Drag Me to Hell (2009)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Sam Raimi (written by) &
Ivan Raimi (written by)

Release Date:

29 May 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Christine Brown has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future. But in three days, she's going to hell.

Plot:

A loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, which turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.

Plot Keywords:

Supernatural | Hell | Loan Officer | Curse | Lifting Person In Air

US Showtimes:

(register to personalize)

Cast

Alison Lohman	...	Christine Brown
Justin Long	...	Clay Dalton
Lorna Raver	...	Sylvia Ganush
Dileep Rao	...	Rham Jas
David Paymer	...	Jim Jacks
Adriana Barraza	...	Shaun San Dena
Chelcie Ross	...	Leonard Dalton
Reggie Lee	...	Stu Rubin
Molly Cheek	...	Trudy Dalton
Bojana Novakovic	...	Ilenka Ganush
Kevin Foster	...	Milos
Alexis Cruz	...	Farm Worker
Ruth Livier	...	Farm Worker’s Wife
Shiloh Selassie	...	Farm Worker's Son
Flor de Maria Chahua	...	Young Shaun San Dena
Christopher Young	...	Pedestrian with Cupcake
Ricardo Molina	...	Male Mortgage Customer
Joanne Baron	...	Mr. Jacks's Secretary
Fernanda Romero	...	Female Mortgage Customer
Ted Raimi	...	Doctor
Ali Dean	...	Pawn Broker
Octavia Spencer	...	Bank Co-Worker #1
Meyoung Laman	...	Bank Co-Worker #2 (as Mia Rai)
Bill E. Rogers	...	Security Guard
Cherie Franklin	...	Cackling Woman at Death Feast
Olga Babtchinskaia	...	Violinist at Death Feast
Alex Veadov	...	Man with Ponytail at Death Feast
Bonnie Aarons	...	Mother at Death Feast
Emma Raimi	...	Daughter at Death Feast
Michael Peter Bolus	...	Mourner #1 at Death Feast
Peter Popp	...	Mourner #2 at Death Feast
Scott Spiegel	...	Mourner #3 at Death Feast
Bridget Hoffman	...	Ghost at Séance
Tom Carey	...	Old Man in Headlights
Lia Johnson	...	Waitress
Jay Gordon	...	Family at Diner
Henry Raimi	...	Family at Diner
Lorne Raimi	...	Family at Diner
Chloe Dykstra	...	Young Couple at Diner
Nick Vlassopoulos	...	Young Couple at Diner
John Paxton	...	Old Couple at Diner
Irene Roseen	...	Old Couple at Diner
Aimee Miles	...	Saleswoman
Art Kimbro	...	Lamia (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony A. Angelo	...	Bank Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Raimi

Writing credits (WGA)
Sam Raimi		(written by) &
Ivan Raimi		(written by)

Produced by
Grant Curtis	....	producer
Joshua Donen	....	executive producer
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Ivan Raimi	....	associate producer
Sam Raimi	....	producer
Cristen Carr Strubbe	....	co-producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Peter Deming

