Drag Me to Hell

Weekend nights Blockbuster geeks, such as me, more revered Sam Raimi for his Evil Dead trilogy starring Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi.

Raimi may be better known to his Hollywood audience for his Spiderman trilogy, but his premiere Drag me to Hell horror flick is the second of its kind, allowing Raimi creative control since his first movie in filmmaking.

The movie stars that quirky MAC computer guy Justin Long and an actress I am not too familiar with, Alison Lohman.

Previews looked ridiculous as an old fart seeks bitter revenge on a young woman revoking her mortgage loan, but the same graphic genius seen in the Spiderman films is implemented nicely in Raimi’s new horror film, leaving curious movie goers paying the pocket-pinching admission for Drag me to Hell.

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is an ambitious L.A. loan officer with a charming boyfriend, Professor Clay Dalton (Justin Long). Christine’s lifestyle is seemingly good until the repulsive and mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Rivers) requests a mortgage loan extension, leaving the decision to Christine to accept or deny the request from the struggling Mrs. Ganush on her loan. (This scenario sounds quite familiar in the times we live in today.) But beyond Miss Brown’s better judgment, she denies the old woman for the extension, shaming Mrs. Ganush and dispossessing her of her home. In retaliation, the displeasing Mrs. Ganush places the dreadful curse of the Lamia on Miss Brown, transforming her life into a living hell.

I expect the film to be somewhat ridiculous as I cannot foresee an old woman scarring me into Hell, but Raimi is the prime candidate for mixing horror and comedy together as seen in the aforementioned Evil Dead trilogy. (Another great film mixing comedy and horror is American Werewolf in London, minus the sequels if were talking genius films.)

I am eager to watch the special effects and creative story plot, being a screenplay writer myself.

I need to see originality, such as in Jeepers Creepers, one and two, and that new scary sorority movie yet to be released (the upload is on You Tube.)

New monsters, slightly intelligent characters, and settings based in reality seem to equate to better horror flicks.

3-D films are also coming back as seen in the Valentines Day Massacre 2009 (the beauty of the body count cannot be ignored as I lost count after the vigilante murdered an entire hospital in the opening scenes.)

But Raimi fans have a lot in stored since the Evil Dead creator has not made a horror film since the ‘90s. The horror genre gives screenplay writers and directors leeway for creativity and serves as escape valves of the studio scrutiny that comes with big budget films. (My mother told me the other day a German created a zombie film on a $70 budget.)

“[Horror film are] not looked up upon,” said Raimi. “But there’s a craft to making a good one. It’s like being a cabinetmaker, or maybe not a cabinet- more like a footstool. It’s not something people value.”

He added: “I love good character dramas, but what I really wanted this time was a real audience thrill machine. I wanted to give them an out-of-control ride, and I wanted to get them up on their feet and screaming. I love it when at a horror movie you can sense the audience bonding together. It’s a communal experience.”

Drag me to Hell premiers in theaters May 29 along with other movie titles including the Pressure Cooker, Up, and other features, in my opinion will probably receive higher ratings but not as enjoyable as Raimi’s film.

Zombie fans are prepared. Raimi is back to continue the genius in dark comedy this coming Friday.

George A Romero's Survival Of The Dead Trailer

This film recently premiered in the UK. I vaguely remember hearing about it in the states but Romero can be counted on to deliver a humorous and clever zombie flick. Check it out online or from the video stores soon!

A different kind of Shakespeare

"Don't say break a leg-" Chiller

Classical music creates a eerie background for horror films

(Photo courtesy of Word Press)

Today, I you-tubed Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

I am willing to bet that everyone at some point has heard of this song or listened to its chords of suffering and horror in a movie.

Bottom line, Beethoven is a genius for writing and composing this song because it makes me think of everything that the horror genre is about.

Horror is about screaming, the viewers biggest fears in life, the unexplained happenings, but most of all, the things that an everyday person does not encounter in their lives.

Horror is what we wish existed or what we love to watch happen to someone else as we sit on the sidelines.

The beauty of the horror genre is more than just words.

Horror is actions happening in the imagination or worst of all, reality.

So here is a classic eerie song that suits perfect for the horror genre:

Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"

A classic horror film is brought back to life

(Photo courtesy of the peoples movies)

Predators premiered in theaters today.

More updates on this film to follow.

For now, enjoy the remake's 2010 trailer and compare it to the 1987 trailer for the original film.

The 2010 "Predators" trailer

Original 1987 "Predator" trailer

INCEPTION Trailer 3 - Official HD

Scream 4 is set to premiere in theaters April 15

A killer cast is featured in the fourth sequel of "Scream," set to premiere in theaters April 15,2011.

David and Courtney Arquette, Rachel McAdams, Hayden Panettiere, Neve Campbell, and Adam Brody are some of the actors and actresses to name, but it is also rumored that comedian Anthony Anderson will grace the film too.

The synopsis of the story takes place ten years later after the last sequel. Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) starts to put herself back together through writing, but she is visited by the ghostface killer.

More updates on this film will follow....