Was Sam Raimi’s latest horror movie heaven or hell? Could it be any hotter than an Arizona heat wave? Watch the video and find out!
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Was Sam Raimi’s latest horror movie heaven or hell? Could it be any hotter than an Arizona heat wave? Watch the video and find out!
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I’m sorry, but the premise is just too damn stupid. Gypsies have phenomenal magical powers but remain poor and can’t use their magic to get a house loan? Also, hasn’t the evil magical Gypsy woman who curses someone been beaten to death before? Plus, it is very racist.
I and my friend Amanda are the type of twisted personality that loves SAW. She owns SAW 1, 2 and 3 and we saw 3 in the movie theatre together. (There was actually a woman that brought her six year old kid to it. -.o) But I love horror movies even if they’re horribly cheesy. (Nightmare on Elmstreet anyone?)
I normally don’t like horror genres because then I end up thinking about things and going on and on and on about improbabilities and..just things-…but I think I’ll go see it.
Now:Up. Up was good. And the language of film is used wonderfully there. In the beginning (and other parts throughout the movie), nothing is said, but the story is told through the picture and music. =D
I completely disagree. Drag Me to Hell is not horror. It is an old lady screaming at any second. It is a contrived, oft visited, and hole riddled plot. It is not funny. It is not pleasant to watch. It is poorly acted as well. That said, the ending was the ONLY bright spot. My video review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMnQZoNs-sI
I want to warn you not to get your hopes too high for the movie Up. Now my opinion might be a little skewed due to my somewhat of a hate from disney focus going from 2d to 3d, but I found the story very dull and lacking, it just seemed like the best part of the movie was a montage at the begining then the rest didn’t immerse me much. Unlike some of the other pixar movies, this seemed to be soley directed towards kids, with some cheap joke, chipmunk voice equals funny, and some jokes that are over used in the film, like the dog’s oppession with squirrels. Also, for a movie called Up, they are only in the air about twenty minutes. The visuals, to me, also seemed quite lacking from what I’d expect from a pixar film, with few fast moving full of fabulous crap sequences. Though on the plus side, the main villan does look like ted turner.
Just watched it. You nailed it, Sir. Absolutely thrilling. Seems that these comments are turning into a sound-board for so-called Raimi admirers who think his career stopped at “Army” and people buying into the “Up” hype. If you miss this movie because Disney gets more of your money or because you’re stuck in an Evil Dead-funk then woe be it on you Sir (or Madam). And if you hated it because you thought it was too pretentious, just look at every Pixar movie made since Finding Nemo.
And the volume was cranked nice and loud too. Seems that every theatre near me caters to the tinnitus-affected.
Huge Evil Dead fan, I really enjoyed this movie, just got back from seeing it 10 minutes ago. I feel it was missing something though, it had no “Bruce Campbell” an amazing character driving the movie, OK during the grave scene Alison Lohman did kick a lot of ass but she is just not to that caliber.
WHAT ? Sam Raimi ? The shithead that directed Spider-Man movies ? You are praising HIM ??? WHY ???
You DO you he’s gonna make Spider-Man 4, right ?
Saw isn’t much of a Horror flick to me anymore. I mean you just get grossed out, not scared. I thought Fear is the primary emotion you should be feeling during a so called Horror flick. And unless you’re scared of blood and gore, it’s not gonna make you squirm at all. For me Saw isn’t about just watching people die either. I know a lot of twisted people like to see that but I’m actually more interested in other things. Like the variety traps for instance. Also there’s always a huge twist at the climax that always gets me! I think that thrill however peaks at Saw 3.
Saw 4’s climax just confused me. I had to have someone explain it to me because different scenes just mixed in together. I haven’t seen Saw 5 yet. I might just play the video game I hear that’s coming out. Like the series or not, it’s gotta be pretty cool how you have to figure out how to get out of one of those death traps on your own.
