It seems that everywhere a horror fan such as myself looks, there’s a new story about Sam Raimi’s return to horror, Drag Me To Hell.  Not just critics, but horror fans alike are touting its greatness.  It’s been called one of the best horror films of ALL TIME, already!

I finally got a chance to see the movie this weekend.  Is it the amazing horror film that fans have been waiting years for?  Check out my full review by clicking the graphic below!

In Drag Me to Hell, Christine (Alison Lohman), a loan officer, is trying to get an important promotion at her bank.  She’s put in a pretty tight spot when her boss tells her that a boss needs to be able to make “tough decisions.”  Not long after, an elderly gypsy woman comes in, needing an extension on her loan.  To impress her boss and get the promotion, Christine refuses the extension, and the gypsy woman curses her – in three days, she’ll be, quite literally, dragged to hell.

I wouldn’t say I hated Drag Me To Hell, but I think it’s way overrated.  Everyone is saying this is one of the best horror films they’ve ever seen, and certainly one of the best they’ve seen in years.  I just…don’t see it.  In fact, I’d say that Drag Me To Hell is downright stupid.

Sure, it’s been said in many interviews that Raimi’s intention was to make a “stupid horror film.”  And I’d say, in response, mission accomplished.  Still, there’s a difference between a supid horror film and a bad horror film.  Drag Me To Hell is a bad horror film.  The bits of humor were not really funny – scenes of animal possession and Three Stooges-style slapstick fights between Christine and the gypsy woman are really kind of hard to take seriously, or even enjoy due to the oddball nature of the scenes, and a ton of bad CGI.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything with Alison Lohman in it before, but I just couldn’t get into her character.  Justin Long did admirable as the boyfriend who just happens to never see any of the crazy sh*t that happens…but you don’t hire Justin Long to be that kind of guy.  Felt like his talent was wasted.  The supporting cast did a pretty good job – Lorna Raver as Mrs. Ganush, the gypsy woman, was definitely creepy.  David Paymer as the Mr. Jacks, the bank manager, was…well, David Paymer (that’s a good thing).  Even Dileep Rao as the psychic who tries to help Christine puts in a decent job.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Raimi film without inventive camera work.  I have very little to say about the cinematography and direction on this one.  Some great stuff, visually.  I just wish the CGI was there to support it.  The special effects are downright bad.  Special kudos to the music though – Christopher Young (Hellraiser) did a bang up job on setting a creepy tone that I wish the film lived up to.

All in all, all Drag Me To Hell showed me is that Sam Raimi still has some of that old horror talent that made him so popular to begin with, but it may be fleeting.  This is the guy who made Evil Dead for $300k.  There is such a thing as having too much money.

Paul’s Awesomeness Score – 5 out of 10!