Movie Review: Drag Me To Hell

By Justin Velasquez
June 24, 2009

Sam Raimi is probably best known for directing all three Spider-Man films but horror film fans and purists will point to earlier projects that are more becoming of his offbeat vision.  The films in the The Evil Dead series are the most referenced from Raimi's catalog and if you haven't seen them it may be a good starting point in order to truly appreciate Drag Me To Hell.

Drag Me To Hell is not the scariest film out there.  It certainly isn't the goriest nor does it have the best special effects.  But what it lacks in those categories it more than makes up for it in originality and creativity.  DMTH is about young and beautiful Christine Brown (Alison Lohman, Big Fish and Flicka) a loan officer at a small bank.  A small town girl, Alison is determined to shed a shameful past in order to make something of her life.  She is one of the leading candidates for assistant manager and if she closes a business proposal she's been working on, she can secure the bank its biggest account and almost assure her of the promotion.  Her career is balanced out with a great personal life - Christine is dating charismatic Clay Dalton (Justin Long, Live Free or Die Hard and He's Just Not That Into You), a college professor.  For both Christine and Clay everything in their lives seems to be going well. 

One day Christine's fortunes change when she encounters a bank customer.  Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) comes in asking Christine for another extension on her home loan.  She's behind on her payments and if Christine can grant one more then Mrs. Ganush may be able to buy enough time to save her home from foreclosure.  Christine, feeling pressure to further impress her boss, makes the tough decision to deny Mrs. Ganush an extension.  As retribution for this transgression she places an evil curse on Christine.  The curse, as Christine finds out from a psychic named Rham Jas (Dileep Rao, the upcoming Avatar), is known as the curse of the Lamia, and if she doesn't take the correct steps the Lamia will come for her and take her soul.  What ensues after the curse is levied is some of the most clichéd, yet imaginative and hilarious, scare tactics this side of Elm Street. 

Sam Raimi incorporates everything that a good horror film should have - a creepy character that can make even the most seasoned horror film fan wince, a good helping of fear and enough gore to drive the point fully across.  And in trademark Raimi fashion, a touch humor is displayed to let everyone know that pure evil doesn't have to be serious all the time.  Even though there is plenty of gore it's not of the conventional sort - gallons of blood isn't shed in this 99-minute feature.  But Raimi is a master at selling suspense and horror without every scene running red. 

The story, co-written by Sam and brother, Ivan, is fairly strong as far as horrors go and some decent acting complements it.  Alison Lohman initially portrays Christine as innocent and frail, and that is integral when seeing her transformation.  When pushed, Christine conjures up strength reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver's Ripley and does so with enough daring and self-assurance as Bruce Campbell's Ash.  That combination is refreshing considering how tiny Alison Lohman is and how seemingly how codependent Christine started out.  If anything, she's able to sell the audience on her plight and she's able to challenge the viewer to consider just how far one might go to stay alive.  Justin Long is, of course, the voice of reason in this tale and he handles it well.  Typically, though, his Clay is sitting on the sidelines because of his reluctance to believe in apparitions and evil spirits, but because he loves Christine so much he helps in any way that he can.

I am not the biggest fan of horror films.  Some of them are just pure nonsense and incorporate way too much blood in order to get a scare that isn't frightening or suspenseful.  What is certain, though, is that Sam Raimi knows how to make a good horror film.  Drag Me To Hell is a good horror film.  As mentioned earlier, DMTH isn't the scariest or the goriest, but it is certainly imaginative enough to provide good horror and gory enough to freak out the viewer without going overboard.  At the least, just remember to agree with and say yes to anything that a little old lady asks of you. 

3 Stars out of Four