Jump scares have become staple of horror films for a long while now. Usually they crop up when a scene is quiet and sets the mood, only to surprise with a scary image and a loud noise. They’re used to make a woman jump into the arms of the male courting her around on that night, or a child cover his eyes in fear. Above all, they’re supposed to be fun and make the horror movie going experience a treat when used effectively. Directors such as Sam Raimi have used this tactic amidst his career starting with Evil Dead, but that film didn’t rely on them as at the end of the day it’s more comedy than horror. Many will make the argument for Drag Me to Hell, a film that wants to throw as many jump scares as it can at the viewer.

To it’s credit, the story of Drag Me to Hell is pretty intriguing. Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) is having one of the worst day’s that’s ever happened to her as she’s trying to fight for an assistant manager’s position at her bank. Adding to this is her beau’s mother doesn’t feel she’s up to snuff with the standards they’ve set before their child. It’s heartbreaking due to the film presenting Christine as a genuinely kind person who always wants to “do right” rather than get ahead. Unlike most horror films of recent, Drag Me to Hell makes it’s lead character interesting and someone to root for. That is, until she does decide to stray from her nice path and deny Sylvia Ganush (Lorna Raver) another extension on her house. One curse and a really fun cat fight later, Christine is cursed and will be dragged to hell three days later. The opening scene and credits do a solid job of establishing where the film is headed and both are a nice marriage of old and new Raimi. But it’s the story that by all accounts shouldn’t work and somehow does. It drives the film forward even when the wheels are slowly starting to come off and it’s nice to see filmmakers put actual thought into the characters in a horror film. Guaranteed you won’t find a more interesting and entertaining story than the one Raimi and brother Ivan concoct here.

Sam Raimi has a tendency to throw in “Three Stooges” humor into his films and it’s really hit and miss. It soars wonderfully in films like Army of Darkness but crashes and burns in flicks like Spider-Man 3. Here it’s somewhere in the middle as some scenes feel like they belong in a different film altogether. I understand this is style but that doesn’t mean it’s a ‘Get Out of A Bad Scene Free Card’. The anvil scene in this film is fun, and I did enjoy it, but it felt taken more out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon than it did a fun horror-comedy. That seems to be the films problem as it wants to be horror with some good laughs, which is fine. However it tends to go for laugh out loud comedy that falls flat. Drag Me to Hell also falters when tries to gross out horror, for instance when Sylvia accidentally crashes onto Christine and spews some liquid all over her. It’s gross and while Raimi is laughing, it makes the audience cringe in disgust. There are some solid scares, namely a scene toward the end involving a goat. It’s very Evil Dead-esque but nonetheless it’s still a trip to enjoy. Sam Raimi shows us that both the good and bad of his tricks  and while I’ve lamented on the bad, the good should be had by those who venture to this.

As mentioned, in Raimi’s bag of tricks are the aforementioned jump scares. Yes, it’s vintage Raimi but that doesn’t mean that it’s perfect or works. Some do, when Christine is being chased by the lamia to her house. The film then goes on to make just about every scare a jump one complete with a loud noise to follow it. Where in some films he uses it sparingly, here it becomes an endurance test to see if he can in fact make his audience deaf. If Raimi really is going for comedy, he should include Steve Carell on the Blu-ray shouting “LOUD NOISES” every time an unnecessary jump scare comes up. Likely Alison Lohman was chosen because she looks good screaming. It couldn’t be because she’s a well-trained actress as she’s something of a chore to swallow during the quieter scenes. Justin Long though, is the exact opposite and does a tremendous job creating a real character out of Christine’s boyfriend Clay rather than just a plot device. Lorna Raver is fine as Slyvia Ganush but the real stand out of the supporters was Dileep Rao as Rham Jas the spirit counselor. A role that could have easily came off as Miss Cleo becomes an actual character who wants to help Christine. But its Lohman who tries to bring these scenes down with her bland and confused look. She handles the screaming well, far better than Ellen Paige could have, but she’s dull when she’s doing everything else.

It may sound like I hated Drag Me to Hell when just the opposite occurred. I liked it and thought it was one of the best horror films of the decade and certainly the best of the year. Sam Raimi is back and the world is a better place for it, don’t get me wrong and I’m sure it’s going to provide a fun theater experience. However, there are some problems with the movie that people seem to be letting go because it’s Sam Raimi’s first horror trip in sixteen years. Yes he’s great at it, but let’s not forget he’s problematic at times and unfortunately those holes shine through in Drag Me to Hell. Horror fans should be thrilled with the movie on the whole, but for everyone else there is a good story with some decent scares in it. Even with it’s problems, it’s good to have you back Mr. Raimi.

Rating: ★★★☆☆