AFTER record-breaking box office success with Spider-Man and its sequels, director Sam Raimi returns to horror – the genre which made his name – with this tongue-in- cheek battle for a young woman’s soul.

Drag Me To Hell recalls his seminal Evil Dead series with its queasy conflation of gore and dark humour, plus the reappearance of flying eyeballs.

You’re more likely to cackle or recoil in disgust than scream, unless a demonically-possessed handkerchief that smothers the beleaguered heroine chills your funny bone.

Christine Brown (Lohman) works in Los Angeles as a loans officer and is keen to impress her boss Mr Jacks (Paymer) and beat sycophantic co-worker Stu (Lee) to the vacant assistant manager’s position.

So when the enigmatic Mrs Ganush (Raver) comes into the bank to beg for a third extension to her home loan, Christine is torn between giving the old lady more time or denying the request.

Christine opts for ruthless ambition, and tells Mrs Ganush that the bank cannot extend her any more credit.

Mrs Ganush retaliates by attacking Christine, stealing a button from her coat and cursing it with the Lamia, a demon that will claim her soul in three days.

Supported by professor boyfriend Clay (Long), Christine seeks spiritual guidance from psychic Rham Jas (Rao), who suggests animal sacrifice to appease the Lamia.

"I’m a vegetarian. I volunteer at the puppy shelter!" shrieks Christine.

Perhaps seer Shaun San Dena (Barraza) will have the solution . . .