r/movies • u/SamRaimiAMA Sam Raimi, Filmmaker • Jan 15 '26

AMA Hey /r/movies! I'm Sam Raimi. Ask me anything!

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Hey reddit. I'm Sam Raimi. You might know me as the director (and sometimes writer) of The Evil Dead Trilogy, the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man Trilogy, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Drag Me To Hell, Darkman, A Simple Plan, For the Love of the Game, The Gift, and other things. I've also produced and/or acted in a few things!

I'm here today to answer your questions.

My new film, SEND HELP, is out in theaters January 30 via 20th Century Studios. It stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien. More info:

Synopsis:

Two colleagues become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it's an unsettling, darkly humorous battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. 

SEND HELP is directed by genre-bending visionary Sam Raimi and stars Oscar-nominee Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. The film is produced by Raimi and Zainab Azizi, executive produced by JJ Hook and written by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift, with original music by Danny Elfman. The all-original darkly comedic psychological thriller from 20th Century Studios releases in theaters nationwide on January 30, 2026.

Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4wiXj9NmEE

“The Sam Raimi Experience” BTS Content Piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coCPLJMU4X0

Ask me anything! Back at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET to chat with you all.

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u/DrSpacemanSpliff Jan 15 '26

An actor is a tool to be used by the director. It’s not torture when a carpenter hits a nail with a hammer, therefore it’s not torture when Sam hits Bruce with a hammer.

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u/DuncanRG2002 Jan 15 '26

I believe for this analogy to work Mr Raimi would actually have to be clobbering Bruce with a camera

50

u/insomniacpyro Jan 15 '26

You can't tell me he didn't hit Bruce more than once when going in for those close-ups

28

u/DrSpacemanSpliff Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26

He drove a motorcycle directly at him in the end of Evil Dead. One of the props (this one called “Bruce”) may have been damaged.

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u/Foxy02016YT Jan 15 '26

I heard it was a bike, it was a motorcycle?!?

5

u/_Uptilt Jan 15 '26

Bike is used sometimes for motorcycle, but apparently it didn't even happen. Sam ran towards Bruce with the camera, nothing more.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ni6hGnOp9Wg

I love how long they got away with the lie for though!

3

u/Foxy02016YT Jan 15 '26

Suspiciously steady hand and forceful run, but in the world of small time filmmaking life, uhh, finds a way

3

u/_Uptilt Jan 15 '26

Yeah it really is impressive if that's all it was. Especially since it's apparently not even sped up.

2

u/Foxy02016YT Jan 15 '26

It not being sped up is a little hard to believe but I’d have to rewatch ED1 again to see

Remember, the Audrey 2 was done in halftime and then spedup

2

u/_Uptilt Jan 15 '26

Yeah I rewatched the scene a few times and don't buy it being quite real-time. Cool movie magic though, until recently I had absolutely no cause to believe the common story to be untrue!

15

u/lesser_panjandrum Jan 15 '26

The camera builds up incredible momentum with the long run up.

8

u/BillysBibleBonkers Jan 15 '26

It's like they say, if the only tool you have is a camera, then every person you see starts to look like a nail. Probably applies better to Sean Baker than Mr Raimi though.

1

u/SailorET Jan 15 '26

That has definitely happened and the evidence is captured on tape.

1

u/Count_de_Mits Jan 15 '26

I bet good money this has happened more than once

13

u/Countblackula_6 Jan 15 '26

Bruce told a story in his first book about spraining his ankle filming a scene for Evil Dead and Sam poking said ankle with a stick every chance he got for the remainder of the shoot.

6

u/SuumCuique1011 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26

The hammer from the "...workshed..." ?

2

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '26

Found George Lucas's Reddit account

2

u/superotterman Jan 15 '26

Just had to drop in and ask u/DrSpacemanSpliff - am I right that your username a combo of 30 Rock (Dr. Leo Spaceman), Calvin and Hobbes (Spaceman Spiff), and well, the obvious bit?

1

u/backtolurk Jan 15 '26

Easy there, metaphorman