Drag Me To Hell
As far as big - budget studio horror films are concern , few have been more successful over the past decade than Sam Raimi’sDrag Me To Hell . In addition to netting more than $ 60 million globally , the film presently has a 92 percent license Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating and an 83/100 Metascore .
Co - written bySam Raimi ’s crony , Ivan , the film follow a demure bank loan manager named Christine Brown ( Alison Lohman ) , who upon rick down a do-or-die gypsy fair sex refer Mrs. Ganush ( Lorna Raver ) , is hexed with a diabolical bane called The Lamia . With the help of her beau Clay ( Justin Long ) and exorcist Rham Jas ( Dileep Rao ) , Christine fends off the infernal scourge the dear she can .
Written In The 1990s
AlthoughDrag Me To Hellwas not released until 2009 , the two Raimi brothers wrote the screenplay for the picture show back in the 1990s under the title ofThe Curse . The thought was to make the picture after they completedArmy of Darkness , but other projects draw their interest aside .
Rather than lay down another repugnance pic , Sam Raimi made a major departure with the 1995 clowning - westerly , The Quick and The Dead , starring Sharon Stone , Gene Hackman , Leonardo DiCaprio , and Russell Crowe . Ivan Raimi would go on to make and pen four episode of the TV series , Spy Game .
Bruce Campbell Declined A Role
As per common , Raimi wanted to vagabond his longtime friend and frequent confederate , Bruce Campbell , to play a theatrical role inDrag Me To Hell . Unfortunately , Campbell wastoo busy filminghis TV showBurn Notice , at the clock time , and had to decline the part .
While his potential role was never divulged , Campbell would have likely play Christine ’s bank manager , Mr. Jacks ( David Paymer ) . Raimi and Campbell would conjoin forces again on the TV serial , Ash Vs . Evil Dead .
Folkloric Inspirations
The inherent plot ofDrag Me to Helldraws on several outside folktale , namely 1 of Greek and Germanic origin . In Greek mythology , Mrs. Ganush nearly resembles the Furies or Eurynes , spiritual entities summon by those wrong by others , as a means of take anathemise revenge .
In Germany and Austria , a alike entity hump as Krampus holds like mogul , albeit center on around the Christmas holiday . Krampus would reward children for expert doings , but get behind wicked children to the Hades for eternity .
Loose Remake
WhileDrag Me to Hellpulls from various folktales , the movie is also a light remaking of the 1957 filmCurse of the Demon(aka Night of the Demon ) , directed by Jacques Tourneur . The plastic film star Dana Andrews as an American professor who , upon meet an maledict man of parchment , is terrorise by a malevolent demon before ending in a exchangeable graveyard position .
A similar plot can also be hunt to at least two 1970s idiot box shows . The 1976 instalment ofHappy Days , " The Evil Eye , " feature a very similar plot in which Al is cursed by a malefic devil . Also , a 1977 sequence ofAlicecalled " The Hex " features a nearly monovular story , in which Alice is confronted in a diner and swear by a vindictive honest-to-god dame .
Lamia Demon
In the film , Mrs. Ganush curse Christine with the torture of TheLamia , a cloven - hoofed , lamb - work demon . However , in reality , Lamia is a far unlike beast altogether .
In Grecian mythology , Lamia is a bogeywoman known for skulk the body politic for little kid to feast upon . The tale became popular in Greece , as a way to get young children into bed at nighttime . Visually , the beast is often depicted with a snake - similar bottom , reptilian soundbox , and as a half - adult female - half - snake hybrid .
Offered To Edgar Wright
Before agreeing to helm the flick himself , Sam RaimiofferedEdgar Wrightthe chance to directDrag Me to Hell , likely on the strong suit of his game - interchange zom - com , Shaun of the Dead .
Unfortunately , Wright was already committed to making his murder - mystery action spoofHot Fuzzand was squeeze to refuse the offer . He also vocalize that he was n’t the veracious scene for the projection . Wright would go on to make Scott Pilgrim vs. The World , The World ’s goal , and Baby Driver before render to the horror genre withLast Night In Soho , due in April 2021 .
Alison Lohman’s Preparation
Ellen Page wasoriginally cast in the role of Christine Brown , but left product to star inWhip Itinstead . When Alison Lohman was chuck , she underwent rigorous preparation . In addition to see several honest-to-goodness horror movies , she do almost all of her own stunts in the film .
One exception comes in the final necropolis scene , in which Lohman ’s body double was used for a fast shooting . The photographic camera cuts from Christine ’s face ( Lohman ) to a gibe of her backside while climbing out of the grave ( body double ) .
Cameo Appearances
Drag Me to Hellfeatures a slew of cheeky cameo appearances by Raimi ’s friends , family , and frequent collaborator . For illustration , Sam ’s brother , Ted Raimi , play the doctor in the film .
Raimi’sEvil Dead IIco - writer , Scott Spiegel , also appears in the celluloid as a bereft guest at the funerary feast . The film ’s music composer , Christopher Young , also shew up at the start of the film as a bakery customer eat a cupcake in front of Christine . Sam Raimi himself even appears as a purport during the climactic seance andOctavia Spencer plays a background character in the bankwhen Mrs. Ganush is escorted out .
Sibling Shoutout
In the film , Sam and Ivan Raimi let in a heartfelt shoutout totheir deceased previous brother , Sander , who drowned in a swim pool at the long time of 15 while holiday in Israel .
The subtle nod total during a line of dialogue spoken by Shaun San Dena ( Adriana Barraza ) , who mentions her deceased husband Sander in passing . Sander is also the name of Sam Raimi ’s eldest nephew , Sander Rubin .
Evil Dead References
Given the array of references to Raimi ’s most illustrious repugnance movie , it becomes clear thatDrag Me to Helltakes place in theEvil Deaduniverse .
In addition to Raimi ’s personally - owned yellow 1988 Delta that appears in all his pic , Christine utter the line , " I ’m going to get some , " en route to the cemetery , which is a direct reference to Ash ’s catch phrase " come get some " inEvil bushed . Lucius DuBignon Clay also cite his parents ' cabin that is private and has trees , a verbatim nod to Raimi ’s first feature . The motion picture even start with the same fourscore - era Univeral logo popular at the sentence that theEvil Deadmovies were made .
NEXT:10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Evil Dead II
