Drag Me To Hell

Everyone who remotely likes scary movies should see Sam Raimi's Drag Me To Hell. At first, I wasn't interested, after seeing the initial trailer on TV. Then suddenly people were talking about it, so I did my research. And I'm glad I did because this is one of the best scary movies to come out in a LONG time.

First off, I have to let it be known that I can't stand torture porn. These films have no art, they are just gruesome and painful, with a "clever" twist at the end. The only element of fear it conjures is the horrific images it leaves you with when you're done. If I had to name my favorite scary movies, and therefore the ones that actually scared me, here would be the list (in no particular order):

Nightmare on Elm Street (original)
Halloween (original)
Scream (the first one)
The Blair Witch Project
The Shining (Kubrick)

Scary movies are a dime a dozen any more, so I only go out of my way to see the ones that really intrigue me. The above listed films terrified me at some point in my life, but are also favorites that I revisit from time to time. In order for a film to be truly frightening it must include both psychological as well as physical fear, which is why I think that the Blair Witch Project is easily the scariest movie to come out in the last 20 years. The folks who created that film were flawless in their vision, from doing it rough documentary style to casting no-name actors to NEVER SHOWING US A GOD DAMN THING! The film is perfection for people who actually like to be scared and not grossed out.

Now, I'm not necessarily lumping Drag Me To Hell in a category with Blair Witch. I think Blair Witch stands alone as a cinematic achievement, and there is nothing else I would call its equal.

Drag Me To Hell is a "return to form" (god I hate that term) not just for Sam Raimi, but for the horror genre in general. From the minute it started I wondered if I was watching a Hitchcock. The film opens with an amazing setup, in 1969 where all you see is a family bringing their tormented child to a medium. Evidently, this child has been cursed. The seat jumping starts here.

My ass probably left my seat anywhere from 10-15 times during the course of this film. Because Raimi toyed with you, creating the long lost art of suspense! Quiet scenes would suddenly burst with noise and images so loud and violent that yes, you jump. And maybe even scream. And every time it happens it is a beautiful surprise.

All the reviews I read mentioned how it is both terrifying and hilarious, a sentiment I had a hard time reconciling until I actually watched it myself. Some scenes are so ridiculous and outlandish that you can't help but laugh (blood spraying out of her nose....talking goat...etc.) and then it's right back to making you scream out loud from fright.

In this story there is no evil murderer the heroine is running from. She's trying to avoid an ancient curse that has been placed on her for doing something...not so unrealistic. I won't really give anything away here.

The story itself is a throwback to older scary stories, along with the music and the credits (there are ACTUAL opening credits...no action, just music and names!).

And I can't forget to mention how incredibly gross some of the images are. One scene, which shall not be named, actually made me gag once. But even the grossness can't be overlooked because it is, once again, incredibly ridiculous. It's SO not just people's limbs being hacked off here, people.

I say bravo to this film. Let's watch it again!