tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post119239111486573421..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Drag Me to Hell: A Horror Film as Literal as its TitleKevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-39244287658701549462009-06-25T11:22:29.242-07:002009-06-25T11:22:29.242-07:00I'm SO there for a Darkman remake. Let's ...I'm SO there for a <i>Darkman</i> remake. Let's call Kyle...I'm sure Larry Drake needs some work!Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-60058422975376586752009-06-25T11:16:27.966-07:002009-06-25T11:16:27.966-07:00Just now getting a chance to read your review -- i...Just now getting a chance to read your review -- it just goes to show that I need to type my thoughts up much faster when we go to the movie together, lest it looks like I stole from your review! You had this published 2 hours after the movie was over -- I'm impressed.<br /><br />So with that in mind, I think it's obvious that you and I are on the same page about most of the salient points. I liked your comparison to the Lewton horror films, as that seems very apt, and that's a comparison that I hadn't necessarily thought of. Raimi, for as much as a CGI fan as he is and for as much as he uses it, really leaves the majority of the "scares" to simple, old-fashioned tricks that the low-budget guys were doing years ago.<br /><br />One other thing -- I just noticed that Raimi's IMDB page shows a remake of <i>The Evil Dead</i> has been announced, so perhaps he's trying to get back to the style that made him famous to begin with (although <i>Spiderman 4</i> is also shown as being in the pipeline). Now, where's my <i>Darkman</i> remake!Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-47992303550151435902009-06-19T12:38:57.892-07:002009-06-19T12:38:57.892-07:00Alexander:
Ha! An "amen" here would see...Alexander:<br /><br />Ha! An "amen" here would seem quite odd. I'm glad you love the film so much. And I'm with ya: this might be one of my favorites of the year.<br /><br />Jason:<br /><br />Always a pleasure to see your name pop up in the comments! Thanks so much for stopping by and supplying such a wonderful compliment. I had fun watching it and I fun writing about it...so I'm glad other people had fun reading about it! <br /><br />Thanks again.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-72718430928161058622009-06-19T07:07:11.234-07:002009-06-19T07:07:11.234-07:00Kevin: Nice review. Sam says it best: "Your p...Kevin: Nice review. Sam says it best: "Your passion in this great review is palpable." Fun film. Fun read.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-57357799583039327912009-06-19T01:54:30.469-07:002009-06-19T01:54:30.469-07:00I would say, "Amen," but that somehow ju...I would say, "Amen," but that somehow just feels positively <i>wrong</i> for this film.<br /><br />Nevertheless, a terrific piece, Kevin. As Sam notes, every line is wringing with passion and honesty, which are never in short supply here. <br /><br />Have I mentioned that I adore this film? Easily one of the best films of the year.Coleman's Corner in Cinema...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04761319284479513957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-44014262202801930272009-06-18T22:37:08.598-07:002009-06-18T22:37:08.598-07:00I also want to add that I love how Raimi doesn'...I also want to add that I love how Raimi doesn't use silence in the film to try and ratchet up false suspense. I love the scene where Christine is looking out the window at the gate, and when the gate swings back and closes that's when we see the shadow figure jump at her. Most directors would try to milk that scene until it becomes parody, but Raimi just wants to scare us. He keeps loud sounds off camera throughout in order to evoke terror, and that score with the strings is just great stuff for this type of horror film.<br /><br />I also like how he had some fun with the obvious product placement in the film. I especially loved this line: "Oooh American Express platinum. Nice." As the camera gets a good shot of the credit card. I also laughed at the extreme close-ups of the iPhone. Anyway...another element that added to the fun that permeates through every frame of this movie.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-34458212250032785252009-06-18T22:32:34.833-07:002009-06-18T22:32:34.833-07:00Sam:
You sir are too kind! Haha. Thanks for tho...Sam:<br /><br />You sir are too kind! Haha. Thanks for those kind words. I too love the set piece towards the end in the graveyard. It's one of those great moments where things just keep getting worse, and the absurdity of it all makes for a scene that evokes terror and laughs. <br /><br />I thought of the funhouse metaphor during the first "intrusion" scene where Christine is in the kitchen and every time she turns around the camera moves with her and there's something else popping up at the screen trying to get a reaction out of the viewer. It's a great moment in the film, and in my opinion, evident of the glee Raimi and his brother had while making this film.<br /><br />Thanks for the wonderful comment, Sam.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-72670807054239113332009-06-18T19:33:07.318-07:002009-06-18T19:33:07.318-07:00"Raimi and co. have some fun with genre trope..."Raimi and co. have some fun with genre tropes: false scares (who knew a handkerchief could be so scary), headache-inducing sound, and lots and lots of projectile goo, blood, maggots...you name it, Raimi does it. Raimi also continues his fascination with mixing horror and slapstick humor."<br /><br />"The film is like a masterfully constructed funhouse: for 90 minutes every askew perspective provides an eerie feeling that something is about to scare us, and ever corner we turn there's something else that jumps out at us. We expect to jump and scream and have fun...that's why we paid the price of admission. Raimi uses shadow and sound masterfully throughout the film. Just like in his previous horror films he's instituting the tropes of the horror films that thrilled him no doubt when he was younger."<br /><br />Yes indeed, both of these passages are wonderfully stated! This is the second review of this film I've read in the last 24 hours, and both have been exceptional.<br /><br />I like that "fly" lead-in and it's more profound than my own anecdote which has to do with the Vincent Price film, which forever changed my own view of a fly! That buzzing terrified me as a child! ha!<br /><br />I like the use of the word "funhouse" and the proposal that this could well be called EVIL DEAD 4 in style. I agree that there is indeptedness to Val Lewton and Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING, which of course ar eprime examples of suggestive horror.<br /><br /> And you are quite right methinks to assert that this film is hardly a mystery, and that Raimi is out to give a good time. I do think that hair-raising sequence at the gravesite near the end of the film was one of Raimi's all-time greatest set pieces--it's perfectly lit and choreographed and it's deliriously terrifying. Mrs. ganush is one of the great Raimi characters and Ms. Lohman gives a first-rate performance as Christine.<br /><br />And Kevin I know well the desire to get on line again immediately for something that entertains supremely.<br /><br />Your passion in this great review is palpable. And I love the film myself.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com