Film Editing by
Bob Murawski

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Steve Saklad

Art Direction by
James F. Truesdale

Costume Design by
Isis Mussenden

Makeup Department
Luisa Abel	....	makeup department head
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Michael F. Blake	....	key makeup artist
David A. Brooke	....	special makeup effects artist: mold maker
Norman Cabrera	....	special makeup effects artist: KNB FX Sculptor/Designer
Connie Grayson	....	contact lens technician
Rob Hinderstein	....	special makeup effects artist
Aimee Macabeo	....	special makeup effects: hair: KNB EFX Group
Jessica Nelson	....	contact lens technician
Gregory Nicotero	....	key special makeup effects supervisor
Ken Niederbaumer	....	makeup artist: second unit
Susan Stepanian	....	makeup artist
Khanh Trance	....	hair special effects: KNB EFX Group
Camille Calvet	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Kelli Konop	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randy Beckman	....	second unit director
Chris Edmonds	....	first assistant director: second unit
Emily Hogan	....	second second assistant director (as Emily Greenberg)
Bruce Jones	....	second unit director
Michael J. Moore	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Christian Cordella	....	sketch artist
Kevin Farrell	....	storyboard artist
Shoghig Gagossian	....	set decoration intern
Justin George	....	art assistant
Justin George	....	art department coordinator: re-shoots
Peggy Johnson	....	set painter
Thomas V. Johnson	....	lead scenic
George Lee	....	set designer
Steve Markowski	....	storyboard artist
Greg O'Donohue	....	swing
Steven Samanen	....	assistant art director
Phillip Thoman	....	on-set dresser
Michael A. Truesdale	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	supervising adr editor
Ulrika Akander	....	supervising dialogue editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	supervising adr editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	supervising dialogue editor
Ugo Derouard	....	musical soundscape designer
Joseph Geisinger	....	sound mixer
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound effects editor
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator
Ryan Juggler	....	sound editor
Larry Kemp	....	dialogue editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	sound designer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	supervising sound editor
Monique Reymond	....	foley artist
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
John Sanacore	....	foley mixer
Brad Semenoff	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Jussi Tegelman	....	supervising sound editor
Bernard Weiser	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Ben Bornstein	....	lab technician: KNB EFX Group
Darin Bouyssou	....	mold department: KNB EFX Group
Val Crawford	....	hair/fabrication: KNB Effects
John Frazier	....	effects consultant
Joe Giles	....	special effects technician: mold shop, KNB Effects Group
Brian Goehring	....	special make-up effects crew: mold dept. KNB EFX Group
Jeff Jingle	....	animatronics designer
Jason Pinsker	....	special effects technician: KNB EFX Group
Dirk Rogers	....	special effects technician: K.N.B. Effects Group
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects coordinator
J.D. Schwalm	....	special effects foreman
Lino Stavole	....	special effects technician: mold shop, KNB Effects Group
Wayne Toth	....	animatronic special effects: KNB Effects Group
Lindsay Vivian	....	purchasing manager: KNB EFX

