While I would definitely place Drag Me To Hell high above the Not Happening, it’s not a good sign that Hell’s tone-deafness conjures up memories of that piece of crap.

I agree with this review– what has characterized Raimi’s style for me, especially in the above-mentioned movies, has always been his pitch-perfect sense of tone and seamless pacing. I felt both were off-kilter in Hell. I was bored during several stretches of dead air in this movie– the ultimately pointless pawnshop scene immediately springs to mind. Likewise a lot of the humor was too sad and dark to be funny (killing the kitten) while a lot of the horror was too silly to be scary.

In all fairness to the movie, my expectations probably colored my reaction to it. I don’t have a television so I hadn’t seen any of the trailers for it. None of my friends or co-workers had seen it, so no word of mouth, and I’m not one to read reviews before I see a movie. What I did see was the amazing poster for the film. The title, Drag Me To Hell (possibly the gnarliest movie title since I Spit On Your Grave) told me that this was not a film to be missed.

But both title and poster art also conjured up images in my mind of other very graphic, over-the-top seventies classics like the Exorcist, the Last House on the Left or anything by Dario Argento from that decade. I was expecting something gritty with a retro vibe that took itself mostly seriously. This is exactly the opposite of what Hell delivers.

As for the inside jokes and artful sloppiness (I’m assuming the telegraphed ending is part of this aesthetic), am I alone in dismissing this as just soooo 2000? The way Hell was done, all this just comes off like an ironic T-shirt. You know? Because it’s like, SUPPOSED to be dumb . . . get it?

Thanks for the review and the easy-access comment section.

Cheers,
Bambi

This was honestly the first time, in a good long time, that I was glad I shelled thirteen bucks on a film. I hate how some critics are rating this movie based on the triumphs of Evil Dead 2, this is not part of that franchise, Bruce Campbell doesnt have to be in every Sam Raimi film. Wading through all the crap overbudget horror films recently (many of which are crappy remakes and you can take your pick), this movie is a blessing. Raimi maintained little remourse for his characters (little kid goes to hell in the first scene, kitten gets gutted, and the main character does one mean act and gets tormented and an eternity of suffering for it) all for the enjoyment of the viewer. Someone else has mentioned freddy vs jason (a smelly turd that i enjoyed) which is a good film to compare, you go into it looking forward to seeing innocent folks getting slaughtered. From the word go I was laughing through this film (as well as jumping a couple times), and for Raimi oficianados the car scene, room ‘throw around’ and seance were reminicent enough. I took so much joy in Raimi dropping an anvil on a ghosts head and her eyes popping out in this big movie release, and things like the running gag of the gypsie pulling out the main characters. The end wasn’t great. I hate Justin Long’s acting/roles in general, and was not expecting anything from this movie, but was more than happy with the result. I can’t acknowledge it as a great movie but loved it for what it was, fun. Oh, and it’s more than conveniant to praise Benny’s review and say you are open to criticisms when his opinions coincide with yours. I didn’t want your kitten, bitch.

But I wanted to add one more thing. As to the ending, don’t we all love the few gems of horror movies where the pure innocent little “survival girl” (see: “Behind The Mask” BRILLIANT!) gets horrifically and slowly killed?

I mean don’t we all cheer when the make fun flicks like Freddy Vs. Jason, not because we want to be scared, but because we keep asking ourselves “That kill was so much fun! Now how can the next one outdo it?”

I hate to keep referencing other Horror movies I like, but the ending of “Hatchet” was able to be seen from thirty-three miles away, I think everyone in the room I was in called it, but that didn’t make us love it less. Sometimes you gotta put down the microscope and JUST HAVE FUN at a movie. Who needs complex characters and situations? Not every movie is trying to win Oscars, not every movie is “Shawshank Redemption.” So as I said, put down the notepad and the little pencil and have fun at the movies again.

As long as they are scathing comments that you delete right Christian?