thepaintedman rates this:

If you look above, you’ll see I threw together a scary HORROR WEEK header for the site. I want to begin this review by pointing out the creepy face in the center. If you were trying to figure out where it comes from, it is the creepy gypsy woman from Sam Raimi’s Drag Me to Hell.

I watched this last week when I got it sent to me from Netflix. It is quite important to first note that this is definitely a film for Sam Raimi fans… horror in the classic Evil Dead style. Witty, visually enticing, scary supernatural old lady that gets scarier as the movie goes on… check, check, check. Only complaint in this department, the lack of a Bruce Campbell cameo. Dude was busy… at least that’s what I read, but I will admit that this was a tad disappointing. That said, nothing else to complain or be disappointed about, really.

The synopsis is as follows: Girl (Alison Lohman) is trying to get ahead in her career. She has a great, successful supportive boyfriend (Justin Long) whose parents aren’t very fond of her, but he doesn’t seem to care. Her main obstacle in getting a promotion is a competitive co-worker (Reggie Lee). When faced with an ethical dilemma, she chooses to deny an elderly gypsy woman an extension on her loan, seemingly as a the type of tough decision her boss wants her to make in order to demonstrate that she’s ready for her promotion. When the gypsy woman falls to her knees and begs the girl to reconsider, she calls security and believes that is that… except, after work, the woman is waiting… and (after the type of battle that only Raimi can create) the gypsy woman curses the girl. What happens after this can only be described as a world of attacks, fear, and supernatural torture.

Justin Long and Alison Lohman play perfect Raimi protagonists. Long’s likability and humor bring a lighter feel to some scenes and it really helps to develop the characters and their relationship. Lohman has the perfect blend of fear, confusion, and tenacity to be a Raimi type of hero. The supporting characters are quirky, entertaining, and well written.

Overall, this is a great film if you’ve been missing that Evil Dead type of horror flick. Not quite as grotesque as the first ED movie or as cheeky as the 2nd and 3rd installments… and a better overall production that anything in the series.

Rob: Let’s just say that I hadn’t seen it and I said to you, “I haven’t seen Evil Dead II yet”, what would you think?

Barry: I’d think that you’re a cinematic idiot and I’d feel sorry for you.

Don’t be a cinematic idiot… see Drag Me to Hell (and ED 2 if you haven’t YET). Rent this today.

Here’s the first mixtape of the year. Expect one each month (usually the first or second week each month). Unlike 2009, 2010 mixes will feature 12 tracks rather than 10 and will be released on Wednesday because Mondays are rough! So, here it is… enjoy.

1. “Lucky Cat” by Map is a track that was featured once before as a bonus track. I am featuring it here again to wet your whistles for an upcoming contest.

2. “Getaway” by MC Dub is a track by the talented laptop musician known to the non-music world as Mark Walker. MC Dub’s remix of CookBook’s “Solid Gold” was described by Cook as a “completely original take on the song“.

3. “Winnie Cooper” by Kwalified Emcee is a track from his new EP. Listen to this track, then go download the whole EP, then be on the lookout for a review in the upcoming days. HOLLA!

4. “Gimme What You Got by Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka is a HOT track from this HOT act based in my favorite city in the world, Illadelphia. Like other Illdelphia crews before them, Slo-Mo and Mic Wrecka infuse hip hop, rock, and blues to create a truly unique sound that can only be described as a taste of Brotherly Love.

5. “The End of Loneliness by All City Affairs is a track of this Lujo Records act’s album Identity Theft. Like all acts on Lujo, it is unique and well done. Enjoy this track and then go to Lujo and buy the album.

6. “The Descent by Firs is another track from a killer Lujo act. Off of their album Man in Space, this track is featured on the Lujo front page… and now, also on TPM.

7. “VR Bikeride” by Second Reality is the first original track by Second Reality that I’ve heard. Also featured on a previous mixtape, Second Reality won RemixThis! Ditka Style and has since continued working with the85bears on new material. See! Not only does TPM give you good music, but it also connects people!

8. “Hustle Beach” by Baby Teeth is a great example of why the Chicago three-piece has been praised by many outlets including the uber-trendy Pitchfork and the mentioned-in-High Fidelity Chicago Reader.

9. “Kin Weather by Cassowaries is another in a long line of wierdness from my favorite weirdos. Featured on this site a few other times, Cassowaries has all the talent and obscurity of Sigur Ros without the pretentious fanbase.

10. “Zebra by Bone Gunn is a track that was sent to me as a thank you for covering Bone Gunn’s Flies EP. Into music that can’t be described by genres? This is for you!

11. “Bring Out Your Dead” by Bluebrain is another rad track from a Lujo band. Seems like we’re chock full of ‘em this month… if you enjoy them, you can thank Eric. He’s a good dude… but enough about him, let’s talk Bluebrain. Bluebrain is the Holladay brothers doing their thing. Before this project, these talented guys worked with artists like Spank Rock, Ra Ra Riot, and Violent Femmes.

12. “A Shortness of Breath” by Young Livers is a great punk track from a great punk band on a great punk label. No Idea Records, the Florida indie punk powerhouse, is still putting out great tunes a solid decade after I first picked up release from Less Than Jake and Atom and His Package when I was in high school. Sorry, El Destructo, but this is how you SHOULD make good punk rock. But then again, I’m just a poser.

Let’s start with announcements…

The winner of the “Guess What’s in My Pint Glass” Contest is…

Joshua with the guess, Newcastle Brown Ale

(Who has already claimed two CDs as his prize, UUVVWWZ and RAA)

The winners of the Retweeting Side Contest are…

ginacuce AND BBBellezza

(Who need to email justincharlesharlan@gmail.com to claim their prizes)

And.. rather than post my review of Honey Lager this evening, it is being pushed back for a SECOND beer contest. This one is a quiz… 10 questions about beer. The first person to answer all 10 correctly (that hasn’t won already) wins a bottle opener keychain, a surprise bottle of beer, and 2 surprise CDs. If no one gets all questions right, the person to email me the most correct answers by Saturday at Midnight wins!

Answer these 10 questions and email justincharlesharlan@gmail.com…

1. What beer is John Cusack drinking on he couch in High Fidelity?

2. What is Larry the Cable Guy’s beer called?

3. Which Monty Python movie has a beer based on it? and what is the name of it?

4. Name my favorite hops. Hint, it’s been mentioned recently.

5. What is the only British brewery allowed to use the name ESB, technically?

6. In what year was Yuengling Lager released?

7. What beer did Ernest Hemingway endorse?

8. What was The Code of Hammurabi’s punishment for watering down beer?

9. What is the official “beer” of the Philadelphia Eagles?

10. Now known as Fireside Ale, what was Weyerbacher’s original name for the beer when it was only a one off release?

Now, go… answer away! MAY THE FORCE (of hops and barley) BE WITH YOU!