Ahh Spoony… I hadent even heard of this movie till I saw your review. It was impresive that you glowed with such praise that I had to go see it. Im a big Raimi myslef. Now I totaly agree with you on nearly every aspect on this film, almost. The movie was so loud, and the “boo” sceens were so random, that this movie did scare the crap out of me. But at the same time, I laughed at all the great humor as well. The kind of movie that doesnt exist anymore, fun to be scared.
Now I too would have left the thearter with a biiiig smile on my face, if it wasnt for one thing. The last 45 seconds of the film. I will try not to spoil it for anyone, but did Raimi really think the audiance would not figure that out the instant the second envelope came into the picture? (for me, I watched the preview, and I had it figured out at the first envelope) I was sitting in the thearter, just hopeing he would not use one of the oldest clishes in the book.
A better ending would be: The boyfriend at the end, takes out the envelope and say “Oh yea, because of the coin you gave me, I finished my coin collection.” And the movie would end, suprising the audiance that it didnt end the way we all expected. The ending totaly ruined the entire movie for me. If not for the last 40 seconds, I would have called this a great movie. But now Im going to have to call it just an ok movie. Its sad that a terrible ending could ruin an otherwise wonderfull movie. (P.S. If anyone agrees with me, let me know)
105 F? That’s about 40 degrees for us Celsius users! I can barely withstand 30 Celsius ( About 86 Farenheit) – You guys who live in Arizona must be experts at heat endurance, I salute you all! =)
As for the movie review.. you got me intrigued, mr Antwiler and I’ll shall consider to watch it – IF it makes it to theaters here in Sweden, or let alone; to the theater in my town as it sound a bit different compared to a “normal” Hollywood blockbuster. However, it was really fun to hear you being positive about a movie and how you barely couldn’t belive it yourself ^_^
Agree with Spoony about horror movies. I think directors rely too much on special effects, rather than character development, and making actors actually play their roles. In most horrors when you see an actor you think about the actor not character he/she supposed to play, so you can’t get into the movie/ there’s no suspense of disbelief…
Also Eddie Van Halen should be sanctified. xD
“105 F? That’s about 40 degrees for us Celsius users! I can barely withstand 30 Celsius ( About 86 Farenheit) – You guys who live in Arizona must be experts at heat endurance, I salute you all! =)”
To be fair, it’s different when it’s desert (dry) heat. It’s not quite as oppressive. If you drink plenty of fluids, you do OK (just drenched in sweat).
Thanks for the recommendation. Based on it, I went out last night and saw Drag Me to Hell. Me and my friends enjoyed it immensely. It was intense, disgusting, funny, and most importantly, incredibly enjoyable. I haven’t had so much fun at the movies in years.
Yeah, saw this for the Thursday midnight show and just had an awesome time. I might go see this one for a second time. I saw UP yesterday and enjoyed it, I’m sure you will too. Then again when has PIXAR done anything bad…except for CARS which I just didn’t care that much for
You have exactly the same taste in horror that I do. That said, you know what you’d love? “Hatchet” and “Behind the Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon.” Go rent ‘em!
Hostel actually had a lot of funny moments closer to the end. The entire theater was cheering along with the main character. It was very… cathartic.
You are spot on Spoony. I haven’t seen it yet (it’s not out in Sweden yet), but this was something I thought when I saw Star Trek. I just felt so entertained and that was a feeling I’ve missed. When I saw that Raimi was returning to making a horror-comedy I was thrilled, because Evil Dead II and this was suppeosed to be a return to form and I’m psyched!
I’d only heard of this movie briefly, and had no idea it was by Sam Raimi. The horror genre has been dead (see what I did there?) for a long time, I’ll be thrilled to see a good one for once. Only hard part is dragging my girlfriend (see what I did that time?) along to see it with me.
OK, so I watched the movie yesterday and I think it was alright. I thought certain cgi effects looked too fake, like when the gypsy woman’s eyes and face go over the girl’s. It did get a few jumps out of me, but I very much enjoyed the humor and I agree that was not overdone. Yet this movie did not make me feel scared so badly I was looking over my shoulder all the time afterwards like I have done with other movies. I loved the violin music, that creepy sound is rarely heard these days.
