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Mr. Beaks Adores Sam Raimi's DRAG ME TO HELL!!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Depending on your spoiler threshold, you may want to read this after you've seen the movie.
The decisive moment in DRAG ME TO HELL, the one that knocks it right up into the instant classic stratosphere, finds cursed bank loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) doing battle with the possessed corpse of her tormentor, Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver), in a tool shed. Though there's a perfectly good narrative reason for Christine to go rifling through this shed, the attack can't help but feel inconsequential because our "hero" is still a day or so away from being consigned to hell for all eternity. She's not going to die. Not today. All the "Lamia" (the name of the vengeful spirit inhabiting the dead gypsy woman) can do at this point is rough Christine up. So what's the purpose of the scene? Well, basically, it's to let Sam Raimi stage a live-action Loony Tunes gag in which Christine frees herself from the bony grip of Mrs. Ganush by dropping an anvil on the unstoppable hag's head. As for why Christine has an anvil suspended fifteen-feet off the ground by a rope in her tool shed, well... don't you?
Based on a stripped-down, mayhem-packed screenplay by Raimi and his brother Ivan, DRAG ME TO HELL is a back-to-basics "spook-a-blast" for a director who appeared to be lost for good to the studio system after three SPIDER-MAN movies and, prior to that, a trio of toned-down dramas that bore scarce stylistic resemblance to the hyper-inventive gore classics on which he made his name. This isn't the first time an artist has tried to recapture the wildness of his/her youth after attaining mainstream respectability, but it is one of the only times in the history of any medium that the result has been not only watchable, but every bit as good as the classics that came before it. In fact, DRAG ME TO HELL is so good, it leaves you wondering whether Raimi spent the last sixteen years making himself commercially bulletproof so that he could make reasonably-budgeted "spook-a-blasts" for the rest of his career. If so, we win. Big time.
DRAG ME TO HELL is the kind of crazy that, in the hands of a less-established filmmaker, would be compromised to crap by studio notes before it got out of development. This is due to a variety of ghoulish plot twists that I will not list here, so let's just leave it at this: Lohman's Christine is the perfect Raimi protagonist in that she engenders in the viewer both a rooting interest and a perverse desire to see her suffer. Though she doesn't invite the trouble that leaves her fighting off a wicked gypsy curse, she behaves so selfishly once she's marked for eternal damnation that you can't help but feel she has it coming. As many of my fellow critics have pointed out, if you cast Bruce Campbell in this role, you'd essentially have EVIL DEAD 4.
And while I'd love to see that as much as the rest of you, I think I prefer what Raimi has done here. Whereas all Campbell has to do is open his mouth to get you giddy at the thought of his extreme misfortune, Lohman possesses a wholesome, utterly innocent demeanor; even after she commits an astonishingly cruel act in a futile attempt to drive the Lamia away, you still feel a bit guilty cheering for her ultimate punishment. And this internal conflict spices up what would've otherwise been a bash-Bruce fest.
Another reason it's difficult to turn completely against Christine is that Mrs. Ganush comes off as a massively unsympathetic "victim". In their fateful first encounter, where Christine denies her a third extension on her mortgage, Mrs. Ganush is portrayed as an pleadingly unpleasant bitch. It's hard to see how Christine has "shamed" her when the one-eyed gypsy was just plopping her dentures on the young woman's desk and - the horror! - emptying her complimentary candy bowl. Then comes the brutal parking garage attack, which finds the crazy old harpy fighting dirty - and, in a deliciously repugnant turn of events, gummy - while Christine struggles to defend herself with any odd instrument at her disposal (including a ruler). At this point, when it comes to viciousness, Mrs. Ganush has it all over Christine.
But after enduring a day of indignities (including an awesomely disastrous visit to Mrs. Ganush's funeral that leaves her with a mouthful of embalming fluid), Christine is ready to do almost anything to get the Lamia off her back. And while you can excuse her desperation (the Lamia doesn't haunt so much as pummel), Christine's willingness to palm her burden off on others makes it rather easy to enjoy her plight (incredibly, especially for a PG-13 movie, embalming fluid isn't the worst thing that ends up in her mouth).
