Christine Brown (Alison Lohman, Matchstick Men) is on her way to having it all: a devoted boyfriend (Justin Long, Barbarian), a hard-earned job promotion, and a bright future. But when she has to make a tough decision that evicts an elderly woman from her house, Christine becomes the victim of an evil curse. Now she has only three days to dissuade a dark spirit from stealing her soul for an eternity of unthinkable torment. Evil Dead trilogy director Sam Raimi made his return to the horror genre with a vengeance with Drag Me To Hell, which critics hailed as “the most crazy, fun and terrifying horror movie in years” (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly)!

For thoughts on Drag Me To Hell, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Drag Me To Hell has been given a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray for both the Theatrical Cut and Unrated Cut via seamless branching on the same disc in 2160p/Dolby Vision courtesy of Scream Factory. The new release is derived from a 4K presentation of the original Digital Intermediate approved by director Sam Raimi and editor Bob Murawski. This transfer offers a pleasant uptick in quality over the Blu-Ray released by Universal in 2009. The film was previously released by Scream Factory in 2018, but we do not have that release for comparison. It was described as a new 2K presentation from the DI, whereas the Blu-Ray discs included with this release are from the new 4K master. The difference is not always staggering since the original release was solid, but this is undeniably the best way to watch the movie.

This 4K UHD presentation thrills with notable gains in clarity throughout the feature. The varied, occasionally gothic, production design is explored in sumptuous depth along with the gross makeup effects which are heightened in all of their stomach-churning glory with this transfer. You will also spot more refined textures in some of the clothing. The utilization of Dolby Vision is a major win for dialing into the greatest degree of accuracy in the color palette. With this film, you need a strong handling of the contrast, and black levels stay deep with more detail than ever. The highlights are pure and balanced with no instances of blooming. Any instances of compression artifacts or banding present on the Blu-Ray are eradicated with this 4K UHD disc. The Blu-Ray is fine, but Scream Factory allows the feature to thrive with this 4K UHD release.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray release delivers a mighty DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 lossless track that confidently brings this nightmare to life. The track activates all channels with sound effects and ambient noise that push the level of immersion to unsettling limits. As Christine navigates her situation, the surround speakers deliver an unrelenting three-dimensional experience. The music and the score solidify the atmosphere with unwavering fidelity. The dialogue flows clearly out of the center channel without getting overshadowed by the music or any sound effects. The activity in the low end packs a punch through jump scares and memorable set pieces. This disc showcases the unnerving developments with nuance and clarity. Scream Factory provides a first-rate audio experience for this film. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Disc Two (Unrated Version – 1:38:50)

Pardon My Curse – Making Drag Me To Hell: A new 115-minute documentary on the making of the film featuring new and archival Interviews with Co-Writer/Producer Ivan Raimi; Actors Alison Lohman, Dileep Rao and Lorna Raver; Director Of Photography Peter Deming; Production Designer Steve Saklad; Artist Christian Cordella; Make-Up Effects Designer Greg Nicotero; Editor Bob Murawski; Composer Christopher Young; and more.

Disc Three (Theatrical Version – 1:39:05)

Interview with Actor Alison Lohman: A 13-minute archival interview with the lead actress in which she discusses the evolving nature of the script, going through hell during the production, the ease of working with Sam Raimi, changing the character’s name on the first day, the mixing of humor and horror, her dynamic with Justin Long, and more.

Interview with Actor Lorna Raver: A 16-minute archival interview with the actress in which she discusses having a blast making the film, the audition process, not realizing what she was getting into, the direction of Sam Raimi, working with a dialect coach, and more.

Interview with Composer Christopher Young: A 17-minute archival interview with the composer in which he discusses his excitement working with Sam Raimi, getting inside the head of the filmmaker to compose the score, and more.

Production Video Diaries: A 35-minute archival production diary featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with co-writer/director Sam Raimi, actors Allison Lohman, Justin Long, David Paymer, Dileep Rao, Lorna Raver, special effects guru Greg Nicotero, and director of photography Peter Deming. There are some really interesting insights that are worth checking out.

Vintage Interviews: A 34-minute collection of archival interviews with director Sam Raimi and actors Alison Lohman and Justin Long from the original press tour.

Theatrical Trailer (2:21)

TV Spots (0:49)

Image Gallery (2:11)

Final Thoughts

Drag Me To Hell is a down-and-dirty nightmare from Sam Raimi that rivals the nasty glee of anything found in the Evil Dead films. The movie is almost too vicious in its handling of the main character, but it is an exciting ride that zips along with confidence. Some digital effects do not hold up as well all these years later, but the practical effects are still a treat and allow this film an old-school feel that makes it a special watch. Alison Lohman is a compelling leading lady as she handles every scene with the appropriate emotional investment. Scream Factory has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a top-tier A/V presentation along with a gaggle of new and archival special features. If you love the film as much as we do, this is an easy upgrade. Highly Recommended

Drag Me To Hell is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Scream Factory has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.