I wasn't sure how Sam Raimi's new horror film was gonna work, it being a mere PG-13 in the US. If it was indeed to be his return to horror after three Spider-man movies, how could he make really a scary movie...with out the gore? Sure he's done kid-friendly stuff in the past...just look at Army Of Darkness...but that was more fantasy comedy, than horror. Was Drag Me To Hell going to be silly?
Well, yes and no. PG-13 or not, this is the best horror film of the year and one of the best movies, full stop, of 2009. The sound is cranked up to 11 and Raimi milks the tension and the shocks for all they're worth. Most of the time you're tensed up, biting your bottom lip, waiting for the next scare that will make you leap out of your chair. It recalls Robert Wise's The Haunting which also used simple editing and loud sound to similar effect.
In true Raimi style he abuses his hero (heroine Alison Lohman in this case) until they're at their wits end. Alison Lohman is refreshing and likable in the lead role...unlike the usual college bimbo's that you'd normally see cast.
The set pieces come thick and fast, and are varied enough to keep you giddy with joy throughout. There's gore, scares, humour, gross/icky stuff, body horror, social embarresment, a guy you love-to-hate, evil dead homages. Its great. There's even a sequence, that was used to comedy effect in Naked Gun 2 that is aquired by Raimi in a serius pulse-pounding action sequence! The one on one battle in the car leaves you breathless while smaller, but no less inventive shots have a persistant fly trying to violate a sleeping Lohman!
It's good to see Raimi's battered Oldsmobile back for a major role! Christopher Young's score is is loud, perfectly embodying the old style b-movie goodness Raimi is aiming for. Talking of loud, thats the way you need to see this movie; it a well equiped cinema or on a beefy home entertainment system using surround sound and a sub-woofer.
Fantastic movie. Just wish I hadn't shat my pants!