Visual Effects by
Scott M. Adams	....	visual effects coordinator: Tippett Studio
Krista Allain	....	visual effects coordinator
Ron R. Anantavara	....	systems administrator: I.E. Effects
Adrienne Anderson	....	visual effects production manager: Tippett Studio
Jim Aupperle	....	lighting technical director
Joseph Bailey	....	lead compositor: Tippett Studio
Thomas Banner	....	compositor
Christopher Batty	....	previs supervisor
Jason Bidwell	....	compositor: Michael Kaelin & Associates
Dan Bornstein	....	visual effects technical director
Kane Brassington	....	rotoscope/paint artist
Hans Brekke	....	character animator: Tippett Studio
C.J. Bruce	....	visual effects assistant
Jeppe N. Christensen	....	visual effects supervisor
Daniel Claesson	....	digital effects artist
Sean Coles	....	director of photography: visual effects element unit
Russell Darling	....	computer graphics supervisor: Tippett Studio
Tinko Dimov	....	digital artist
Brennan Doyle	....	visual effects supervisor
Mark Dubeau	....	digital effects artist
Daniel Elophe	....	digital effects artist
Philip Fraschetti	....	digital compositor: I.E. Effects
Raymond Gieringer	....	head of production: ReThink VFX
Vincent Gorman	....	visual effects artist
John Grower	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinesoup
Scott Hale	....	digital compositor: Tippett Studio
Thomas Hansen	....	digital compositor
Adam Hazard	....	digital compositor
Adam Hazard	....	digital compositor: Tippett Studio
Paul Hill	....	visual effects producer: Tippett Studio
Jason Howey	....	visual effects supervisor: Howey Digital
Wen-Chin Hsu	....	lighting technical director: tippett studio
Vladimir Iordanov	....	digital compositor
Alex Jacobs	....	technical assistant
Matt Jacobs	....	co-visual effects supervisor: Tippett Studio
Bruce Jones	....	visual effects supervisor
Michael Kaelin	....	compositing supervisor: Michael Kaelin & Associates
Aaron Kaminar	....	visual effects supervisor: I.E. Effects
Daniel Karlsson	....	digital compositor
David Kenneth	....	visual effects producer: I.E. Effects
Jonathan Knight	....	lead compositor: Tippett Studio
Borislav Konstantinov	....	visual effects artist
Wendy Lanning	....	production executive: ReThink VFX
Kirk Larkins	....	matchmove artist: Tippett Studio
Justin Lewers	....	creature modeler
Ivailo Marinov	....	digital artist
Dennis Michel	....	digital compositor: I.E. Effects
Ben Nelson	....	pre-visualization artist
Thijs Noij	....	digital effects artist
Sean Nowlan	....	production manager: ReThink VFX
Jonathan O'Brien	....	visual effects assistant
Jeremy Oddo	....	visual effects
Miguel Ortega	....	miniature effects unit: camera operator: Tippett Studios
Reid Paul	....	visual effects producer: Amalgamated Pixels
Ken Pellegrino	....	digital compositor: I.E. Effects
Dan Pilgrim	....	pre-visualization artist
Glenn Porter	....	digital compositor: I.E. Effects
Christopher Puchta	....	visual effects artist
Steven Quinones-Colon	....	senior lighting technical director
John Rader	....	visual effects artist
Cory Redmond	....	lighting technical director
Robert Rossello	....	visual effects artist
Ari Rubenstein	....	lead compositor: Curv Studios
Dragomir Sarachev	....	digital effects artist
Liubomir Savov	....	digital artist
Thomas Schelesny	....	visual effects supervisor
Jordan Schilling	....	digital compositor: Tippett Studio
David Schnee	....	digital compositor: Tippett Studio
Richard Servello	....	digital compositor
David Sullivan	....	roto supervisor
Jacob Telleen	....	render technical assistant: Tippett Studio
Bryan Thombs	....	digital effects artist: opening sequence
Daniel Thuresson	....	digital compositor
Frederick Vega	....	pipeline technical assistant: Tippett Studio
Richard Wardlow	....	visual effects artist
Larry Weiss	....	lead technical director: Tippett Studio
Vivian Wei	....	visual effects artist
Dione Wood	....	visual effects producer: Amalgamated Pixels
Casey Yahnke	....	rotoscope artist: Michael Kaelin & Associates, Inc.

Stunts
Robert Alonzo	....	stunt double
Brandon Beckman	....	utility stunts
Randy Beckman	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Daniels	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Arturo Dickey	....	utility stunts
Wade Eastwood	....	stunts
Richard Kwon	....	stunt double
Anna Mercedes Morris	....	stunt double
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Dana Reed	....	stunts
Jason Shupe	....	utility stunts
Victor Winters-Junco	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Wayne Baker	....	camera technician: remote aquacam
Collin Bishop	....	camera production assistant
Robert Chinello	....	grip
Tim Collins	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
David Eubank	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera and Steadicam
John Frost	....	cinematographer: intro sequence
Patrick George	....	chief fixtures rigging electrician
Patrick George	....	key dimmer board operator
Greg HecQ	....	lighting technician
Michael Herron	....	digital video assist operator
Paul Hughen	....	additional photography
Jesse Jaraczewski	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
Scott Odermann	....	rigging grip
Patrick Rousseau	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Paul Sanchez	....	director of photography: second unit
Eric Sandlin	....	rigging gaffer
Philip Sloan	....	key grip
Mark Vollmer	....	grip
Michael J. Walsh	....	lighting technician
Paul Wilkowsky	....	second company grip

