DRAG ME TO HELL (2009)

With special guest Hale Appleman

Intro, Math Club, and Debate Society (spoiler-free) 00:00-26:51
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy) 26:52-53:53
Superlatives (so. many. spoilers.) 53:54-1:14:48

Director Sam Raimi
Screenplay Sam Raimi & Ivan Raimi
Featuring Adriana Barraza, Molly Cheek, Kevin Foster, Alison Lohman, Justin Long, David Paymer, Dileep Rao, Lorna Raver, Chelcie Ross

Released May 29, 2009
Budget $30 million
Box office $42,100,625 US/Canada / $90,842,646 Worldwide

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

When Christine Brown, a young bank loan officer, must decide whether to grant a third extension on the loan of one Sylvia Ganush, who’s already defaulted on two – she’s in a real quandary.  She really wants that Assistant Manager position, and Stu Rubin seems to have the inside track with her boss, Mr. Jacks.  But Christine’s determined, and so, with all the heartlessness she can muster, she denies Mrs. Ganush the extension.  It’s a decision that will come to haunt her – for Mrs. Ganush curses Christine with the Lamia, an ancient goat spirit that makes Christine’s life a living hell.  The only solution:  the sacrifice of an animal, and giving away the cursed object. Will a kindly medium, Rham Jas, be able to help Christine?  Will the woman who met the Lamia years before, Shaun Sen Dena, be able to lend her expertise?  Will Christine’s psychology professor boyfriend Clay ever figure out what’s going on?  What will stop the spirit’s relentless assault, and put a button on Christine’s nightmare?

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Hale Appleman has been seen onstage at major American theaters including the Roundabout Theater Company, American Repertory Theater, The Old Globe, and the Berkshire Theater Festival.  He can be heard on the L.A. Theatre Works recording of Sam Shepard's Buried Child and starred as Jesus in the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play. Hale may be best known for playing Eliot in TV’s “The Magicians”; other film and TV credits include Beautiful Ohio, Pedro, Private Romeo, and the Sundance horror comedy Teeth. He’s recurred on TV in “Smash” (NBC), the currently streaming “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV), and FX’s “American Horror Story: NYC” as a David Wojnarowicz analog in the 1980s East Village art scene. Favorite recess snacks: Gushers, and marshmallow fluff and peanut butter on graham crackers.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from “Drag Me to Hell” by Christopher Young.

BONUS SHORT

TRAILER

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Hale: Christine enters Mrs. Ganush’s house, it’s deadly quiet, and suddenly she turns the corner and there’s a wake going on
Eric: Mrs. Ganush vomits maggots all over Christine, including in C’s mouth
Bradford: The corpse of Mrs. Ganush falls onto Christine at her wake, spilling putrid green gunk everywhere, including in C’s mouth

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Hale: Mrs. Ganush
Eric: Christine
Bradford: Shaun san Dena

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Hale: Mrs. Ganush
Eric: Mrs. Ganush
Bradford: Christine

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Hale: The cemetery scene
Eric: The cemetery scene
Bradford: The seance

The Brad Dourif Award for Character Who Could Have Been Played by Brad Dourif
Hale (TIE): The Lamia and Milos
Eric: Milos
Bradford: Shaun san Dena as possessed by The Lamia

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Hale: A
Eric: A-
Bradford: A