Drag Me to Hell - Sam Raimi's Return to Horror
Raimi Invokes Evil Dead in this 2009 Horror Film
Nov 3, 2009
Sam Raimi, with his Evil Dead threesome, was once a king amongst horror directors. He then went on to do those Spiderman films that nobody except everybody watched. But more recently, with the theatrical and DVD releases of Drag Me to Hell, old questions resurfaced. Was that Claymation, people wonder? Did that eyeball just fly into her mouth? Is he a Deadite? When is Bruce Campbell going to make an appearance?
These questions can only mean one thing — Sam Raimi's triumphant return to horror. Rest assured, fans of the Evil Dead, Sam Raimi's latest horror film, Drag Me to Hell, does not disappoint.
The Plot of Drag Me to Hell, the Unrated Director's Cut
In film and literature, Gypsies are notorious for inflicting horrible curses (see, e.g., Thinner, a Stephen King novel made into a movie). Drag Me to Hell plays up this stereotype. But this time, writers Sam and Ivan Raimi employ the most dreaded of curses, one that literally causes its victims to be dragged into Hell.
The cursed is Christine Brown, a loan officer played by Alison Lohman (White Oleander, Big Fish, Gamer). Christine desires a promotion to a coveted position within her bank. But with her competition (Reggie Lee) constantly sabotaging her and her boss' (David Paymer) ignorance thereof, Christine must prove herself worthy of the position by showing she can be aggressive and make tough decisions.
Unfortunately for Christine, she picks the wrong time to get tough. When Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), an old woman with false teeth and a sinister glass eye, comes to her seeking a third extension on a mortgage, Christine denies it. Sylvia pleads with Christine to reconsider, swallowing all pride and getting down on her knees. She grabs the bottom of Christine's dress, prompting Christine to call for security.
At the close of the day, Christine heads to the parking lot. Sylvia is waiting inside her car. The pair wages all out war against each other, with Sylvia eventually prevailing. She removes a button from Christine's coat, chants the word, "Lamia," and returns the button to Christine.
Christine's curse begins. She is haunted by the Lamia, a malevolent demon with one horrifying goal — to drag Christine's soul straight to Hell. Of course, she has three days of torment before the demon comes for his prize. With the help of her boyfriend, Clay Dalton, played by Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball, Accepted), Christine must remove the curse before it's too late.
Drag Me to Hell is a Horror Movie Like No Other, Except Perhaps Evil Dead 2
If Director Sam Raimi's intent was to separate Drag Me to Hell from the Evil Dead franchise, then he wondrously failed. Drag Me to Hell reprises many Evil Dead staples that fans of the three films love: an evil-eye, camera lens view of the protagonist as it charges towards her; eye-popping (literally), B-movie, Claymation-like special effects; violent, over-the-top, but comical fight scenes; and even a floating, possessed, dancing individual that very closely resembles a Deadite. But most of all, Drag Me to Hell features the return of Sam Raimi's greatest strength, what Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune calls "the scare/laugh hybrid."
Alison Lohman, Justin Long, David Paymer, and Lorna Raver Star in Drag Me to Hell
The acting in Drag Me to Hell isn't stellar, but its principal players are more than adequate. Lohman and Long each perform their roles without overacting, despite the absurd situations they encounter. Paymer (Mr. Saturday Night, Get Shorty, Ocean's Thirteen) has a very funny line inserted so subtly that it's masterful. Dileep Rao, who plays a psychic, manages to convince viewers of the only-slightly-less-absurd-than-Jeepers-Creepers plot.
Still, the best performance goes to Lorna Raver (Freeway, Opportunity Knocks). Her Sylvia Ganush is downright wretched, revolting, repulsive, and ridiculous — everything one could ask for from an old Hungarian Gypsy in a Sam Raimi horror film. Her character and performance sends Drag Me to Hell's cringe factor through the roof.
Distributed by Universal Pictures, Drag Me to Hell was released in theaters on May 29, 2009, and on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 13, 2009. The film isn't Raimi's best, but for Evil Dead fans and those who aren't lactose intolerant (it's a lot of cheese), Drag Me to Hell is a top-notch horror film.
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