The only thing I wish the movie had really done is at the end (won’t spoil it) I wish the guy that was holding the button had turned and saw the old gypsy woman staring right at him, meaning he is now the next victim. That would have been sweet.
Hi Spoony!
I followed your suggestion and I went to watch the movie with a couple of frends. It was ok, in my opinion; my friends didn’t like it.
I think I had too big expectations, that’s why I was a little disappointed. This movie reminds me of the ‘Armi of Darkness’ movie:
Scary but also hilarious in some moments. Good movie but not a masterpiece.
I thought there were a lot of things to like in the movie, but just as much to not like. I thought there were way too many jump scares. Even the Evil Dead movies didn’t have that many. And I seriously disliked the ending, which I could see coming a mile away, thank you very much trailer and poster. Maybe this will be Raimi’s new horror trilogy and make a sequel that continues off of this. Overall, the movie was a little meh. Good acting and some great scenes, but lots of things irked me as well.
I took your advice, Spoony, and went to see this. I loved it. It was cheesy in places, with a few too many jump-scares, but it was FUN, which made me feel good. Yes, I saw the twist at the end coming a mile away, but honestly I’m not sure if it was meant so much as a twist but rather more of a “she’s doomed” sort of thing… like we know it’s all for nothing but she doesn’t… and at the end there I was actually second-guessing myself as to whether or not we’d had a double-twist pulled on us before the very end. This isn’t meant to be some genius film, but rather just a fun time at the movies. I will definitely try to see this one in theatre again, and will get it on DVD when it comes out there.
I saw this back to back with UP (this was first) and honestly, I enjoyed this one a bit better.
A better ending would be: The boyfriend at the end, takes out the envelope and say “Oh yea, because of the coin you gave me, I finished my coin collection.” And the movie would end, suprising the audiance that it didnt end the way we all expected. . (P.S. If anyone agrees with me, let me know)
I disagree. Horror endings where you think something scary will happen preceding the credits roll, yet it ends up being harmless, have been done to death as well, and never in a movie I enjoyed. (The Ring 2 comes to mind)
Honestly, despite the fact that the trailer completely gave away the ending, which I’m sure was on the back of everyone’s mind, I honestly thought she would survive in a way not revealed by the advertising. I mean, Raimi spent so much time trying to make the audience sympathetic to her plight, giving her blow after blow, that it would have been even more of a cliche to end on a happy note (typically downer movies have a bittersweet ending nowadays) Your right, the ending was a cliche, but I can’t think of any other way to end it without it being typical.
Besides, typically when people are watching a movie they have multiple possible endings in the back of their mind during the movie. If the actual ending is similar to any of the half-dozen other endings they were mulling over in their head during the film, they will instantly say “yeah, I knew that was going to happen”
Honestly if she survived people would be saying, “I knew she would get rid of the curse” Of course you guys did.
Good review. I normally get distracted, when you talk, but that was great. I think there was something else, but … hell, fuck it.
Indeed it might have been more ciche to end with a happy ending, but at least I would not have left the thearter disapointed. Its the same type of feeling I get after watching an entirely pointless movie, example would be The Perfect Storm. And I didnt want to feel that way about this move, because I really liked it. Also, there was no mulling over what might happen, after she picked up the envelope in the car, I told my friend next to me in the thearter exactly how the movie would end. Or to be more accurate, exactly what I told him was, “Wrong envelope.”
Now if a happy ending would put a bad taste in your mouth, Jaclyn’s idea for a better ending would also have been acceptible. I mostly just didnt want to happen, what I had predicted to happen. I just wanted something different. To me it felt like they tried hard to do well with this movie, and then just gave up at the end.
I guess the moral of the movie is, keep a check on exactly where your cursed items are. She was unfortunitly due to the script, doomed.