The minute Christine compromises morally, she's done for - even though other characters (like her coworker Stu and her boyfriend's snobbish mother) get away with far worse. No matter. In Raimi's universe, either you stick to your principals through thick and thin or you deserve to get your ass handed to you by the Lamia - which means DRAG ME TO HELL plays like the B movie Michael Haneke will never allow himself to make. It's also the second Raimi film to have a none-too-subtle Christian subtext (see the dispatching of Venom in SPIDER-MAN 3), but, thankfully, Raimi's more showman than scold.
And make no mistake: this is a master class in horror filmmaking. Though I still think EVIL DEAD 2 remains Raimi's greatest contribution to the genre, DRAG ME TO HELL is easily his most viscerally terrifying movie to date. Does he mostly resort to jump scares to keep the audience off balance? Yes, but consider how he deploys them. For instance, there's a great scene early on where Christine is awaiting the initial arrival of the Lamia. It's evening, she's just been left at home alone by her boyfriend (Justin Long), the wind's starting to pick up, and she thinks she hears something bumping about outside her front door. As she tentatively peers out the window, the sound drops out and Raimi, eager to draw out the suspense, cuts in on Christine three or four times until we're right up in her grill. It's overkill, and it's designed to get a laugh. Then he cuts to her POV looking out the window, where we see dead leaves - and, by the way, this is a remarkably autumnal Los Angeles Raimi has imagined - gusting up her front walk. "Okay," you're saying to yourself, "This is where he springs the scare." But no. Nothing happens. So you relax, take a deep bre-- BAM! Lamia time. The entire audience shrieks. It's a killer shock delivered by a director who loves horror movies as much as we do, only he knows precisely what we're expecting and when we're expecting it.
DRAG ME TO HELL is that one-of-a-kind cinematic triumph that satisfies genre connoisseurs even as it's playing to the cheap seats. In its ability to scare and amuse, it belongs in a class with FRIGHT NIGHT, POLTERGEIST and TREMORS (just to name a few off the top of my head). Sam Raimi is back, folks. It's a great time to be a geek.
Faithfully submitted,
Mr. Beaks
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Gonna see this tomorrow
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Been waiting for one of you guys to review this movie. Sounds promising.
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What about that flick? I wanna see that as well as this.
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Would've thought that'd be a cool combination: Paige/Raimi.
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it's a great time to be a geek, and to be a Sam Raimi fan! I'm so excited to be on my way to watch this film again! Off I go!
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I thought the film was cool as hell. My girlfriend however was rather scared and shielded her eyes for most of it. Of course now I'm almost contractually obligated to watch the next pillow-fluff chickflick that comes out with her. It will then be my turn to squirm. Nice job Sam Raimi!
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But I will still see both :)
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It's the smartest horror film I've ever seen. Completely terrifying, thoroughly engaging, 100% satisfying. Loved it loved it loved it.
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It promises to be much better than that Terminator dreck. Fucking McG...
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that movie is fucking AWESOME. "Hank, you ever feel evil?"
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Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness were flops. And I will never forget the joy of having seen them in theaters.
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Just noted that it was a departure stylistically for Raimi. I love it. And I enjoyed THE GIFT and FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (baseball scenes only) as well.
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susan boyle should have been cast once elaine paige dropped out
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May 29, 2009 1:42:57 AM CDT
FUCK ELLEN PAIGE. Somebody drag that bitch to hell.
by dannyglovers_dickblood
Raimi = GOD
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Particularly the parts attached to Katie Holmes' chest.
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Haven't had this much fun in a movie theater in years! God bless Raimi for this little jewel.
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From what I have heard, she doesn't go for the penis.
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Might not be the balls-to-the-wall horror movies that got him famous, but it was a fucking nice change of pace and well made movie. The kind of film you would have gotten once a week back in the 40s or 50s, but now are lucky to see once every couple of years.
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Sam should put more variety in his career, a balance of blockbuster, splat-stick horror (or even pure, non jump-scare based horror) and serious drama.
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Glad to read he is back on track.
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I hate most of what Raimi does, especially the heavy handed, clunky "humor". I think all three Spiderman films were pretty poor.
