When the great Sam Raimi announced that, to cleanse his palate after making three superhero films in a row (his “Spider-Man” trilogy with Tobey Maguire), he was planning to make his first horror film since 1993’s “Army of Darkness,” genre fans rejoiced… until they learned that the film would be rated PG-13. After all, Raimi had won carte blanche with his three successful films. Why not let it rip with a dirty, fluffy “spook-a-blast”?
If you asked me to name the 10 most intense PG-13 films of all time, Sam Raimi’s “Drag Me to Hell” would absolutely be on the list. It’s the relentlessly terrifying story of an ambitious bank loan officer (Alison Lohman) who is cursed by an old Romani woman (Lorna Raver) when she repossesses the financially troubled woman’s house. Lohman’s heartlessness, egged on by her boss (David Paymer), leads to her being cursed; Suddenly, she struggles to learn everything about Romani superstition and customs before being sent to the wrong place.
Since it’s horror season, you’re probably looking for great horror movies; However, if you’re not a fan looking for a new-to-you horror film, you might find the myriad of choices overwhelming. If you agree to stream movies for free with ad breaks, Tubi offers you some classics that you might have missed. One of those films could very well be “Drag Me to Hell.” But why, besides knowing that this is a horror film directed by Raimi (who never, ever fails in this genre), should you give this film a try?
Raimi brings the laughs and screams in Drag Me to Hell
Again, I can’t overstate how viciously Raimi goes for the jugular in “Drag Me to Hell.” It gets away with a surprising amount of gore (although you’ll find more on the unrated 4K edition of Shout! Factory), and will have you screaming and screaming in equal measure. The Raimi who gave us gonzo classics like the “Evil Dead,” “Darkman” and “The Quick and the Dead” films is in rare form. It’s a masterclass in pacing (thanks to editor Bob Murawski), and Raimi (who wrote the screenplay with his brother Ivan) spins the narrative plates with casual ease. And judging by his trailer, it looks like he hasn’t lost an ounce of speed with his latest horror film, “Send Help” (which reunites him with his “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” star Rachel McAdams).
If there’s one disappointing aspect of “Drag Me to Hell,” it’s that it features the last great performance from Lohman (who has since more or less retired from professional acting). It’s a toss-up between Ridley Scott’s “Matchstick Men” and this one representing his best work. It would be wonderful to get Lohman back in front of the camera, but you certainly can’t argue with someone who wants to focus on raising their children. I bet none of them will become a bank loan officer.
