One of Raimi's Finest

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 2012)

After taking a break from horror for 17 years, Sam Raimi finally decided to return to the genre that made him a household name for fans of cult horror classics. The latest from the director of the Evil Dead trilogy is a riot. It demonstrates masterly control of the too-often misused "jump" scare, and it's funny—really funny. Raimi's peculiar brand of camp likely won't appeal to everyone, but if you're looking for a fun horror movie that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is one tongue- in-cheek romp that shouldn't be missed.
Our protagonist is Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a loan officer at a Los Angeles bank who's trying to get promoted. After being encouraged to prove to her boss that she's able to make the tough decisions required of the assistant manager job she so badly desires, she decides not to grant a mortgage extension to an elderly woman who visits her office. This isn't just any old lady, though—she's a gypsy with knowledge of black magic. After being rejected and being "shamed" (as she puts it), she places a curse on Christine. After 3 days of continuous torment, a dark spirit will literally—as the title indicates— drag her to hell.
As ridiculous as the plot sounds, it's actually quite intense during certain scenes. Raimi, as previously mentioned, has mastered the art of the "jump" scare with this latest entry. Even though it's clear the over-the-top tone pervades every scene, you'll likely still find yourself anticipating the inevitable scare (only to have it appear when you least expect it). There are a plethora of "gross-out" scenes in this one, too, which includes green fluid pouring out of the mouth of an overturned corpse and onto Christine; nosebleeds that spray across rooms and soak coworkers; and, as with any movie dealing with the dark arts, ritual sacrifice that causes us to simultaneously cringe and chuckle.
Really, there's nothing particularly new about Drag Me to Hell—it's just that what's there is so well done that it feels like you're witnessing a hybrid classic/contemporary horror movie. In many ways it's a spoof, but it's also an effective little splatter flick—it knows exactly how to send up genre clichés while still demonstrating respect for their power. Among other things, this makes Drag Me to Hell the perfect date movie: it's not too serious, and everyone involved will have a killer (no pun intended) time.
There you have it. Raimi's back and has proved that after all this time he hasn't sold out to Hollywood convention. So what are you waiting for? Pop a bag of Orville Redenbacher's and prepare yourself for one of the most entertaining horror movies to come along in quite some time.