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why do all the trailers look boring and lame?
haven't seen T4 or Wolverine, partially based on their boring and insipid trailers, the other part being the reviews all say they suck.
Spidey 3 pissed me off so fucking bad, it still pisses me off to this day, so why should I give Sam my money? -
It's on DVD this October. Warners couldn't give two shits about this movie since it's not a remake and not PG13.
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That's some strong words there Beaks.
Hope you're right. -
May 29, 2009 3:24:44 AM CDT
it's at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, kids...
by porkinz the x-wing instructor
I think, for a wacky spookfest, that says a lot. But then again, a lot of you pussies are just gonna see wind up seeing UP because it looks shiny and it's in 3D...come on, put your money where your mouth is you whiners. You've all been begging for EVIL DEAD 4 -- well, here it is!!
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Yawn. Would rather go see Night At The Museum 2 and that is not high on my must see list.
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Jeez, we're really desperate for horror "classics" these days, aren't we? It's a 2 1/2 star movie at best but I'll give it 2 cuz I'm an asshole. Cool beginning. Great ending. Same shit over and over for 90 minutes in the middle. Loud jump scares and silly gross-out bullshit. One of a kind? A return to form? I think not.
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It's made as a popcorn movie. Think "Darkman"—studio feature with Raimi's peculiar sensibility; the attitude is over the top with tons of gross–out humour. This isn't "The ultimate experience in grueling terror."
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At the risk of a doing a Harry style ramble...
I remember seeing CRIMEWAVE (anyone remember that one?), EVIL DEAD, and EVIL DEAD 2 back in the day, all within about a month of each other.
It was an important moment in the life of young Cobra as it was one of the first times my youthful brain comprehended what a 'director' does. Why a film isn't actually defined by its cast (as you think when your a kid), but why its defined by its director (this unseen wizard behind the scenes).
Raimi was the first of these 'wizards' that I discovered and for that he'll always be a glory boy.
Historical ramble over. DRAG ME TO HELL sounds great btw. -
With the rest of the drool cups then.
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saw a screening last night and it was tons of fun. It's a style of horror that's been missing for a long time. People even clapped at the end. Great movie guys,
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good times
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Now I'm just going to have to reevaluate EVERYTHING!
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Needs to be dragged to hell.
Totally agree.
She's an awful actress and basically does the same thing in everything - Regenesis, X3, Juno, Hard Candy - same fricking performance.
Glad she dropped out. -
but he isn't and this movie looks fucking stupid.
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Since the fanfair is large for this, and I remember that same love for Spiderman which I thought was good, but not great. Even two. Wow I'm asking for it I know. Look this chick, for me and let us not say I crave cut and paste formulas. Call me sentimental, but I like to care about the main character. I don't always expect to agree with them or find how they act or live to match the way I do. When it comes to films like these. I need to feel like I could have made the same mistake, and If the character becomes a complete bitch/asshole. They really have to be someone so fucking nice and sweet that you really don't believe it was them being themselves. It's not the denial that pissed me off. It was the scene right after where she scream for security. When this fragile old woman is begging her. Why Security??? Why.. I'm hoping it was cut wrong. IF not it will take nothing short of amazing to make me give a shit about this bitch. I had the same problem with Cabin Fever. After they start getting sick and then we see how they truly want to be. I stopped giving a fuck, and when you don't give a fuck theres very little the story can do to fix it and keep you in that. I hope they survive frame of mind. Formula or not, that's part of the thrill of a horror movie. Actually worrying about the faith of the main character because you care about them. I still believe in the Chris Rock Saltine Theory as well. Sorta like how some poeple want to pat disney on the back for the Princess Frog flick. When it looks like shit, but we still want to do so hoping it will build more/better 2d disney films. I guess I have to see it now. Just to know the truth.
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Well, Drag Me to Hell! I'm actually considering seeing this now. I'm hoping Justin "Mac Guy" Long gets smacked up some by some monsters or other shit in this movie. Now the only question is, do I drag a lady friend to see it with me, or some B-movie loving homies?
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Seeing it tomorrow. What's ironic is that Raimi's last film kicked off the shit-fest that was Summer 07, while this sounds like it may rescue, at least partially, the shit-fest that is Summer 09!
