Over the lat five years, a noticeable change has developed within the world of scary movies. Gone are the days of Freddy and Jason, replaced by spirits and haunting images that interfere with the minds and actions of our heroines. The once expected hard-R ratings have been replaced by the softer, more receptive PG-13 classification. And while the change has resulted in a boost in terms of box-office revenue, those who live and breathe for the genre are quietly seeing their obsession loose strength. Yet, every so often, a film fits the exception, shocking audiences with its unique and stylistic approach to cinema. Such the case is Drag Me to Hell, the long anticipated return to horror for veteran director Sam Raimi.
Set amongst the unexpected weather of the Northeast, Drag Me to Hell tells the tail of a loan officer, ordered to evict an old woman from her house, who finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Not knowing what to do, she turns to a seer, hoping that he can find the cure before the evil forces win the war and steal her body for their own.
Directed by legendary horror filmmaker Sam Raimi, most known for his stake in Evil Dead and Spiderman, industry and genre experts have been awaiting this film for quite some time. The result: Raimi and company deliver high marks for their mix of unique sequences and clever homage to the genre's most basic components. However, the immature dialogue and lackluster acting prevent the film from becoming the electrifying experience that I longed for.
As the film starts out, and we are given a quick run through of the curse and its end effect on those who inhabit it, one can quickly see that this film is different from the rest. I can't fully place just where this film excels compared to similar attempts by other unsuccessful directors, but Raimi has an eye for intelligent scares, and he uses it in full force. The colors, hard and drab, set the stage for a dark and murky story, one that will show no mercy on those who comprise it.
Serving as our lead protagonist is Catherine Brown, played by up and comer Alison Lohman. Though cute and a dead-on representation of the everyday girl, Lohman misses the mark on almost every other account. Her movements, jerky from the onset, prevent Catherine from ever being more than a character. She isn't relatable, and her hesitant delivery in terms of her lines handicaps the film from becoming what is should be.
On the other side of things, Justin Long gives a worthy performance as Catherine's boyfriend Clay. Sadly, like most of the other supporting characters, Long is hardly used within the scope of either the story or film, prompting me to wonder just why Raimi chose to cast such a recognizable face in such a miniscule role.
Still, I can't harp on the acting or the dialogue too much as the film easily accommodates for both blunders, coming alive with its story and direction. To the unknowing eye, the film will probably appear to be nothing special. In fact, to many, it might even look a bit generic. But to those who love the genre and long for a return to the look and feel of yesterday, Drag Me to Hell is a fun, exciting and intense film; a true gem hidden amongst a sea of expert forgery.