. . . ok . . . I’ll go see it, even though I promised myself I’d avoid PG-13 horror because it’s almost uniformly terrible . . . but if it blows ass, and I break my promise for nothing, I will be forced to unleash my undead hordes upon you . . . just so we’re clear on that.
i took your recomendation spoony….and i TOTALY agree with you. i can see where some people were disappointed with the ending but i enjoy ending like that im against this whole cliche “happy ever after” i liked that i didnt think what happend would happen i mean i predicted what she did (with the envolopes i told my friend in the theater that as soon as it happened) but i still expected a diffrent ending from what i got. i though the movie was amazing. and i have to admit the main character i think is gorgeous and the grave scene only furthered my opinon just becuz she was being so badass and hardcore about it. i love like what you said that great ballance of slapstick and horror that jump and then laugh mixure just gives me a diffrent sence then u get from most movies.
thanks for the recomendation spoony i loved it im buying it the day it comes to dvd and i fully trust your opinion from now on (not that i didnt before rly but now i double trust you….if that makes any sence at all lol)
I agree that the Saw series has gone on waaaaay to long as well and I find the entire concept really bad in this manner.
This old guy, this cancer victim, claims he wants people to enjoy life by giving them the same thing he had to do which was pull himself out of a burning car….. the PROBLEM with that idea is that he is so obviously NOT actually a believer in that philosophy since he sets up these frustrating and all but unwinable situations, he pulled himself out of a car, what he does to others is make them pull themselves out of a car and die because they did that when in fact they would have lived if they HADN’T gotten out of the car OR he makes it so that car was on a sinking boat which the only way to get off of was to use raft on deck… which has holes in it so it sinks. He doesn’t care about people enjoying life, he just wants to see people squirm, regardless of what he claims is his true motive.
But now I’m ranting, anyway, movies need a balance, they need to have effort in them but not so much thought put into it that it becomes incomprehensible. One of my favorites is the movie Tremors, a perfect movie, made me scared to walk on dirt for years.
I thought your review was insightfull as always and I totally agree with you on all but one thing. the ending sucked a big one, it was the standard evil wins and no matter how much the main chararcter tries to change it. I hate watching horror flicks now a days because you know the ending is going to be the same regardless, i already knew the ending basically going into the movie. I did enjoy it as i enjoy all of Sam Raimi’s films but i was hoping fo a better ending. It was over all a very good scary movie with what I thought to be an actually a great story and idea, plus the way it was presented was over all very enjoyable. Oh well I guess nothing can be perfect but this movie was close to it.
Wow, Spoony; you’ve done it again. I originally wasn’t planning on seeing DMtH, period. I mean, yeah, hearing Sam Raimi was at the reins certainly piqued my interest a bit, but I wasn’t going to cut it a break. And then I saw this single video of yours and went out that same Saturday night to go see it with 3 friends of mine and we had an amazingly good time. I’m pretty sure everybody in our theatre walked out of that movie completely satisfied.
You’re a good man, sir.
The way you described ‘Drag Me to Hell’ was how I was after watching ‘Brain Dead’. Fun and gross and even scary at points. You’re absolutely right to say that people go to horror films mostly because they LIKE to get scared and have fun with it. I can’t think of one person that would have fun with the crap that is out now. The only ‘SAW’ movie I liked was the first one, and that thing is honestly barely rated R. If it didn’t have the 3 seconds of guts, and a few less curse words, it would be a PG-13 thriller, and for that it is an awesome movie. Every SAW movie since in my opinion has been garbage, losing everything that made the original good.
I do take your reviews seriously, and have agreed with you almost consistently on new movies, so I will go see Drag Me to Hell despite my distaste for the shitty title.
Okay… I’m going to get the fire for this. But Spoony, I was a bit underwhelmed by this movie because of your review. Overall, I thought the movie was good and fun, but I didn’t think it was near amazing or one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time (and for a side note, I love the Evil Dead series). I mean, I wasn’t scared at all (that just may be me though), and the main actress’s acting was kind of annoying to me. It was fun, but like I said, I was underwhelmed. Unfortunately I don’t think this movie will last in my memory like a movie such as “Evil Dead’ did.
