The horror genre’s nasty feud with Oscar nominees continues, as Juno star Ellen Page has pulled out out of the dark place that is director Sam Raimi’s upcoming horror-thriller Drag Me to Hell. Bloody Disgusting reports that the sweet tart wasn’t happy over the latest draft of the script, which was written by Raimi and his brother Ivan Raimi, but they speculate that this is really “Oscar cold feet.” Page came aboard the film earlier this month.
No word on a replacement, but who would you like to see in the flick? It was described here earlier as “a ’spook-a-blast,’ a wild ride with all the chill and spills of [Raimi's] The Evil Dead, without relying on the excessive violence of that film.” I’m digging the exploitation-vibe of the title, which recalls grindhouse films like I Spit on Your Grave and Thriller: A Cruel Picture. The plot reportedly revolves around “the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse” and presumably that’s who Page was going to play. Page will next be seen in Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, the rollerskating-fem movie Whip It!, due in 2009.
Discuss: Who’s the best replacement for Page? What young actress who hasn’t starred in a horror flick would you like to see take “the plunge”? And after three Spider-Man films and many Jacuzzi nights, does Raimi still have the goods to scare you up a wall and make you do a spit-take back to back?
February 29th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
This happens way too much. I remember Silence of the Lambs being a horror film until it won an Academy Award, then it turned into a “thriller.” While there are plenty of poorly done horror films out there that give good horror a bad name it’s still a shame that an actor (or actress) can’t choose a part because of a great story and not because of “if” it will “ruin” their career.
As for Raimi, he’s still got the chops. I enjoyed Spider-man, although it had too much angsty-drama in it for me. I didn’t bother to return for the two sequels though. I think Raimi is very talented and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with for his return to the genre.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Man she did Hard Candy and she’s gonna punk out. I cut for that more than Juno but that’s me.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I don’t mind getting flack for this, but I really enjoyed the remake of When a Stranger Calls coupled with Camilla Belle’s performance. Maybe we’ll see more of her after 10,000 BC.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
she seemed pretty stoked on doing it to in interviews
o well
February 29th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I think Raimi still has what it takes. You have to imagine how restricted he must have been dealing with something so iconic as Spiderman. I can just see Avi and Stan standing behind his chair whispering the whole movie shoot. I have faith in Raimi, he has a solid horror foundation and enough cred with Hollywood to get movies done.
As for the replacement, I first thought Eliza Dushku, but then I read the part about “not starring in a horror film before.” So I’m going to throw out Hayden Panettiere as one choice, obvious draw to the box office. Also would suggest Margo Harshman, although she appears to have just completed the horror/thriller “From Within.” Sorry not to familiar with the young Hollywood crowd, maybe Alexa Vega, she seems to have a good foundation of films as well.
February 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
One of my favorite films of all time is Evil Dead 2, yes its brillant.
It’s not original in storytelling ,but its crafty and has every bit of exploitative magic. Evil Dead 2 is a low-budget filmmakers wet dream. The humor is spot on and the movie has the power to creep you out. Especially when you knew where Henrietta was hiding half way through the movie. Anyone who’s seen it knows exactly what I’m talking about.
The special effects and visuals are amazing. You cannot deny that Evil Dead 2 is a classic, at least in the humor/horror genre of cult films.
What Sam Raimi is doing now, I’m partically rooting for him and also not. Sam Raimi has made a sucessful transition to Hollywood films…in a different way. His style of horror is far from what Hollywood are customed to ,but his mainstream filcks are pretty decent, especially Spider-man 1 & 2.
Army of Darkness is, what I consider, a product of Hollywood tampering with a genius. Yes, its a cult flick, many people love it ,but it doesn’t have the high-energy or the creativity that the first two had. Army of Darkness is way too
polished looking, and doesn’t have the violence or gore the others had. Not that it made the story better ,but it generated a raw feel that made Evil Dead so anti-Hollywood.
I’m worried that this Sam Raimi horror flick will be a product of
Hollywood rather than a true product of Sam Raimi’s vision. I hope Raimi is able to deliever the goods without the influence of studio heads.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
She made the right choice. Lets face it starring in this kind of movie wouldn’t garner her any praise or oscar nominations and potential win.
She should keep doing oscar quality movies.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Hey Jojo…. how does that argument jive with “Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, the rollerskating-fem movie Whip It?” Please.
I like how she had problems with the Drag Me To Hell script, yet keeps on talking about how Diablo Cody’s script was “one of the best scripts I’ve ever read,” as if she’s read hundreds and hundreds.
I think that this movie would be something people would be fighting to be a part of. Raimi returning to horror is going to make the actors look great. This is like the Coen’s returning to a thriller after a slew of quirky comedies. Probably not in terms of awards, but in terms of making you look great. I think Page is a fine actress, but shes also 21 and probably has people in her ear. But c’mon, Whip It gets priority over this? She’s just drinking the Juno kool-aid. Raimi is going to do a great job. And great writing and directing can withstand something like this.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I say go with some unknowns!
Screw all the ‘good-looking’, ‘Soap=Opera’, ‘talentless clones’ that make up 99% of the terrible horror re-makes that have plagued original horror fans for years.
Evil Dead 2 rocks and it’s all unknowns. That makes it even better!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
because that drew barrymore movie sounds like a total masterpiece.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:20 am
I think Blake Lively from “Gossip Girl” would be good in a movie like this. Yeah, definitely.
March 1st, 2008 at 8:38 am
Sam Raimi is going to make a great film. I think Page would have made a statement by doing the film and could have potentially broadened her fan base, but she most likely has a lot of choices these days. That’s a lot of hard decision making and pressure for anyone, yet alone a 21 yr. old with relatively new fame.
ehh….whatever. Happens all the time. If I were Raimi, I’d be calling Emma Watson (yes, that Emma Watson)…..and then Katherine Isabelle, Kat Dennings, Emma Stone.
March 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
what about christina ricci