Drag Me to Hell *** (2009, Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer, Chelcie Ross, Molly Cheek, Adriana Barraza) – Classic Movie Review 3352

Despite lots of sick laughs and soppy scares, and a likeable air of daft creepiness, this is still no more than a thin and silly horror flick. But, still, it’s entertaining. Its main saving grace is that it’s extremely proficiently made by director Sam Raimi, commendably getting back to his chiller roots after spending nearly a decade working with the Spider-Man movies (2002, 2004, 2007).

Alison Lohman (aged only 20) goes through hell and high water as an ambitious LA bank loan officer called Christine Brown, who prefers the idea of a promotion to helping out the mysterious old Mrs Ganush (Lorna Raver – and, boy, she’s a raver in this movie!) with an extension on her home loan. Can Indian seer Rham Jas (Dileep Rao) save her soul?

Written by Sam Raimi and his older brother Ivan, this lame excuse for a plot leads to the old witch putting curse on Lohman, making her life a living hell.

Raimi does this with far, far too much expertise, scattering over it imaginative film-making, costly sets designed by Steve Saklad, snazzy photography by Peter Deming and a catchy score by Christopher Young. And there’s s good, up-for-it cast. Lohman and Raver are excellent, and Dileep Rao, David Paymer, Chelcie Ross, Molly Cheek, Adriana Barraza are good, though co-star Justin Long is wasted in a girly role as Lohman’s boyfriend, Clay Dalton.

There is room for jokey horror, but for those who like it strongly done with a bit of guts, this is a case of accomplished film-making, great production, shame about the flimsy script, an old, resurrected one written by Raimi in the early Nineties with his brother.

It was a PG-13 in the US, which normally gets a 12 in the UK (though in fact it got a 15). It is that tame.

Raimi has a director cameo as Ghost at Seance.

Two versions: Unrated Director’s Cut and Theatrical, both out together on the double DVD. The Unrated Director’s Cut adds four notable extended shots and sequences, all very gory.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3352

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/