from a master of the genre.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Great write-up JD. As Bryn says, a nice return to form for Raimi. Best PG-13 horror films of all time - now that's a great list to draw up!
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by Daishin
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The music has a classic horror feel too it that compliments the over all aesthetic perfectly. The film is more entertaining than scary but you will find the "campfire" story style fun I think.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
the film isn't an absolute must see, but for raimi fans and horror fiends it is...PG 13 horror films when done right can truly invigorate with careful atmosphere and off camera shocks. This one succeeds in both, then adds laughs with excessive gooey slime that all seems to head in Lohmans direction.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It did balance laughs and suspense well and even when it was farcical it seemed to work within the established frame work.
Horror is not for everyone and usually most people expect horror comedy to not scare but be ridiculously inoffensive since the annoying Buffy like craze...An American Werewolf in London is still the best genuinely scary film that incorporates laughs for me.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I normally hate nice guy actors (they seem fake) but Long brings a geeky smarts that I can relate too...he is not a great actor but a welcome presence in most things.
I was really impressed with Lohman in this one and think Raimi went back to basics and it benefited the audience with its simplicity of design.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Don't think this in teh same league as Evil Dead which in the original went to very dark, gory places...instead this is a funhouse ride that wears it's 1950's style as a badge on honour.
As for remaking Evil Dead, the less said the better. i juts pray that the mighty Bruce comes along for the ride or all hope is lost.