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I can't wait to see this film, I've grown tired of the "Ghost house" productions these past few years, the fucking grudge=shit, they did a few others that were just awful...The Evil Dead series (to include AOD of course) stand as my all time kick ass love to watch films...not my favorite mind you, but lets just say, if I was were stranded on a deserted island, and had a DVD player with unlimited battery power, if I were only allowed to have in hand, one film...it would be fucking Army of Darkness. Raimi's return as a horror director is welcomed indeed....Give us some fucking sugar baby!
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"DRAG ME TO HELL plays like the B movie Michael Haneke will never allow himself to make."
Ha! Love that line. I didn't like the film as much as everyone else (It was repetitive and played to the cheap seats) but it was a fun time. -
at a sneak preview here in Raleigh. Loved it. However, I agree that the marketing in general and the trailers in specific have been horrible. Can we please stop these guys from putting spoilers from the climactic scene in the freaking trailer?!? It reminded me of Quarantine last year that put the money shot not only in the trailer, but on the poster and DVD box as well.
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If Raimi really gave two shits about the genre he wouldn't have spent the last several years producing shit like The Grudge and other various bubble gum horror films for the kiddies. PG-13 is the absolute worst thing to happen to the genre and while I want this film to be good the trailers have looked fucking awful and the rating ensures I will have to watch this with a bunch of adolecent douchebags texting through the entire film. I guess I'll know soon enough but right now this whole thing reeks of an AICN bullshit hype-fest.
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Great little flick and I agree with you about spoilers. I cannot believe to this day that they literally put the final scene of the film in the trailer.
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Anyone who judges a movie by its trailer is an idiot in my opinion anyway.
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With films that have had fucking awesome trailers, only to lead up to the eventual aids ridden cumshot of a result, Drag me to Hell having what some would call "shitty" trailers is maybe a good omen. For the record, I liked the theatrical trailer...the TV spots are kinda Gay, but hey so is Justin Long and his pussy mac book.
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Can't stand the wench. What I saw of Juno was shite...
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I mean, I passed on Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Meet the Spartans based on the trailers so I'm not exactly sure what your point is. If the trailers suck and the film is rated Pussy-13, I can't really blame people for not wanting to see the film. I'm going to check it out because the word of mouth has been decent but frankly, it looks like every other insipid, CGI-infested PG-13 horror flick from the last five years.
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... at Mr. Beaks's atempts to try to sound smarter and more intelelctual then he really is. He reminds me of the pseudo-intellectuals i met in college. The stuff they said was unbelievable! Mr. Beaks is unbelievable as well, like those guys were.
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I just got back from a 2:45 showing, and I'm angry as hell. I bought the hype, and was truly looking forward to the "return of true horror." What I got was an extended episode of TALES FROM THE CRYPT. This would have been fine as a 45 minute segment of an anthology horror movie, but as a feature, it offers nothing new. Neil Marshall has nothing to worry about.
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Beaks everything you said is dead on.
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looks like sam raimi aping old sam raimi, when what he did seems to have been accidental...the trailers look stupid.
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Worst part for me was paying to much attention. I knew the she grabbed the damn coin as soon as she walked out of the car I yelled at the screen. "You got the standing liberty coin, you stupid bitch!" This ruined the movie for everyone else there becuase the film still had 15 minutes of scenes left, and it really bumed me out to be honest, cause I was actually enjoying most of what was happening. They should have played this suprise better. I guess in todays world where everyone has a small attention span- this shit works like a charm. Back in form? I don't know.. The sound was the best part of the film, it really worked well as a character in and of itself. The anvil scene was absurd. Who hangs an anvil up like that??? and those skates were sharp as hell. It has it's moments, but the coin gag screwed the pooch.
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like this one. Makes it a hard second watch. Mainly because it still has 15-20 minutes left to get to this end moment. The graveyard scene had no life for me cause I knew it was the goddamned coin. Hope Drag Me From Hell is Better. Sequel could be about getting her out of hell.
