'Intense Disgust Sensitivity' - Drag Me To Hell (2009) Full Audio Commentary

This is a full audio commentary for Sam Raimi's Drag Me To Hell (2009). Please listen to this alongside a copy of the film.
My guest in this commentary is Po's Law, who usually discusses films, politics and motherhood. Please subscribe to her here:
/ @potheperson
Please support me at Subscribestar www.subscribestar.com/proper-... or via KZbin membership:
/ @properhorrorshow
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[@ThatCrimeGuy]

Po: Everyone had a Razr in 2009. Me: I had a Razr in 2020

[@weirdsister1572]

as soon as I saw the movie title, my first thought was "your mother scrubs docks in hell!". If you know, you know. :)

[@PothePerson]

Thanks for having me. This film is such a gem 💎

[@ProperHorrorshow]

It was a great suggest and recording it with you was a delight. Now to chase up TCG for that Freddy vs Jason commentary...

[@TheEnrieb]

OK, I’ve watched the full film now. Excellent commentary, it’s actually better that you haven’t watched Night Of The Demon as you evaluate the film on it’s own merits. Drag Me To Hell did interesting and creative things with the concepts and story beats of the original film. Sam Rami gave it his unique blend of cartoonish horror. The lead actress was fantastic, it was a good modern horror film for 2009 that used the camera techniques and cgi technology well for the time in combination with some practical effects and wire work. In summary it’s a good 2005-2010 horror. “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die!” I was disappointed that they didn’t do more with that old rhyme, I expected her to swallow a spider etc… “There was an old lady who swallowed a spider, That wriggled and wiggled and tiggled inside her;” “Have you ever, ever felt like this?” -- Anyway, if you liked Drag Me To Hell I think that you would really enjoy watching Night Of The Demon 1957. It’s one of my favourite horror films. You will see a similar narrative and story beats played out. However, I think it is a far superior film, although it might seem a bit quaint if you’re used to Texas Chainsaw Massacre or 1970s PSA films. Night Of The Demon is one of the best British occult films ever made. It's orgins are in an MR James story Casting The Runes. The film version has a fantastic antagonist. It’s a black and white film with an American starting as the leading protagonist. He basically plays Sam Harris, not believing any of this supernatural demon mumbo jumbo. It has a sharp story and dialog like a 1950s Howard Hawks film spliced with the deeper background of a Lovecraftian Occult mythos.

[@ProperHorrorshow]

You've absolutely sold me on Night of the Demon! I'm also glad that a little Round the Twist reference was picked up. I'm chuffed you liked Alison Lohman's performance too, she was so compelling here. It's really wholesome that she swapped acting for motherhood though, very admirable. I can't remember if I said in the commentary, but I originally asked Po to cover The Craft (1996) with me and she then asked for this. Hopefully we'll get to cover The Craft eventually, as I think she'd be stellar on that film.

[@uktruecrime]

I thought this was a bland chic-horror, the only appeal for me being justin long who i think was a web designer, which appealed. but the film was really about the girl who i thought was a lack-lustre character. when the woman talks about christines discomfort at the old woman at the start, i think she totally underestimates the full implication. its simple really, we all start off young in a bubble of clean dreams, unaware that the real world, with 90% of the people, actually live in 'squalor' as portrayed by the old woman, albeit an extreme. so when looking at that metaphore, similar to cumins The Fall, we start the whole film off with the metaphre of what did you do with your time in eden. this position is central to the 'human condition' element that makes all good films , something timesless. everything else in the film, is filler for the consequences of her actions in that instance. all she had to do was be nice and of course, there would be no film.

[@uktruecrime]

Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, Why Emily, oops, sorry for the spamtabulous comment, but I could help arriving at that quiote in my thinking of your commentry on this film and wondered if you knew what film it was from as I totally think you should do that film, which has a 'yummy' and 'cosy' main lead that its very much like this main lead, but a bit older but a much better actress all round. etc etc. I suspect you will know the quote and know the film, but if you don't I will leave it hanging as I am 99% sure you would rate that horror. you shouold totally review it, if you can figure it out.

[@ProperHorrorshow]

A little googling was necessary, but no, I hadn't heard of that film. However, it does sound intriguing and I like seeing Jodelle Ferland in spooky stuff, so we may well cover it. The list of topics always stretches out ahead... Thanks for the recommendation.

[@TheEnrieb]

It’s a total rip off of Night Of The Demon. It was obvious in the opening, it seems to do something different with the story at first, but by the time they meet the Inception mystic the boyfriend turns into Sam Harris. First watch for me, I’m only 20 mins in. Really enjoying the commentary so far.

[@ProperHorrorshow]

YES! The boyfriend became a total Sam Harris for that seen to gin up conflict that wasn't necessary and made him unlikeable. It's helped by the later arc that he supports her later with the big ritual, even though he doesn't believe... which is a bit 'modern' - i.e. he doesn't even try to lead. Still, I thought Justin Long was pretty swell overall.