Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present – Deep Cuts Horror Hit List #4 “Drag Me To Hell”

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Deep Cuts Horror Hit List #4 “Drag Me To Hell”
Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes are counting down their "Deep Cuts Horror Hit List"—a collection of lesser-discussed but essential horror films. This episode focuses on number four: Sam Raimi’s "Drag Me to Hell" (2009). Despite its PG-13 rating, both hosts declare it a perennial favorite, blending genuine scares, dark comedy, and social commentary for a horror experience unlike most. The pair dissect why it made their list, discuss memorable scenes and characters, and even offer a playful food-and-drink pairing idea inspired by the film.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Surprising PG-13 Rating

• Both Amy and T.J. repeatedly express disbelief at the film’s PG-13 rating, given how effectively creepy and intense it is.
  • "I can't believe it's PG13... This thing is scary and it's fun. And those two things don't always go together." — Amy (03:54)
• T.J. admits to generally avoiding PG-13 horror, making its inclusion in their top five an act of self-surprise (04:21).

First Impressions vs. Reality

• Amy recalls dismissing the film initially due to its title, only to be delighted by how "amazing" it turned out to be:
  • "The name of it turned me off. I thought, this is gonna be stupid... This movie is amazing." — Amy (04:48)

Quick Film Synopsis & Personal Impact

• Amy summarizes the story: a bank employee, Christine Brown, denies an elderly woman’s loan extension, resulting in a devastating supernatural curse (05:32).
• The film’s premise resonated enough to alter how Amy feels in real-life settings:
  • "It changed how I feel in a parking garage... You and I actually had a moment... based on this movie." — Amy (06:08)

Box Office & Genre Context

• T.J. details the film’s financial success: $91 million on a $30 million budget (06:20).
• Amy positions the film as ahead of its time, with a blend of horror and comedy that was rare in 2009 (07:02).

The Allure of Justin Long and the Cast

• Repeated admiration for Justin Long’s roles in horror:
  • "We have to go back and do a count of how many movies Justin Long is in in our top 30." — T.J. (07:31)
  • Amy and T.J. agree he gives the audience a charming "knight in shining armor” persona in this film (08:08).
• Allison Lohman is recognized as a strong lead; Sam Raimi’s direction is praised for balancing tone (08:08).

Rotten Tomatoes Disparity: Critics vs. Audience

• Amy and T.J. are shocked by the 92% critic score vs. 62% audience score:
  • "Why did there was some group of people get together to try and bring that score down? I don't understand." — Amy (08:56)
• They speculate about contrarian negative reviews and why such a fun, accessible horror movie might not connect with all viewers (09:13–09:42).

Critics’ and Audience Reviews – Highlights and Morality

• T.J. reads out the critic consensus:
  • "Sam Raimi returns to top form with Drag Me to Hell: a frightening, hilarious, delightfully campy thrill ride." (09:42)
  • Amy: "Drag Me to Hell is sometimes funny and often startling horror movie. That is what it wants to be and that is what it is." (10:04)
• The film’s “morality tale” aspect is discussed:
  • "Good people getting caught up and sometimes in their own world and their own ambitions and you leave some of your morals at the door." — T.J. (10:45)
  • Amy: "There is a big moral dilemma in the central part of this story." (11:11)

The Movie’s Unique Blend: Scares and Laughs

• Both hosts emphasize its rare ability to be “genuinely scary” but still outrageously funny — intentionally so (11:59).
• Even negative reviews amuse the hosts—what some call “silly, unhinged, disgusting, bad special effects,” they count as features, not bugs:
  • "All of those for us? Silly, Check. Completely unhinged, check. Disgusting, Check. Bad special effects. Those are all in the pro column for us." — T.J. (13:18)

Mood-Boosting, Accessible Horror

• Amy: "You could watch this movie going into any mood you're in and you will come out in a better mood." (13:33)
• T.J. calls it “a mood-boosting horror film.” (13:41)
• The pair stress the film is scary without being violent and gory, making it accessible for a wider (but still mature) audience (14:09).

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On PG-13 horror:
  “I can't believe it's PG13... I'm shocked by it. This thing is scary and it's fun.” — Amy Robach (03:54)
• On personal impact:
  “It changed how I feel in a parking garage. It changed how I feel about even turning someone down...” — Amy Robach (06:08)
• On the cast:
  “Anytime we see Justin Long and he's not the boy next door... it upsets us. He is all of that in this one. He is exactly just the one we love.” — T.J. Holmes (07:53)
• On morality and the plot:
  “Good people getting caught up and sometimes in their own world and their own ambitions and you leave some of your morals at the door.” — T.J. Holmes (10:45)
• On its legacy:
  “Drag me to hell is the most fun you'll have being scared for a long time. Agreed.” — Amy Robach (11:52)
• Negative reviews as praise:
  “All of those for us? Silly, Check. Completely unhinged, check. Disgusting, Check. Bad special effects. Those are all in the pro column for us.” — T.J. Holmes (13:18)
• Mood booster:
  “You could watch this movie going into any mood you're in and you will come out in a better mood.” — Amy Robach (13:33) “This is a mood boosting horror film.” — T.J. Holmes (13:41)

Segment Timestamps

• [03:14] Episode begins: Introduction of the film and its place in their horror countdown
• [04:48] Amy’s first impressions and synopsis
• [06:08] Personal stories and lasting impact of the film
• [07:02] Box office stats, genre uniqueness, discussion of cast and director
• [08:36] Rotten Tomatoes scores and reactions
• [09:42] Critics and audience review highlights
• [10:45] Moral questions in the film
• [13:18] Dissecting negative reviews; their appreciation of the film’s “flaws”
• [14:09] Age appropriateness and accessibility
• [18:22] Return from break: What makes the movie great, standout scenes, who the film is for
• [22:08] Food & drink pairing—“harvest cake” and mulled wine/apple cider
• [24:55] Where to watch: HBO Max, Peacock

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Watch

Who it's for:

• “Anyone who is looking for fun. Anyone who's looking to have a good, entertaining and scary movie. I really think this is the movie that has it all. There’s something in it for everyone.” — Amy (20:11)
• Suitable for teens and up (PG-13), but some imagery may be too scary for young children.

Who it’s not for:

• Those seeking traditional, exclusively dark and serious horror—“If you just want to be scared, uncomfortable and uneasy and you don’t want to laugh… this might not be for you.” — Amy (21:07)

Food & Drink Pairing (22:08–24:55)

• A central “harvest cake,” inspired by a pivotal scene where Christine brings the cake to a family dinner.
  • Ingredients: apple cake base, pecans, cranberries, walnuts, currants, dried figs—essentially an autumnal fruit-and-nut cake.
  • “It's basically what people would put together with whatever they had left over from the harvest and put it in an apple-based cake.” — Amy (23:23)
• Beverages: Mulled wine or apple cider; embrace an autumnal, rustic theme.
  • “Mulled wine is a German tradition in Oktoberfest.” — Amy (24:42)
  • Beer is also an option for group parties.

Where to Watch

• Available now on HBO Max and Peacock.
• Both hosts strongly recommend “just buying it” if you’re a horror fan (24:55).

Conclusion & Looking Ahead

The episode showcases "Drag Me to Hell" as a near-perfect blend of fun and frights, deserving of its spot on any horror hit list—especially for fans of smart, self-aware scares. The next episode will feature their #3 pick, hinted to be the shortest but possibly most compelling entry on their list.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a lively, insightful discussion of hidden-gem horror cinema, complete with practical watch party tips and delightful host banter.