"'It's just a puzzle box!'- Kirsty Cotton, Hellraiser"
Drag Me To Heck
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 16:03
The closest movie theater to my home is 200 miles away and located in another country, so it's difficult to keep tabs on new horror flicks. That's why I was excited by the speedy DVD release of Drag Me To Hell, co-written and directed by Sam the Man, creator of the beloved Evil Dead trilogy.
The movie was okay. Well written, aside from a few heavy handed plot devices (the envelope, for instance). I enjoyed the complicated emotional makeup of the leading lady, especially when she's trying to decide who gets the cursed button in the diner. I got a kick out of how the characters resembled Evil Dead demons once they became possessed, including the CG sacrificial goat. My favorite part of the film was the one moment where it really did feel like the Evil Dead - the leading lady says, "I'm-a get some!" on her trip to the cemetary. That line by itself was worth the rental price.
The main problem with this movie is not that it tends to drag, but that it drags during the bloody sequences. The scenes that were designed to move fast simply do not. This happens because the director fell back on his Spiderman success and decided to use computer graphics to create at least half of his monster effects.
Besides being lazy behavior for a multi-millionaire who could easily afford the real thing, CG effects take us out of the movie and remind us that what we're watching is not real. Horror movies, probably more than any other genre, require suspension of disbelief. They have to be so good that, for a instant, we believe the vampire/werewolf/ghost is going to hurt the characters. That's already difficult enough with solid, real life effects, and when you introduce CG the game is lost before it begins.
That said, I did my laundry last night and the October wind was blowing around the apartment, and I'll admit that I didn't waste any time getting back and forth - the movie creeped me out a bit. It's definately the best horror movie I've seen in awhile, but that's not saying too much. I called it Heck instead of Hell because it seemed watered down, but Sam's watered down is still worth watching.
by one thousand wolves
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 19:10
#2
Like you said Sam Raimi's watered down horror film was still better than some out there.
I really liked Drag Me to Hell too. We saw it in the theater and it was a really good time. The audience had fun and was scared. DMTH reminded me of old cheesy fun 80s horror films didn't need to rely on tons of gore and violence to make it scary and didn't take itself too seriously, like the original Evil Deads or Fright Night. At the same time, the story was a bit rushed and weak. I wished for more out of some scenes. The seance with the goat in particular was disappointing. I kept thinking there was 50 other things they could have added or done differently to make that scene cooler or scarier. I just felt like they didn't give it their all here when they had opportunity. The CG didn't bother me all that much this time. There some eye roll moments but since it was supposed to be a fun film, I ignored it. When serious horror movies misuse CG, which is like more half these days, then I get annoyed.
I also liked the characters and the performances were pretty dead on. I'm completely open to seeing more of these characters and since they left it open for a sequel, I'm really hoping they make one. I would love to see Justin Long jump into Hell and start kicking some demon ass to save his true love. If Jesse Eisenberg can do it, so can Justin Long! 
Thu, 10/15/2009 - 21:14
#3
Fri, 10/16/2009 - 00:08
#4
Mon, 01/25/2010 - 14:37
#5
I enjoyed it too. I love horror movies but I want a good storyline not just blood and guts. This was one of the best Demon movies I've seen in awhile. So many are just demons ripping people apart with no real substance to the movie. All flash but no originality or allure that makes a movie a classic. For example: Tales from the Crypt- Demon Night. Great
movie with a good storyline and charisma to make it unforgetable.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 01:21
#6
I don't understand the disdain for horror not rated R or above. Some of the most terrifying stuff ever done has been PG or for television.
And DRAG ME TO HELL was anything but watered down. If it had gore it would come off as frivolous. The story didn't need it.
People need to stop worrying about what a film is rated. Talk about putting the cart before the horse.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 12:18
#7
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 13:12
#8
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 13:16
#9
I'm in agreement with the two DC guys. PG-13 is not the kiss of death for horror films, it just means the focus won't be on gore, and some of the best horror doesn't rely on buckets of the red stuff.
Drag Me to Hell is pitch perfect Raimi. Come on, the man hasn't made an out and out horror film since the original Evil Dead. Part Two was a big, loud cartoon and Army of Darkness is a kinetic Harryhausen tribute.
DMTH just over the top splatstick. And, let's be honest, the PG-13 rating is easier to achieve now, unlike in the Army of Darkness days. Something tells me Evil Dead 2 would get an rated R today, and people will probably be bitching about it being rated.
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 14:48
#10
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:05
#11
I wish you'd been at the advance screening here in Seattle with me Heidi. I went with a bunch of organizers for Crypticon Seattle, and they were all flummoxed and surprised that it had been humorous.
These are horror "experts"?
NEWS FLASH! Raimi makes comedies people!
Man oh man did the argumentative horror nerd in me want to come out and "play" after the screening. But I get tired of being right all the time...
Whoa. Where do you live?