7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Christine Brown is on her way to having it all: a devoted boyfriend, a hard-earned job promotion, and a bright future. But when she’s forced to make a tough decision that evicts an elderly woman from her house, Christine becomes the victim of an evil curse. Now she has only three days to dissuade a dark spirit from stealing her soul before she is dragged to hell for an eternity of unthinkable torment.
Starring: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver, Dileep Rao, David PaymerHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 60% |
Supernatural | 30% |
Dark humor | 22% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
D-Box
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Sam Raimi's long-awaited, triumphant return to horror has come at last. Despite its teen-friendly rating and restrained gore, Drag Me to Hell is a fierce, nasty, ugly slice of Raimi's twisted talent; a ballsy throwback to '80s frightfest filmmaking that draws upon the same brazen madness and guttural ferocity that have made Evil Dead and its ilk such infectious genre staples. Its reluctant heroine doesn't exude the madcap hilarity of Ash and, while there are touches of skewered humor sprinkled throughout, the darkness that hunts her soul is more of a malevolent menace than a demented Deadite, but Drag Me to Hell is undeniably Raimi. From its stomach-churning obsession with vomit to the crazed rampage of a sacrificial goat to its larynx-crushing climax, it's the return to form fans have been clamoring for.
Behold. The face of evil. Well, at least one of them...
Drag Me to Hell boasts a sharp and striking 1080p/VC-1 transfer from Universal; one that grabs hold of every minute detail and drags it kicking and screaming into your home theater. Peter Deming's somewhat subdued palette may be bleak and dreary at times, but reds ooze off the screen, hell-flames are startlingly bold, blacks are deep and foreboding, and skintones are simply gorgeous. Take note of every close-up, at the oh-so-fine facial textures that grace the image, at the individual hairs that cascade down a wonderfully-rendered shoulder, at the natural beauty of it all. Long-distance shots are just as extraordinary, rendering every object edge and background element with stunning clarity. You won't find any intrusive edge enhancement here. No noise reduction, artifacting, aliasing, or digital anomalies. You won't even encounter a hint of crush in the darkest, most dismal shadows that obscure Christine's path. Delineation is revealing, contrast is spot on and, aside from the brief appearance of some all-too-obvious CG, the exceedingly proficient picture perfectly embraces Raimi's every shot and scene. Casual viewers, militant videophiles, and discerning horror junkies alike will be thoroughly satisfied with the results.
If you thought Drag Me to Hell's video transfer was impressive, just wait till you hear its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Christine's encounters with her seemingly unstoppable Lamian foe are bolstered by thunderous LFE support, immersive directionality, and engrossing rear speaker aggression. Wind whips around the soundfield, pots and pans clatter across the floor, and splintering wood makes it sound as if a ravenous demon is tearing apart your kitchen rather than Christine's. When a failed ceremony devolves into chaos, flicking flames, screaming humans, and smashing furniture are given the same attention as a goat's shuffling hooves. Through it all, dialogue remains crisp, intelligible, and wonderfully prioritized. I can't recall a single scene where I struggled to understand what was being said, even when all hell was breaking loose. Likewise, Christopher Young's unexpectedly classy score is effortlessly blended into the madness, capturing the croon of his strings as easily as the faint buzz of a meddling fly. Be it the slightest creak or the loudest crash, everything is brought to terrifying life in Universal's meticulously crafted lossless mix. Prepare yourself for a truly magnificent AV presentation.
Drag Me to Hell's only legitimate behind-the-scenes special feature -- a series of entertaining and informative "Production Video Diaries" (HD, 35 minutes) -- is a solid addition to the release, if for no other reason than it reveals Raimi's humble approach to filmmaking and the enthusiasm and creativity that dominates his sets. However, an audio commentary is sorely missing, as is a more extensive documentary. Universal hasn't been giving its new releases the same supplemental love as other studios, and fans are suffering the consequences. Considering the studio's releases are pricier than others, it's a shame the discs themselves don't offer more value. A digital copy of the unrated cut of the film, BD-Live functionality, D-BOX support, a bookmarking feature, and a news ticker are all well and good, but they're hardly the meat fans are hungry for.
A much-anticipated return to form, a rollicking genre treat, a frightfully fun horror gem, Drag Me to Hell will please Raimi fans and newcomers alike. Thankfully, Universal has blessed its Blu-ray release with a heavenly video transfer and a blazing DTS-HD Master Audio track. Granted, the studio drops the supplemental ball, but the film and its AV presentation are well worth the price of admission. Enjoy, dear readers... enjoy.
Unrated & Theatrical Cuts
2009
Collector's Edition
2009
Collector's Edition
2009
Collector's Edition | Shout Factory Exclusive Slipcover
2009
2009
Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn
1987
2010
40th Anniversary Edition
1974
Director's Cut
2007
Unrated Edition
2008
2008
Collector's Edition
2013
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
20th Anniversary Edition
2003
Unrated
2010
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
Collector's Edition
1989
Collector's Edition
2003
Theatrical Cut
2006
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1980
2013
1988
2009
2006
2008