The horror space has not seen a movie helmed by one of the genre’s best since 2009, but the director finally plans to return in January. Despite making some of thebest horror moviesof all time, this excellent creative has recently filled his time directing franchisemovies for both the Marvel Cinematic UniverseandThe Wizard of Oz.
Fortunately,this filmmaker has remained linked to the horror genre, producing excellent films likeCrawlandDon’t Breathe,showing that he still has his finger on the pulse of the form. This is important, as horror is an exciting genre that sees some of the most creative innovation in all of Hollywood.
Some of thebest horror movies have had great storiesthat confront relevant themes, withsome of the strongest of these, includingSinnersandGet Out,being some of the most critically acclaimed filmsof their release years. Alternatively, horror has used jump scares to illicit more visceral reactions and responses from viewers.
With some interesting comparisons to past films,this new picture from a Hollywood legend may walk both of these lines simultaneously.There is great anticipation for his return to the genre, which will finally occur at the beginning of next year.
Sam Raimi Is One Of The Best Horror Movie Directors Around
Sam Raimibroke onto the scene in 1981 with his first major release,The Evil Dead.The terrifying film depicted a group of friends being tormented by evil spiritsin a cabin in the woods. TheEvil Deadmovieswent on to spawn sequels, a remake, a spinoff film, a musical, and a TV series, with more in the works.
Each of theseEvil Deadfilms tapped into the horrific spirit of Raimi’s original in all kinds of unique ways.Blending comedy, paranormal lore, and even heroism together, the franchise remains one of the most important horror series ever. However, the director has also pursued other interests within his canon of films.
Raimi broke through in a bigger way with hisSpider-Manmovies, which helped to make superhero films one of the dominant forms of storytelling in the 21st century. However,his horror roots could be seen even in those films,especially when confronting Norman Osborn’s fears as he slowly descends into madness, becoming a terrifying monster of a man.
Raimi is proficient with comedy and action, buthis best works use the director’s skills with building fear and suspense.Elements of this could be seen in movies likeDarkmanandThe Gift. With all of this considered, it is especially exciting that he is finally returning to make another horror movie, which is now set for release in January 2026.
Send Helpis set for release in January 2026, and the film has been described as a survival-based horror-thriller. The movie is especially exciting as it has been so long since Raimi has made a horror movie. While elements of his style were present in other projects,Raimi hasn’t made a genuine horror movie sinceDrag Me to Hell.
Arguably thebest horror movie featuring Justin Long,Drag Me to Hellsees loan officer Christine Brown refusing to extend a mortgage payment in an attempt to secure a promotionfor herself. As a result, she becomes cursed by the old woman she denies.
The bulk of the film sees her attempting to find a way to circumvent the Lamia demon’s plans to drag her down to hell, as her time ticks down. The ways that it does this are often funny and clever, butmore than anything, the movie is terrifying.
While nothing has materialized, there have been conversations about a sequel toDrag Me to Hell. Discussions have been ongoing, with the most recent comments coming from 2023.
Featuring so many disturbing images, including ones that lean into grossout horror and even camp,the film is a fun rollercoaster of a movie.It was even critically acclaimed, earning a 92% score onRotten Tomatoes. With all of this considered, it is especially exciting that Raimi will be returning to the genre.
Why Sam Raimi Returning To Horror Is So Exciting
Raimi became important to horror aficionados quickly, andEvil Deadhas influenced so many movies, includingThe Cabin in the Woods. While the director’s impact has been seen throughout horror films, he has also built up a respectable resume making some of the biggest movies ever, including the recentDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Raimi returning to horror is so exciting becausethe director has done it all and seen it all, and yet his experience has led him directly to this project.Rather than just producing, like he did with the magnificentCrawl, Raimi has put his unparalleled skills and experience to work on this original script.
Evil Deadremains an important entry in the horror canon, and seeing where Raimi uses his abilities with horror and violence in this unique island setting could be interesting.The new film stars Rachel McAdamsalongside Dylan O’Brien, Dennis Haysbert, Chris Pang, and Brad Flett. Only sparse details about the story have been provided, but they sound compelling.
How Send Help Could Be Different From Sam Raimi’s Other Horror Movies
The Movie’s Story Is Unusual For A Raimi Horror Project
It is unclear exactly how muchSend Helpwill lean into its horror elements.The film does not appear to have a paranormal bent to it, which is a very different kind of take for Raimi. According toDeadline, the tone of the story is compared to bothMiseryandCastaway, which could be a strange and unique balance.
Send Helpwill see two people who work together stranded on an island, fighting to survive,and it remains to be seen where the horror in the film is built from. There are several ways this could be done, such as the heroes facing natural and wildlife terrors, similar toCrawl.
With this in mind, most of the terror in the film will likely come from human characters.Miserysaw a fan becoming violent toward her favorite writer, and elements of that could play into the new film. Trapped on an island in the middle of nowhere,the film could feature its small cast inflicting horrors upon one another.
Tapping into survivalism and fear,Send Helpis one of the most exciting horror releases in the next year. Following a packed 2025 of franchises returning, includingFinal DestinationandI Know What You Did Last Summer,it is exciting that another horror auteur is finally returning to the genre. The new film releases in January.
