Seen on: May 29, 2009

The players: Director: Sam Raimi, Writers: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, Cast: Alison Lohman, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, Justin Long

Facts of interest: Raimi also directed the "Spider-Man" flicks.

The plot: A mysterious woman curses a young loan officer after she refuses to grant her another extension on her home loan.

Our thoughts: “Drag Me to Hell” is a wild big-screen experience. It’s both entertaining and intense, and it proves Sam Raimi still has what it takes to offer his fans just the kind of crazy horror flick they are looking for. Indeed, “Hell” delivers both solid terror and great laughs; a beautiful combination you don’t get to see that often anymore these days.

Written by Raimi and his brother Ivan, “Hell” introduces us to Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), an ambitious loan officer who is cursed by a mysterious old lady after she refuses to grant her an extension on her home loan. Tormented by an evil spirit that yearns for her soul, Christine tries everything in her power to get rid of her nasty burden…

And so the intriguing story of “Drag Me to Hell” kicks off, with Christine trying to find peace while her curse literally makes her life a living hell. As sadistic as it may sound, watching Christine experience this wave of terror is tons of fun, and thanks to Raimi’s expertise in the genre, “Hell” works incredibly well on many levels.

The script may be one of the film’s weaker points, but the fast-paced plot and all of Raimi’s horror elements eventually make “Hell” a memorable big-screen ride. Filled with effective shock effects and a few well-coordinated action sequences, the movie successfully manages to keep audiences engaged from start to finish.

Another important aspect that sets this one apart from other is the film’s splendid humor, which occasionally adds a hilarious touch to some of the more suspenseful scenes. Luckily, the cast possesses the required comedic timing to make these moments work, and the result is quite amusing.

Remember “Hell” is rated PG-13, which means you won’t get to see tons of blood around. Still, Raimi really pushed the limits, and some of the scenes in the flick are rather, well… nasty. His direction, as usual, delivers the goods as well, and editing as well as cinematography work just as fine.

Lohman has done some solid stuff during the past years (“Matchstick Men,” “Delirious”), and I admit I really enjoyed her performance as Christine; she clearly steals the show in every scene she’s in. Justin Long, Lorna Raver and Dileep Rao co-star, but none of them really stand out.

Freaky quote: "Soon it will be you who comes begging to me." – Lorna Raver

The final word: "Drag Me to Hell” is a horror flick that doesn’t take itself seriously, and that sure plays a big role in the film’s success. It’s a fun horror show directed by the man who gave us one of the greatest films in this genre. Yep, Raimi’s still got it, and it’s darn awesome to watch him do what he does best.

Article by Franck Tabouring