In 2009, filmmaker Sam Raimi made his return to horror with “Drag Me to Hell.” It tells the story of Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), a loan officer who evicts an elderly woman (Lorna Raver) from her home. As punishment, the old woman curses Christine, who spends the rest of the film running from supernatural forces.
Now horror movies and sequels/full-on franchises go together like peanut butter and jelly. With “Drag Me to Hell” raking in $90 million at the worldwide box office upon its release, and the cult following it has gained over the years. It’s no surprise that sequel buzz has been swirling around it for years. The problem is, the ending does exactly what the film’s title promises. Sending your lead character to hell doesn’t leave much room (story wise) for a follow-up.
“I don’t have a story, because in my mind the character got killed, and worse,” Raimi told Bloody Disgusting in 2019. “So I didn’t know how to proceed with the sequel. Usually, for me, I’m left with a character like Bruce Campbell, that I really am interested [in] or like, or a concept that really feels like it needs to continue. But this is such a definitive ending that in my mind I didn’t know where to start with a sequel.”
During a recent Reddit AMA chat about the upcoming movie “65,” Raimi teased a possible “Drag Me to Hell” sequel. “The team at Ghost House Pictures: Romel Adam and Jose Canas, are trying to come up with a story that would work and I’m anxious to hear if they do!”
When another fan asked about a second film, “65”’s Writer/Director Bryan Woods added, “We also loved Drag Me to Hell – remember seeing it in theaters like it was yesterday!! What do you think Sam? Drag Me BACK to Hell?” And with a title suggestion like that, how could he resist?
While this is clearly all wishful thinking at this point, we all know how iffy the movie development process is. Raimi did also acknowledge in the 2019 interview that Christine really did get the karmic short end of the stick. “No, I feel that the poor girl was overpunished, as it happens in life sometimes,” said Raimi. “It is a morality tale, she did do the wrong thing, but holy cow, give her a break! But that’s how this particular tale [ends].” The idea could possibly be an in for a redemption story either for Christine in hell. Or possibly her boyfriend (Jason Long) attempting to clear her name in the afterlife.
We’ll keep you posted on developments with a “Drag Me to Hell” sequel if/when they develop.
