A fairly decent return to the genre, but don't believe the hype....

Rating: 7/10 (29 May 2009)

While certainly making up for the horrible botch that was 'Spiderman 3', Sam Raimi's return to the genre really cannot compete with his earlier horror films; the 'Evil Dead' trilogy and arguably 'Darkman'. This is not however, for reasons you may think.
The most common complaint is that the film's PG-13 rating is what ruins it's impact, but this isn't necessarily true, as the rating's system seems to have treated Raimi fairly liberally in piling on the gore and guts. The flaws of the film simply come from shakiness on Raimi's part in returning to the genre which made him famous.
For one thing, the film relies too much on 'jump' sequences and 'buses' which kill suspense. Clearly, a film called 'Drag me to Hell' is not going to be a masterpiece of subtlety and what 'subtle horror' originator Val Lewton called 'The Power of Suggestion'(Sorry, 'Blair Witch' idiots, it was Lewton who beat your stupid movie to the punch by 5 decades by just suggesting the monster.), but it just makes the film weak when the big scares are finally packed on, and this is not because of ratings restraint; as the monsters and possession scenes are quite heavy-handed. It's just that they lose so much impact. To put it simply; the film just doesn't know when to stop when it should.
Speaking of Val Lewton, this film owes a considerable debt, plot-wise to a film made by his greatest pupil; Jacque Tourneur. The film in question is 'Night/Curse of the Demon'(1957), an adaption of an M.R. James story 'Casting the Runes'. This film even includes several homages to that film in a spectacular séance sequence, and even ends at a train station like the original. Anyone who has seen 'Curse' will find themselves all too familiar with the story, but, hey, it's better than a remake.
The film also succeeds at giving it's characters believable motivations and flaws that makes them seem genuine in spite of the occasionally weak dialog. Even the villain has believable motivations without becoming sympathetic. The film also looks great, eschewing the 'Se7en'-inspired look so overused in modern horror films. Raimi's trademark insane camera angles also create some memorable scenes, particularly when the heroine begins contemplating giving a cursed object to escape her curse by drumming her fingers in a manner similar to that of the Hag who cursed her; who is introduced drumming her fingers. As if she's becoming as bad as the hag was. Great symbolism. The acting is also good. Lead's Alison Lohman and Justin Long both have a befuddled look that makes it all the more believable. The Seer character's are also great.
The film also has a good amount of humor in it, if nothing on the scale of the 'Evil Dead' films, nothing laugh out loud funny, but wryly amusing in a gross-out sort-of-way. There's also a scene guaranteed to offend animal lovers everywhere. The final 'Confrontation' in a graveyard should delight every horror fan. And the ending, while predictable, is amazingly effective.
It may not be saying much, but this is easily one of the best horror films in a LOOOONG time. With Raimi back on track, the results for his future films(and for the genre) will certainly be worth seeing. Enjoy.~