Animation Department
Michael Brunet	....	animator
Keith English	....	cg animator

Casting Department
Dasha Darya Balyura	....	casting associate
Jennifer Cram	....	casting associate
Tony Hobbs	....	extras casting
Dylan Jury	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Au	....	costume department supervisor (as Nancy Capper)
Mairi Chisholm	....	costumer
Elaine Davis	....	assistant costume designer
Katherine Dover	....	costumer
Gia Jimenez	....	wardrobe assistant
Melody Koerber	....	set costumer
Ann Miller	....	set costumer
Lisa D. Quercioli	....	set costumer
Diana Savone	....	wardrobe assistant
Wendy L. Schilling	....	costumer
Kat Williams	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rob Doolittle	....	senior on-line editor
Dan Goslee	....	digital intermediate assistant
Sascha Alexander Haber	....	post-production assistant
Stephen Nakamura	....	digital film colorist
Erik Rogers	....	senior digital intermediate producer
Sean Valla	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Peter Bateman	....	score coordinator
Max Blomgren	....	synthesizer programmer
Mark Buys	....	score coordinator
Ugo Derouard	....	music mixer
Ugo Derouard	....	music recording engineer
Eric Jasper	....	score programmer
Sean McMahon	....	orchestrator
Cory Milano	....	music editor
Thomas Milano	....	supervising music editor
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer
Joohyun Park	....	musician
Joohyun Park	....	score coordinator
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Luigi Pulcini	....	score coordinator
Assaf Rinde	....	score programmer
Philip Rothman	....	additional music preparation
David G. Russell	....	synthesizer programmer: score
David Shephard	....	score coordinator
Samuel Joseph Smythe	....	score programmer
James Speight	....	additional music editing
James Speight	....	musician
James Speight	....	score coordinator
Andrew Spence	....	music sound designer
Andrew Spence	....	orchestrator: score programming
Jonathan Timpe	....	music programmer: score
Gregory Tripi	....	music programmer
Brandon K. Verrett	....	orchestrator
Sunna Wehrmeijer	....	score coordinator
Laurent Ziliani	....	orchestrator: score programming

Transportation Department
Tony Barattini	....	driver: production van
Grady Allen Bishop	....	driver: camera car
Robert aaron Brown	....	production driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Jesse Grillo	....	driver
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Ted Joneson	....	driver
Hugh Kelly	....	driver
Seth Levine	....	driver
Glen Mathias	....	transportation co-captain
Hardy Ophuls	....	transportation co-captain
Marty Osborne	....	picture vehicle captain
John Pellegrino	....	transportation captain: second unit
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation captain
Tim Schau	....	transportation
John Siedenburg	....	driver

Other crew
Romel Adam	....	assistant: Mr. Tapert
Jorge Luis Alvarez	....	assistant location manager
Alexis Auditore	....	assistant: Ms. Konop
Rebecca Boyle	....	script supervisor
Bettina Browne	....	animal trainer: cats
Will Casey	....	unit publicist
Jennifer Clark	....	first assistant accountant
Chris Cortez	....	medic
Michael Counts	....	production assistant
Barry Curtis	....	production assistant
Lindsey Donnell	....	production assistant: reshoots
David Feinsilber	....	additional set production assistant
Federico Ferreri	....	production assistant
Federico Ferreri	....	production secretary
Shawn Fields	....	production assistant
David J. Forsythe	....	production secretary
Neil Gabrielson	....	key assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
J. Hanna	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach: adr
Mark Hochman	....	computer and video playback technician
Michael Leon	....	location manager
Paul Lindsay	....	production assistant
Tai Logsdon	....	office production assistant
Mike James Masumoto	....	location scout
Tory Mell	....	production assistant
Michael W. Miliotti	....	animal trainer
Dan Milner	....	location scout
Brad Morris	....	pre-visualization artist
Narbeh Nazarian	....	production assistant
Dillon Neaman	....	set production assistant
Steven Oliveri	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Pedevilla	....	payroll accountant
Laura Pena	....	production assistant
Katherine Pittman	....	head animal trainer
Christopher T. Sadler	....	key production assistant
Mel Sanftner	....	assistant production coordinator: reshoots
Michael Saunders	....	production assistant
Mary Sunshine	....	production accountant
Wayne Toth	....	puppeteer
Heather Tyler	....	post-production accountant
Tom Woosley	....	production assistant
David Pollison	....	assistant: Rob Tapert (uncredited )

Thanks
Tony Stef'Ano	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Buckaroo Entertainment
• Ghost House Pictures
• Mandate Pictures

