Well, Drag Me To Hell is surely one of the best films of the year. From the openning credits you know that you're about to see something truely special.
The story is simple and refreshingly easy to follow, unlike previous films of 2009 ( The brillaint but overly complex Watchmen comes to mind). It revolves around a young 20 something named Christine, who works for a bank. One day after refusing a loan to an elderly Gypsy she finds herself placed under a curse that after 3 days will "Drag Her to Hell" ( hence the title).
What we have here is one of the funnest experiences at the movies I've ever had the pleasure to sit through. You'll laugh, you'll gag, you'll cheer, you'll scream; often all in the same scene. The film has an 80's feel to it. Sam Raimi also dutifully throws in several references to the Evil Dead Trilogy for the fans, which pleased me.
I was constantly transfixed by Alison Lohman, the chick who plays Christine. She is put through so much in this film, but throws herself into it with such vigor and energy that at times it's almost unbelievable. It's also a wonder that she didn't wind up in a hospital during shooting. I was torn between rooting for her to prevail and wanting her to fail because it's just so much damned fun to see her get her butt kicked. For most of the film she is a plain, pretty girl...but there are some scenes where her beauty just shines through. The cemetary scene where she was wearing nothing but a tank top, soaked to the brim with her hair all muddy and dirty gave her a raw beauty that you rarely see in movies these days. By the time this scene comes around she's in total kick-ass mode and is done messing around. Keep your eyes on this girl; She may just be the next action/horror star.
Not surprisingly, Alison wasn't the only good actor/actress in the film. Supporting her in her efforts to lift the curse are Dileep Rao playing Rham Jas the Psychic and the "sit up and take notice" Justin Long as her Fiance Clay Dalton. Both put on good performances; Dileep doing the freaked out and willing to help Psychic and Justin playing the confused "is my Fiance crazy?" Boyfriend. This isn't Justin's first outing in a horror flick; he also starred in Jeepers creepers (another one of my personal favorites) alongside Gina Philips. Other notable Performances in DMTH are Lorna Raver as the Psychotic and evil Mrs. Ganush, and Adriana Barraza as the revenge seeking medium Shaun San Dena who has an early encounter with the curse's demon and afterwards vows that she will do everything in her power to stop it.
I walked into Drag Me To Hell a bit nervous. Sam had made great films ( like the Evil Dead Trilogy) and awful films ( The Spiderman Trilogy). This film was either going to suck or to be a mind-blowing hit. Thank God it was the latter. Sam Raimi is officially back on top. The film has his fingerprints all over it, you can tell that this meant alot to him and that he sweated and bled making this little gem. With DMTH Sam proves that he's still got it. A statement that I'm both proud and relieved to make.
If he's smart he would stop making those god-awful spiderman films and stick to what we know he does best...and that's making us shit ourselves with fear while laughing our butts off in our seats. He is one truely talented filmmaker that time, and Hollywood has not diluted. THANK GOD FOR SAM RAIMI.
So if you're in the mood to have a rip-roarin good time at the movies, run out and buy tickets to the next showing of Drag Me To Hell...trust me, you'll be glad you did.
BETTER THAN SEX 5 stars
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