DRAG ME TO HELL a second time screams Simon!

By Simon Gallagher / June 24, 2011

DVD and Blu-Ray release of Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell, and a significant event in the history of horror DVD releases in general. Timed almost poetically to coincide with the cinematic release of the sublimely enjoyable Zombieland, Raimi's movie is a triumph for the other type of horror movie. From neither of the twin favourites of slasher rehashes or complex Korean psycho-horrors (fellow writer Mike Edwards claimed 3D Horrors were one of the kingpins in his original review, but I cant see past R-slashes myself), Drag Me to Hell is a good-old fashioned monster flick, resplendent with shocks and gore, and joyfully chocked full of Raimi's signature humour. If Spider-Man was Raimi€™s Hollywood opus- the moment the fan-boy got big boots, Drag Me To Hell is the moment he returned to his true calling. Everything about this film screams Raimi, from the writing to the design of Mrs Ganush and the other various demonic presences. It€™s one for the fans who might have been turned off as the Spider-Man films progressed, believing their God to be moving too far into irredeemably consumer-friendly territory. The best thing that can be said in that case is that Drag Me To Hell is what The Evil Dead Trilogy would have been (minus Bruce Campbell of course) had they been made after Spider-Man, and that being the case, I now fully welcome the potential fourth edition to the series, since Raimi wont necessarily have to move so far away from the fondly-held low production quality of the originals. So, Drag Me To Hell is the film Raimi should have been making for the past ten years at least. As much as I admire his take on the Spider-Man franchise, Raimi will forever be The Evil Dead creator, the guy who unashamedly beholds Bruce Campbell to be his muse and most importantly of all the man who gave us some of the best/worst movie gore in living memory. I live for the latex and fake blood of those films, and part of me trembled at the thought of it going Hollywood- but thankfully Raimi has kept true to his roots, retaining the authentic Evil Dead feel despite the additional production values that his status now pulls in. There are several full-on laugh-out-loud moments, usually surrounding Mrs Ganush€™s attacks on Alison Lohman€™s heroine, so you€™re never really sure whether you should be scared or falling about. Alison Lohman and Justin Long (as her boyfriend and oddly youthful college professor) are both excellent as the film's central couple, especially Lohman as bank worker Christine, whose performance gives the character a greater depth and richness than is usually associated with the genre. Such is the success that we are far more able to empathise with her, and her various fates are far more affecting. One of the best elements of this delightful good little yarn is the sheer madcap brilliance of it all. The plot just screams Raimi- an old Gypsy woman curses a bank loan officer for refusing her an extension on a loan, sending the ancient evil of the Lamia after her to drag her to hell, and the twists and turns are wonderful to behold. This being a Raimi picture it was bound to be a fairly ludicrous affair, but there are some particular highlights in Drag Me To Hell: from the haunted handkerchief, through the gummy attempted bite (truly vile) to the soon to be legendary demonic possessed goat. Sheer silly perfection, but crucially still not really one for the nervous. Unlike far too many modern "horrors" it doesnt really throw in unnecessary jumps to fill a thrill quota. It€™s a rare achievement indeed for a movie to be so comical and brash in some of its horror sequences yet still retain a thoroughly convincing creepiness throughout. The suspense might kill you, but the pay-offs will slay you. Extras wise it's not that great a package; while there is enough in the Production Diaries and its various mini-docs to satisfy the appetites of some Extra Features-hunters, the lack of a Sam Raimi commentary is a disappointing oversight as far as I'm concerned, and would be a deal-breaker were in not for the ridiculous brilliance of the movie itself. As an even more interesting addition, I'd love to hear Bruce Campbell's take on it- now that would be entertaining! Drag Me To Hell is available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray from Monday 26th October.