Short Attention Span Review: Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Only Sam Raimi could make a picture like Drag Me to Hell. This bold and fast-paced horror movie boasts several great scares, some truly terrifying content, and the sort of gore that Lucio Fulci was famous for--and yet it is also brimming with big laughs and excitement. Despite the utterly horrifying concept and several totally disgusting sequences, this isn't the type of horror flick that viewers should earn a merit badge for enduring. Rather, it's incredibly fun, with a cartoonish tone and several winning performances that somehow complement all the disturbing elements. It represents Raimi at his very best, and all of his staples are in play, most notably the fluid camera work that makes his films so invigorating and the physical and emotional turmoil that his main characters are subjected to. Alison Lohman is terrific in the lead role, and proves just as capable of taking a beating, screaming, and getting her hands dirty as Raimi's leading man of choice, Bruce Campbell. Justin Long does a nice job with a decent part that isn't as integral to the proceedings as one might wish until the haunting last frame, which solidifies Drag Me to Hell as one of the most daring big budget horror films to come down the pipeline. I guarantee you that there were studio execs who desperately wanted to see a different conclusion, but this is Raimi's vision through and through. While it may not be quite as fun as his Evil Dead trilogy and the gut-wrenching conclusion is telegraphed, it is hard to find fault with this outrageous shocker that packs a serious punch.
Final Grade: A-
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| Drag Me to Hell is a true smorgasbord--it offers thrills, chills, chuckles, and a wealth of excitement. |
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