Directed By: Sam Raimi
Written By: Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi
Cinematography By: Peter Deming
Editor: Bob Murawski
Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, David Paymer, Reggie Lee, Adriana Barraza, Molly Cheek, Dileep Reo, Lorna Raver, Alexis Cruz
This horror comedy is more silly then funny. it plays like a advanced horror film from the 1960's. It seems to be a horror film for younger teens with it's gross humor and jump scary scenes. It is a fun movie that infects you with it's energy and juvenile humor. it plays fast and loose in other words it is vintage Sam Raimi.
I didn't enjoy this film as much as many critics and audiences did. I found the film entertaining overall. The story is of a bank employee seeking to get a edge in a promotion becomes mean and refuses a old woman's loan approval. the old woman attacks her and puts a curse on her soon she is being attacked by spirits ans when she goes to get the old woman to lay off the curse finds out it ios too late, she spends the rest of the film trying to find a way to savbe herself. While also having to deal with her life's problems.
The film could have been a little more funnier, Then again maybe my expoectations were too high. At least Sam raimi got to make a studio film more atuned to his usual and unique style. He seems to be having fun, letting loose allowing him to be more creative. not having to worry about a big budget which allows him more freedom creating with what yopu have around you rather then getting whatever you need. Which leads to a nicer looking product, but not necessarily as good. He had previously directed the spiderman trilogy which were good, but maginalized and made by commitee. Though the success and quality of the films laid squarely on his shoulders.
Though some of the camera angles and shots are familiar from his earlier work, but they are a breath of fresh air. a return to form that fits his criteria.
The film pays a deep homage to the classic horror films of the 1950's the film is strangely alos a story of survival. the lead starts off the film as meek then finally decides to stand up for herself which starts the chain of events that has her being haunted and abused throughout most of the film, but then once she goes about fighting back she discovers more about herself and what she is capable of. It really is more of a ladies film in that the hero and most of the action lays on the shoulders of it's female lead and has a more inspiring message and spirit then the film JENNIFER'S BODY which was released at the same time and was supposed to be a more female oriented horror film.
Ellen Page was originally supposed to star in the film, But dropped out to star in WHIP IT. It would have been strange to se eher star in it. i could see why she would want too, but she woul look too young in the lead role. One of the pains of looking youngas a actor.
The film is written by Sam Raimi and his Brother Ivan. They wrote the film after ARMY OF DARKNESS, but ovewr the years got so busy they never really had the time or money to make it. but after Sam's success it was alot easier to get made.
The film is a popcorn film at heart. It is not trying to redefine the genre or really offer anything new. It plays around within the rules. The film comes off as strangley wholesome and so are the characters, but within the film beats a dark cynical heart. It sets moods of creepiness and tension. That works more then some modern directors these days successfully. The film also doesn't rely on as many cheap tricks and shockers. Makes the story more central while employing some tricks to furthur the story.
The ending while surprising came off like a TWILIGHT ZONE episode.
GRADE: B
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