Drag Me to Hell
Blu-ray (Collector’s Edition)
Director: Sam Raimi
Screenwriter: Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi
Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David Paymer, Adriana Barraza, Octavia Spencer, Ted Raimi
Distributor: Scream Factory
Rated PG-13 | 99 Minutes
Release Date: February 13, 2018
“You’d be surprised what you’ll be willing to do, when the Lamia comes for you.”
In 2009, Sam Raimi, the filmmaker behind low-budget cult classics like The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, and Army of Darkness, returned to the horror genre with a vengeance with Drag Me to Hell.
Produced by Raimi and Rob Tapert‘s Ghost House Pictures and distributed by Universal Pictures, Drag me to Hell is like an off-the-rails dark ride at a demonic carnival – a gloriously over-the-top slapstick splatter-fest that delivers seismic shivers to the central nervous system.
In Los Angeles, bank loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) hopes to be promoted to assistant manager over her kiss-ass co-worker Stu (Reggie Lee). Christine’s boss, Mr. Jacks (David Paymer), needs proof that she can make tough decisions before getting the promotion. Shortly thereafter, Christine is visited by an elderly gypsy woman, Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver), who asks for an extension on her mortgage payment. Though sympathetic to the woman’s situation, Christine denies Mrs. Ganush an extension to prove she’s got what it takes to be assistant manager.
After shaming the poor old woman, Christine becomes the victim of an evil curse. She visits fortune teller Rham Jas (Dileep Rao, Inception), who explains that Christine will be haunted by a demon called the Lamia, a horned, cloven-hoofed beast that will torment her for three days before taking her to Hell for eternity unless she somehow appeases the demon. Her boyfriend, Clay (Justin Long), a psychology professor, is skeptical but willing to go along with the supernatural mumbo-jumbo for Christine’s sake. Desperate to end the attacks, Christine prepares to perform a ritual that will free her from the gypsy’s curse.
Inspired by George Waggner’s The Wolf Man and Jacques Tourneur’s Night of the Demon, Drag Me to Hell is a throwback to classic Universal horror films and ’50s B-movies. It’s a simple, straightforward horror-comedy that is perfectly paced and brilliantly executed with excellent performances. It’s one of the most effective horror movies of the last ten years, jolting viewers into a state of constant unease as Raimi ratchets up the dread – with help from composer Christopher Young‘s haunting score, only to cool off the tension with a laugh-out-loud gross-out gag. By the time you reach the end of Raimi’s ride, you’re emotionally exhausted but ready to go again.
And now that Scream Factory has released this underrated gory gem on Blu-ray, you can see all the blood, pus, and other bodily fluids in eye-popping high-definition! Scream Factory’s Drag Me to Hell Collector’s Edition offers a new 1080p transfer (2.40:1 aspect ratio) with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. With HD masters of both the theatrical and unrated cuts taken from the 2K digital intermediate, this is another stunning release with solid grain levels, fine textures, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. It’s a huge upgrade from the previous release and worth double-dipping, especially if you’re a hardcore horror fan who celebrates the unhinged genius of Raimi on a regular basis. There’s also a sizable selection of bonus materials, which you can read more about below.
Bonus Features
Scream Factory’s Drag Me to Hell Collector’s Edition comes with a few newly produced special features. While there isn’t a new or previously recorded audio commentary, there are several featurettes, including “To Hell And Back,” an interview with Alison Lohman, “Curses,” an interview with Lorna Raver, and “Hitting All The Right Notes,” an interview with composer Christopher Young.
There are also several previously released bonus materials, including vintage interviews with Sam Raimi, Alison Lohman, and Justin Long, as well as TV spots, a theatrical trailer, and still gallery. There’s also 35 minutes worth of production diaries, with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Raimi, Lohman, Long, David Paymer, Dileep Rao, Lorna Raver, special effects guru Greg Nicotero, director of photography Peter Deming, and more.
Scream Factory’s Drag Me to Hell Collector’s Edition is now available on Blu-ray at Amazon.
Official Trailer
Clip 1: Wake Up!
Clip 2: It’s Coming
Cover Art
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