And I don't want to leave!
Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series, Spider-Man series) goes back to the genre that got his career started back in 1981 and boy oh boy; this is a very fun film. Alison Lohman (Matchstick Men) is playing Christine Brown, a loan officer who has a rough day at the office, ending up being cursed. The curse is placed upon her by Lorna Raver’s (recurring role on TVs The Young and the Restless) character Mrs. Ganush. Justin Long (Accepted) plays Lohman’s supportive boyfriend. Raimi’s brother, Ivan Raimi helped him co-write the film. Ivan has contributed to Sam’s films on quite a few occasions, the most recent would be Spider-Man 3 but also has co-wrote Army of Darkness and Darkman with Sam.
Simplicity rules throughout the film, no extravagant sets, no big name stars, very little CGI is relied upon and the simple plot offers just enough to keep you entertained. Lohman produces a nice performance that starts a little slow and I was really questioning her ability to create some sympathy for her character but by the end of the film she really pulled it off. Raver is absolutely sizzling once she shifts into scary gypsy-mode and is utterly creepy.
The tricks that may seem cheesy in the new age “torture” horror films are used mainly in this film. Raimi uses them wonderfully making it humorous but still scary. Tense moments are panged with shifty music (a wonderful score too!), creaking floorboards and rustles outside the window. All this creates such an unnerving atmosphere during the moments it should, never leaving you under whelmed.
Raimi’s trademarks are littered throughout the film, beginning with “The Classic”, his yellow 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 which has been featured in every one of his films except for The Quick and the Dead. His eye for snappy imaginative visuals is apparent as well, not using his famous first person view shot of a projectile object (tree in Evil Dead/Doc Ocks tentacles in Spider-Man 2) was about the only thing left out from his repertoire.
You can argue that the film isn’t original as we have seen many of curse plots throughout Hollywood in the past but this is about as original as you get in tinsel town now a days. The film could be considered a throwback the way Raimi has used all the old tricks but it is a masterfully well done film. Raimi’s back to the basics approach will hopefully break the bank at the box office. Making the fans clamour enough to get the studios to get Raimi back with Bruce Campbell for an Evil Dead 4! This film was a fun romp that will disgust you, scare you and make you laugh.
Sam Raimi (Evil Dead series, Spider-Man series) goes back to the genre that got his career started back in 1981 and boy oh boy; this is a very fun film. Alison Lohman (Matchstick Men) is playing Christine Brown, a loan officer who has a rough day at the office, ending up being cursed. The curse is placed upon her by Lorna Raver’s (recurring role on TVs The Young and the Restless) character Mrs. Ganush. Justin Long (Accepted) plays Lohman’s supportive boyfriend. Raimi’s brother, Ivan Raimi helped him co-write the film. Ivan has contributed to Sam’s films on quite a few occasions, the most recent would be Spider-Man 3 but also has co-wrote Army of Darkness and Darkman with Sam.
Simplicity rules throughout the film, no extravagant sets, no big name stars, very little CGI is relied upon and the simple plot offers just enough to keep you entertained. Lohman produces a nice performance that starts a little slow and I was really questioning her ability to create some sympathy for her character but by the end of the film she really pulled it off. Raver is absolutely sizzling once she shifts into scary gypsy-mode and is utterly creepy.The tricks that may seem cheesy in the new age “torture” horror films are used mainly in this film. Raimi uses them wonderfully making it humorous but still scary. Tense moments are panged with shifty music (a wonderful score too!), creaking floorboards and rustles outside the window. All this creates such an unnerving atmosphere during the moments it should, never leaving you under whelmed.
Raimi’s trademarks are littered throughout the film, beginning with “The Classic”, his yellow 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 which has been featured in every one of his films except for The Quick and the Dead. His eye for snappy imaginative visuals is apparent as well, not using his famous first person view shot of a projectile object (tree in Evil Dead/Doc Ocks tentacles in Spider-Man 2) was about the only thing left out from his repertoire.
You can argue that the film isn’t original as we have seen many of curse plots throughout Hollywood in the past but this is about as original as you get in tinsel town now a days. The film could be considered a throwback the way Raimi has used all the old tricks but it is a masterfully well done film. Raimi’s back to the basics approach will hopefully break the bank at the box office. Making the fans clamour enough to get the studios to get Raimi back with Bruce Campbell for an Evil Dead 4! This film was a fun romp that will disgust you, scare you and make you laugh.4 out of 5
Colin Enquist
Looks like finally give the same movie the same rating! I'd definitely like to see this again, and soon!
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