A well crafted horror flick from Sam Raimi

Rating: 8/10 (28 May 2011)

"Drag Me to Hell" was Sam Raimi's long-awaited return to the genre that gave him his earliest successes with the "Evil Dead" movies. However, this time, with the blockbuster status of the Spider-Man films behind him, he wasn't constricted by a low budget.
That's not to say that "Drag Me to Hell" is a glossy horror picture lacking in visceral impact. The film looks nice (thanks in no small part to Raimi's talents behind the camera) but it also delivers thrills to spare.
The script has a touch of hokey dialogue but overall it presents a compelling story that doesn't just recycle the usual horror tropes. There are a number of gross-out moments but the PG-13 rating attests to Raimi's decision not to rely on gore for the film's impact. Instead, Raimi masterfully manipulates the audience's emotions with suspenseful storytelling techniques.
All of this being said, I feel that the acting isn't up to the same standard as the rest of the movie. The star, Alison Lohman, just isn't very interesting in my eyes. Justin Long fares a little better while Dileep Rao contributes what is easily the film's most memorable performance. The supporting players are all satisfactory but there's little here that stands out in terms of acting.
Ultimately, "Drag Me to Hell" delivers the goods as far as a horror movie is concerned. I'd even say that it's well worth the time for those who normally don't care much for horror movies. In my opinion, the flick's visual panache and genuine chills place it a few notches above typical modern horror fare.