It’s not often that I disagree with the hype around a good horror film, but I never used to understand the immense praise for Drag Me To Hell. Not only does it boast a staggering 92% on Rotten Tomatoes but its fiercest defenders have hailed it as an ‘underrated gem’, one of their ‘favourite horror films of all time’ and ‘the scariest horror film ever’. Many have even crowned it with a 10/10 rating.
![[Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1549059a) Drag Me To Hell, Alison Lohman, Lorna Raver Film and Television]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230157823-c382.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Until late last year, I would have strongly argued against these confident sentiments but now, I actually get it. The first time I watched Drag Me To Hell a few years ago was anticlimactic, to say the least. After years of seeing the 2009 film hyped as one of the best horrors of the past decade or so, I decided to give it a go and went in with high hopes.
![[Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mandate/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5884878g) Alison Lohman Drag Me To Hell - 2009 Director: Sam Raimi Mandate/Universal USA Scene Still Horror Jusqu'en enfer]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230157815-ca2f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
This was no doubt my first mistake because relying on expectations immediately set the film up to fail. Drag Me To Hell follows loan officer Christine (Alison Lohman) who finds herself cursed by an old lady after refusing to extend her mortgage. Soon, the curse of the Lamia begins to affect every inch of Christine’s life as she fights to end it before being condemned to an eternity in hell.
![[Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock (1541230a) Drag Me To Hell, Lorna Raver, Alison Lohman Film and Television]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SEI_230157812-342d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
I so badly wanted to share in the excitement everyone else seemed to have for it and was buzzing with the anticipation of discovering another cult classic that I too would add to my collection. However, to say I was underwhelmed and disappointed would be an understatement.