Distributors

• Belga Films (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Saigon Movies Media (2009) (Vietnam) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Golden Screen Cinemas (2009) (Malaysia) (all media)
• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (all media)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Lionsgate (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2009) (Romania) (all media)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2009) (USA) (all media)

Special Effects

• ReThink VFX (visual effects production services)
• Michael Kaelin & Associates (visual effects)
• Tippett Studio
• i.e. Effects (pre-visualization services)
• i.e. Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  hydrascope telescoping crane arm
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  stabilized remote camera systems
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• Dub Stage, The  sound post-production
• Fisher Technical Services Rentals  camera & performer flying system
• LCW Props  set equipment
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Performing Animal Troupe  animals provided by
• Picture Mill, The  titles
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Star Waggons  cast trailers
• Star Waggons  hair and make-up trailers

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of horror violence, terror, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45266) | UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:15A | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | France:-12 | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Germany:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Iceland:16 | South Africa:16LV | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Buckaroo Entertainment

Trivia:

The script was written after Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi completed Army of Darkness (1992), but Sam pursued other projects before returning to this.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the séance, just before the ancillary spirits appear, there is an overhead shot of the table. The white goat is not present in that shot although it was chained to the table at the start of the séance.

Quotes:

Clay Dalton: You have such a good heart.

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Demon (1957)

A liberation from the hell of mainstream horror

After surrendering to the temptation that was Drag Me to Hell, I jokingly announced to a friend that it was 1/3 horror, 1/3 gross, 1/3 funny and 100% fun! Yet as wholly cheesy as that proclamation is, it is no less true. Ultimate B movie director Sami Rami's first horror film in years, having dedicated himself to the Spiderman franchise, succeeds in putting almost all recent horror films to shame. Drag Me to Hell proves that an R rating is not needed for shock scares, nor does a PG-13 rating mean that the film must feel stunted and incomplete, only that it takes a dedicated and competent director to pull all the elements together.

I recently called 2009 the-year-of-the-almost-good-horror-movie, with films like Friday the 13th, The Haunting in Connecticut, My Bloody Valentine, The Last House on the Left et al, simply not measuring up. While I am still hesitant to drop that moniker, the thrills Drag me to Hell brings to the horror genre certainly improves the spread. Aside from the tantalizing premise itself, Rami masterfully constructs atmosphere and amazes even further with a rousing and terrifying score and an absolutely chilling use of sound. Many tense sequences drift between an eerie quiet and a cacophony of anguish born from everyday objects and occurrences such as pots, the wind and garden gates and this is the very best part of the film, even if some other elements don't measure up as aptly.

As a alluded to, aside from Rami's fan base the real reason you would be drawn to this film is the premise; and hell dragging there is. The unsuspecting victim is a young loan officer named Christine Brown (Allison Lohman) who in order to secure a spot in the managers chair denies an elderly lady a third extension on her mortgage. But her timing could not be worse, as the gypsy mystic curses her to burn in hell for her shameful display. Christine now has only three days to rid herself of the terrible curse, garnering the aid of a psychic, Rham Jas (Dileep Rao) and her boyfriend (Justin Long) while trying to ward off the tormenting demon on her remaining days. Lohman is very good in this, creating a character of equal parts spunk and sweetness. Long seems tailor made for a Rami film, as his ability to drift between comedy and drama is a huge asset and is excellent as a result.

The only real determent I found in this film was the ending, which I will not spoil. It was actually a rather odd feeling that came over me when the credits rolled as usually a sub-par ending leaves me either infuriated or disgusted. Drag me to Hell's ending left me feeling mostly indifferent and numb to the events of the entire film by which it was preceded. Many will disagree with me and I am glad, as I thoroughly enjoyed the film and wish the ending had satisfied me accordingly. But the good certainly outweighs and bad and this schlocky gross and funny horror flick is very re-watchable, and above all unique. If Rami can still turn out quality B movie thrills after all these years, perhaps there is hope for liberation from the true hell; which is the Hollywood horror scene of today.

Read all my reviews at: simonsaysmovies.blogspot.com