DRAG ME TO HELL - Sam Raimi is Back

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AndyDursin · #1 Post by **AndyDursin** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:29 pm

Sam Raimi is back to his EVIL DEAD 2/ARMY OF DARKNESS days apparently with DRAG ME TO HELL, which opens on the 29th and is getting one rave review after another.

I'm really looking forward to this one...Raimi going back to his roots with a "playful" piece of horror-fantasy (with ample humor it seems) could be terrific.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/drag_me_to_hell/

Monterey Jack · #2 Post by **Monterey Jack** » Tue May 19, 2009 4:38 pm

Bah, PG-13 Raimi horror?

Still, Alison Lohman...

AndyDursin · #3 Post by **AndyDursin** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:00 pm

Monterey Jack wrote:Bah, PG-13 Raimi horror?

ARMY OF DARKNESS was basically a PG-13 movie -- if that movie was released today it would certainly draw that rating, given how much you can get away with in a PG-13 nowadays.

For me, anything that's not torture-porn R-rated crap like SAW is a good thing. If it's as good as it's being reviewed, we could use more DRAG ME TO HELL's these days in the genre, PG-13 or not. Restraint is a virtue more of today's filmmakers should use.

Monterey Jack · #4 Post by **Monterey Jack** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:20 pm

I'm certainly not a fan of that "torture porn" crap, but still, we won't be getting any popped eyeballs that fly into people's mouths in this one.

Monterey Jack · #5 Post by **Monterey Jack** » Fri May 29, 2009 11:39 pm

Monterey Jack wrote:...but still, we won't be getting any popped eyeballs that fly into people's mouths in this one.

Um, looks like I was wrong about that one...

This was great fun, with solid performances, Raimi's kinetic camerawork, and an excellent Christopher Young score (he's also credited as "pedestrian with cupcake" in the cast list

). I dunno why they're throwing away such a terrific horror movie in May, as this would make perfect Halloween-time fodder.

Recommended!

AndyDursin · #6 Post by **AndyDursin** » Sat May 30, 2009 12:33 am

I think they're trying it now because there's a market...and I see Nikki is predicting only an $18 million weekend, but I have a feeling it's going to top that. My theater was jammed for the 7 show and even ours at 10 was mobbed (thankfully not with too many teenagers -- they were there, en mass, in the earlier show!).

I knew this movie was going to be good when Raimi opened up with the '70s Universal logo

It's really a case of style over substance. His direction in this film was old-fashioned in a good sense -- little CGI, lots of camera work and editing that was a definite throw back to the kinds of movies we watched growing up MJ. I also loved Young's score -- isn't it good to hear REAL film music once in a while? And Alison Lohman...yes, easy on the eyes.

The story was probably the weakest element. And the end...I have to express some disappointment over how predictable it was. The specific plot point that gets the "big reveal" was so glaringly obvious I was let down that the film ended that way. I expected a bit more...but outside of that, and how repetitive the story structure was, I was quite entertained by it. It's basically an old-time horror morality play, and they set you up for Lohman's eventual fate pretty well as the film progresses so that it was no great shock.

No classic, but a good fun time. Would make for a terrific Halloween rental, which I'm sure it will come October.

JSWalsh · #7 Post by **JSWalsh** » Sat May 30, 2009 12:43 am

I haven't been paying attention to the publicity on this much, but what's interesting is that there seems to be a lot of UNFORCED enthusiasm for this. I've read so many tortured "No, no, it was good, a very entertaining popcorn flick" responses to movies lately, and this has the vibe of people REALLY liking it.

Monterey Jack · #8 Post by **Monterey Jack** » Sat May 30, 2009 12:57 am

AndyDursin wrote:I knew this movie was going to be good when Raimi opened up with the '70s Universal logo

Actually, it was the 80's Universal logo. And yes, I grinned when I saw that.

I also loved Young's score -- isn't it good to hear REAL film music once in a while?

I've actually heard some grumbling at the FSM board along the lines of "What, another Christopher Young horror score"? What, you'd prefer Trevor Rabin or Geoff Zanelli?

Young at least gives us a theme every time out and adds a dash of melody to even his most bombastic horror/suspense scores. DMTH is probably the best score I've heard all year (and mixed right on top, for once).

And Alison Lohman...yes, easy on the eyes.

Mmmmm....

No classic, but a good fun time. Would make for a terrific Halloween rental, which I'm sure it will come October.

I can't wait to test out the film's soundtrack on my home theater surround speakers. The sound design in the film is ridiculously good.

Still, no Bruce Campbell cameo or "Fake Shemps" is kinda disappointing.

AndyDursin · #9 Post by **AndyDursin** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:11 am

Actually, it was the 80's Universal logo.

It was definitely the same logo that was used in the '70s too. Back then they sometimes even had "A Universal Picture" listed instead of "Universal an MCA Company."

I mean, here's the SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT intro -- that was from the '70s...

JSWalsh · #10 Post by **JSWalsh** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:17 am

Is the score on CD? I have almost all of Young's scores, and even though he's written so many horror scores and some of them start to sound the same, he's an always-buy with me. I always find something worthwhile on his CDs.

I have to transfer the rest of my Young vinyl. I did HAUNTED SUMMER yesterday, and it has a POP in a bad place!

JSWalsh · #11 Post by **JSWalsh** » Sat May 30, 2009 2:01 am

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big ... sexy-.html

Kinda interesting look at how the movie is being marketed.

AndyDursin · #12 Post by **AndyDursin** » Sat May 30, 2009 2:26 am

This score has a heavy use of violin to express the gypsy curse, and it's really nicely done, giving the score a lot more of a haunting, melancholy sound instead of just being a sheer bombastic "horror" outing.

I'm actually one of those listeners who has always respected Young but out of hundreds of albums I own, I have very few by him. I confess I've rarely been moved to listen to his music outside of the films I hear his scores in, but I almost always appreciate his work.

This score I do plan on picking up if there's an album, which I assume there has to be somewhere.

JSWalsh · #13 Post by **JSWalsh** » Sat May 30, 2009 2:50 am

The thing about Young, to me, is that working in so many horror movies has really helped his non-horror stuff be less sappy than it would be. His BRIGHT ANGEL score is a real low-key gem I never tire of listening to--I bet it's one of my most-played CDs.

Some of his CDs I don't listen to at all--they're just trembling strings and repetitive drum things. But almost every one has good stuff on it. Two tracks on THE FLY 2, for example, are exquisitely beautiful.

Monterey Jack · #14 Post by **Monterey Jack** » Sat May 30, 2009 8:25 am

Supposedly the soundtrack album won't be out until July.

Still, at least it's getting a soundtrack album, unlike Up.