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19.02.09 # 3:02 # Review # 30 Comments
An early Drag Me To Hell review, courtesy of trusted source ‘Tobey Maguire’.
Got into a secret pre-screening of Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell” movie and damn. SO good.
First, when they said “a work in progress” they weren’t kidding. The footage was weirdly digitized and mostly blurry. Don’t know what caused that, it looked like YouTube quality.
But it didn’t matter. Even the unfinished VFX didn’t matter. This movie was so good it had the entire audience in the palm of its gnarled, witchy hand.
If you like Evil Dead you’ll like this. Sure, it’s PG-13 (or so they claim), so it’s not gory and there’s no bad language. But still in the first ten minutes a little boy gets dragged to hell in gruesome fashion and the whole thing is very messed up.
The story is simple: a bank teller refuses a loan to an old lady who turns out to be a witch. Chaos ensues.
And I mean chaos. We’re talking gypsy curses, ghosts, and goat demons. From the first attack to the end of the movie, it seems like every ten seconds something’s getting broken or something is getting killed. It’s REALLY tense from start to finish. I went in expecting a straight comedy like the final Evil Dead flick and was REALLY surprised how scary and intense the movie was.
But the movie does have its funny moments, like the kitty murder scene and the talking goat scene and the countless times the witch vomits some weird substance all over the hot chick.
Overall, I was surprised how clever the script was and how good the acting was. In particular, Justin Long is great. I mean, he’s relaxed and funny most of the time and then comes this INTENSE part at the end that I won’t spoil, but his performance is heart wrenching.
This movie twists and turns all the time. The plot is very simple, but it does a lot of things you don’t expect or normally see in movies. It’s so refreshing to see something so original.
This is a return to form for Raimi, who really blew it with Spider-Man 3. I hope he makes more movies like this in the future.
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, David Paymer
Release Date: 29 May 2009
Grade: A-
Leave your own Drag Me To Hell review in the comments.
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I’m so glad to see the return of “horror” Raimi since I really believed we’d completely lost him to “blockbuster” Raimi.
I’m personally very glad that it’s less about the comedy and gore, more about the suspense. Raimi turning his horror style to something more serious that Evil Dead should be pretty interesting.
I must say I am truly excited about this film. I loved his work on the Evil Dead series and even his more serious films were enjoyeable. I know everyone knocks Raimi for Spiderman3 but I still found it entertaining enough for me to still hold him in high regard. The preview for this one looks creepy as hell and I am looking forward to wripping my seat to shreads – Evil Dead was full of great horror suspense and I’m sure this movie won’t disapoint.
It’s daft but I’d be really put off seeing this if it is a genuine PG13, i mean how scary can a kiddie flick be?
Hope it is a return to form directing-wise for Sam though as he really needs to rid the ghost of Spiderman past.
Well first off Sam Raimi is freaking unbelievable how do u go from Evil Dead (favorite horror suspense films of all time by the way) to Spiderman “Crazy” I show him the utmost props to him for that. Sam Raimi is a brilliant movie man. I wish I could meet him that would make my dream come true. Well hope all goes well with Sam….Peace
This movie wasn’t all that great. Mediocre at best. The ending absolutely sucked too. I would give it a C- or about a 2/5.
Amazing ending. Ballsy and unique.
This movie was incredibly predictable. Nothing new. and the acting was awful. I mean awful. It’s definately Mystery Science Theater worthy. I was soooooooo bored with this movie! I still don’t understand what the critics who loved it were watching. Wasn’t this movie!
Omg!!! what a movie…will scared the hell outta me…..Gr8 1 to watch…must see
This movie was absolutely horrid…that word is about as close to “horror” as it will get. Too many lame jokes…not even scary. The ending that someone said was “ballsy” was very predictable. Even the goat was more humorous than scary…in fact the audience was more full of laughter than jumps & screams. To Sunnysideup, this is not even close to MST worthy, they have at least some taste lol. Sam Raimi…what happened? You did WONDERFUL with Evil Dead…did you go soft on us?! For a true horror buff, this movie will bore you with it’s predictable plot and make you cringe with the sad attempt at humor. To give this move even a 1/5 is being gracious.
first of all, the old “universal” logo at the beginning lets you know what you’re in for… not some innovative state-of-the-art era/genre-defining horror flick but a campy throwback to classic horror. CLASSIC horror.
raimi doesn’t try to drag you around with ineffective twists and turns and characters going to the library to do research and crap like that. there’s nothing more to the plot than what you already know: cute girl screws over an old gypsy woman in order to get a job promotion. gypsy woman places a horrifying curse upon cute girl. ridiculous crap happens. she either goes to hell at the end or she doesn’t.
if you don’t like this movie i probably don’t like you.
i loved the movie.. brings back some memories of the old ones that gave you good laugh and giggle cus of how corny it was.. but at the same time kept some of the new suspense in it. i mean cmon all that for a button? pretty funny guys. 4/5
Can’t wait to see this film looks well scary man!
Predictable ending. Yeah, you’re right. Most Hollywood movies end with their main character getting torn apart by demons. You’re right. Good job.
it wasn’t scary at all. it was actually pretty stupid. i’d give it a C-