Oh my god Noah. I cannot possibly agree with you more. Hit the nail on the head my friend. As a seasoned veteran of horror films, not to mention working as a monster in a local (and popular) haunted house for 6 years, I am not easy to catch off guard. I am pleased as punch with this work and (cue the ass-kissing) everything you do for us your adoring public. And it is appreciated.
After years and years of disappointment after disappointment in the horror genre, Raimi comes back and deals this knockout uppercut of a film. This is right up there with the Evil Dead series, no questions asked. He delivers everything you want in this one. Cinematic f**king cocaine!! It’s so refreshing to feel like you’re coming away for a car crash, again, without having to actually be in the SOB.
And if Sirabhorn didn’t like the actress- no worries, no happy endings.
NO QUITTING FOR YOU, YOUNG MAN!!! There is still hope!!!
Ending should have been the Mac guy at a Wal-Mart looking place saying “I heard you were the guy to see with stuff like this”. And then Bruce Campbell turns around and asks, “You got a cabin in the woods?”.
Drag me out of Hell
I saw it today…absolutely AWESOME movie. I actually came close to yelling out at one point. The garage scene to me was absolutely terrifying.
Did anyone else think PHANTASMAGORIA at that punch to Christine’s face?
THX SPOONY! i saw your review and decided to go see DMtH (i live in sweden so today was the premier) and i just came back from the theater with a smile on my face! this was my best movie experience since… i cant remember when… im so happy i saw your review else i would have guessed it was another crapadelic waste of time movie spitted out of some money making blockbuster production. and i should also thank you for making me not go see TSalvation. the Raimi’s are the coolest alive!
Spoony’s world hes the man!
I cant agree with you at all on this one and i 99% of the time do. I’m not a man of very many words but i thought this movie was horribly not scary and not entertaining maybe i went to the theater in the mindset of thinking it would be frightening but they only used jump tactics and gross outs and that’s not anything to commend someone i was too busy laughing at failed attempts to scare to enjoy this one.
Responding to post #93.
Well aren’t you just an intellectual superior? Get over yourself, you’re not that smart.
@tonara: agreed, and didn’t help that the ending was too damn predictable and of no surprise.
PUMA MAN!
Kick ass shirt Spoony.
That is all.
Ok, saw it and was pleasantly surprised. I only had a few minor hang-ups with it, the rest was thoroughly enjoyable. I do, however, have to chime in and say that my biggest hang-up was the ending. Yeah, I know. I just don’t like total bummers for endings. Partial bummers, ok. Total bummers, no way. To paraphrase Spoony’s comments about human on human horror, we have enough bummer endings in real life. When I fantasize I don’t like seeing evil triumph utterly. I give it 3.5 out of 5…would have been a solid 4 but for the ending.
Good review!
BTW, not to Bitch about a topic, but, are you doing an UP review?
It’s been like a month. I know it’s awesome, but I would just like to know your opinion on it.
But Spoony, wasn’t Sam Raimi the guy who made Evil Dead 2 in the first place?
His movies are no where near as good as Scream or The Ring, if you ask me.
I went to see it with my girlfriend, it´s written pretty good, I have to admit, but the jumps scares every other minute became rather annoying then enduring in the end. Good movie though.
This is the only American horror movie in the past decade that I liked. In fact I actually love this movie! Torture Porn horror is really just stupid and are made for sadists. Remakes are just really stupid. I absolutely hate the Ring, Asian and American. Scream was meh.
@96> Scream was more satire then true horror. It’s hard to quantify a movie that is itself a comment on the genre. The Ring was ok, but no different that the other 500 billion Hong Kong or Japanese horror flicks.
u never gave a review for Up. But on the subject of Drag Me To Hell, it sounds interesting but I’ll wait to either rent it with some other movies in a cheap way (like a renting it for a couple bucks at a blockbuster or something) or checking it out from a library or something like that.
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