Drag me to Hell: A Funhouse Rollercoaster

      There's so much to say about Drag me to Hell. It's quirky, deceptive, with scenes that'll knock you off your theater seating, as impossible as that may be. At the same time, though, the film can be humorous, with grotesque little scenes that give you an odd giddy feeling, uncharacteristic of most horror films on the market. Really what I'd call a "funhouse rollercoaster," with elements that border on silly, nigh preposterous, yet, the film still manages to give you that potent adrenaline that seems to burst out at you when you'd never expect. Definitely fits the bill, when you think of Sam Raimi.

     I suppose with perfect packaging, though, every present has a few knicks and dents on the inside. Let's face it, any horror flick can get you with a few sudden changes in the musical score, or a monster or two that jump out of the closet, which seems to be the basis of Drag me to Hell's "horror" scheme. After your heart's stopped trying to beat itself into submission, there are no real memorable scenes which follow you into that dark hallway with the conspicously dim light, you know, the one everyone's household seems to garner. To top it off, actors with less than memorable performances are randomly tossed at us, save for a few scenes, which won't be mentioned as not to spoil the film for all you softies. Overall, the movie seems to draw too much from it's Evil Dead predecessor. While gong back to the basics can often give a film a refreshing feel, Drag me to Hell just isn't. I can commend Raimi's integration of humor into the horror experience, but as it counts for much of the film's luster, underneath the shimmer lurks a dull, modern-esque tarnish.   8/10