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"Leave Her Kitten Killing Soul in Hell." The more I think about this film, the madder I get. She's a banker, right? A detail-oriented person, right? CHECK THE GODDAMN ENVELOPE BEFORE YOU GRAB THE SHOVEL AND CAR KEYS!!! Bah.
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part of this whole experience was realizing she had the fucking coin. knowing she was damned but hoping! stupid fanboys i hate you....i wish you all were dragged to hell.
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GIANT PIG!!!
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i don't think the ending's supposed to be a surprise. you know she can't fight the inevitable. just like when she kills the kitty, the joke is how the lengths she goes to stay alive are ultimately futile.
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Lame cheap scares. The scariest thing was that I paid to see this crap. Funny? I did not hear any laughs in the theater.
Why kill a kitten? I hate seeing animals killed in a dumb movie like this. THAT is not necessary. -
So you're worried about character development based on the trailer. And to back up your theory, you invoke Eli Roth.
Did you even watch the Evil Dead series, you fucking idiot? -
Juno is one of the most overrated movies in recent years(though Little Miss Sunshine is right up it's ass).
Bateman, Cera and even Garner outshine her. But in the end, her overly-wise-hipster-quipping ANNOYING AS FUCK character just grated too much. -
There was a time when that film was better than it deserved to be and realitively unknown and rare. Rare in the fact that you couldn't find a vhs copy because it was A: out of print and B: people didn't return it after renting it. In fact chances are you probably saw part 2 first before you saw the original. I'm one of those people, and in the end I liked the original better because it was a scary movie. As it stands now the ED series is most raped/redipped DVD on the planet. when your grandmother knows who Freddy Kruger is. He's not cool anymore. When your trend becomes a national chainmarket it's not edgy or cool anymore. I'm 31, you cock sucking fuck. Knowing about the coin was never the directors plan, they played it wrong. Maybe if the boyfreind didn't remention it again at the fucking dinner scene... I still hated the bitch in the film, the anvil smash has the worst cgi fx I've seen in a this year, and that shit was retarded. Oh but it's ok becuase it's a throwback to tom and jerry. Whatever man. I liked the music and the sound design when it was used for scares, and the wow did they get away with that in pg 13 "suck face" scenes, and the parking lot/car fight, but I never once felt bad for the girl or cared about her. And when i should have felt like she might have gotten away I knew she wasn't going to 15 minutes before they would confirm it. I had to sit through two scenes of her trying to rid herself of the coin. She was going to drop it on an old man cause he was going to die... Really, oh so I guess becuase he's sick and going to die anyways it's ok, no thought or concern of him going to hell in his death.. Again the bitch is unlikable. then she tries to pin the coin on her coworker and finally the graveyard scene that disolves into a shower. Thats was a long time of knowing she was still fucked. And it was boring for me, cause i knew it was meaniningless. they didn't want you to know it was the coin. Bullshit fucker. Bullshit you fuck! I didn't care for this bitch not one bit. Even when they force feed the boyfreinds mother doesnt like her scenes, and made the gypsy woman gross. Yeah I remembver Evil Dead. I used to watch it like, oh I don't know several times a month for a few years, then when it got ass raped and became the "It" movie that everyone worships and knows. I stopped enjoying it and the man who made it. Well he has been interesting to me since Darkman. so fuck off!
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Oh yeah!!!
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Jun 18, 2009 3:19:21 PM CDT
Mrs. Ganush is the Victim. The "curse" was cast by THE DEMON!
by nodiggity
Seriously, watch the parking lot scene again. Starts with that satanic handkerchief, has "Mrs. Ganush" materialize inside a LOCKED CAR, and fight on despite staples to the face and EYE, lift heavy concrete blocks to smash the windows, begin the first sign of the demon (the sharm teeth, in the jagged smashed dentures) and when she delivers the curse, Christine falls asleep, so it suggest it might all have been a dream/illusion. And the ghostly swirling leaves that signaled her presenec in the parking lot appear just in time to guide Christine to the psychic who explains the "gypsy curse". Mrs. Ganush (the old lady at the bank) is not the same as "Mrs. Ganush", (the demon called forth by Christine's cruelty). Every critic online is taking this film so literally. Raimi was too subtle.
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