Drag Me to Hell (2009) Ending Explained
tl;dr: Drag Me to Hell (2009), directed by Sam Raimi, ends with protagonist Christine Brown being dragged to hell by a demon after failing to break the Lamia curse. Despite her desperate efforts to pass the curse onto someone else, the film reveals in its final moments that she had unknowingly returned the cursed button to her nemesis Mrs. Ganush, sealing her fate. The ending is a brutal twist that subverts traditional horror movie tropes where protagonists usually survive or triumph.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of Drag Me to Hell sees Christine, a loan officer who denied an elderly woman (Mrs. Ganush) a mortgage extension, realizing she is doomed unless she can transfer the Lamia curse to another person. After a chaotic séance and a failed attempt to pass the curse to her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, Christine believes she has finally succeeded when she gives a cursed envelope to a stranger. The film then jumps to a happy montage where Christine reunites with her boyfriend Clay and appears to have escaped her fate. However, in the final scene, as they board a train, Christine finds the cursed button in her coat pocket-meaning she accidentally gave Mrs. Ganush's button (the cursed object) back to her in the envelope instead of the cursed coin. This realization comes too late as demonic hands erupt from the train's floor and drag her screaming into hell.
Themes and Subversion of Expectations
The ending reinforces the film's themes of moral ambiguity and the inevitability of consequences. Christine's initial refusal to help Mrs. Ganush was a selfish act, and her subsequent attempts to manipulate the curse onto others (including an innocent person) further highlight her flawed morality. Unlike many horror films where the protagonist survives or defeats the evil force, Drag Me to Hell delivers a grim, ironic twist - Christine's own carelessness seals her fate. This aligns with classic horror morality tales where characters cannot escape their sins. The film also plays with audience expectations by teasing a happy ending before pulling the rug out in the final seconds.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
Why did Christine still have the button?
- She mistakenly placed it in the envelope instead of the cursed coin due to stress and panic.
- The curse itself manipulated events to ensure her downfall.
Could Christine have avoided her fate?
- If she had genuinely tried to break the curse through self-sacrifice rather than passing it on.
- If she had shown remorse earlier instead of only acting out of fear.
What was Mrs. Ganush's ultimate goal?
- Pure vengeance-she wanted Christine to suffer eternally.
- She may have been a vessel for the Lamia demon, acting as its pawn.
Symbolism and Horror Tropes
The button symbolizes Christine's guilt and the inescapable nature of the curse. Its reappearance underscores that she could never truly rid herself of the consequences of her actions. The film also pays homage to classic horror twists, where the protagonist's victory is revealed to be an illusion (similar to Carrie or The Twilight Zone). The abrupt, visceral nature of Christine's damnation leaves a lasting impact, reinforcing the idea that evil in this universe is relentless and cunning.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
I found the ending of Drag Me to Hell both shocking and satisfying. While many horror films opt for a predictable survival ending, Raimi's choice to damn Christine makes the story more memorable and thematically rich. It's a cruel but fitting conclusion for a character who, despite her sympathetic moments, never truly atones for her actions. The film balances dark humor and genuine terror well, and the final scene is one of the most effective horror twists of the 2000s. Some may argue it's overly harsh, but I appreciate its refusal to compromise-true horror should leave you unsettled, and this ending delivers.
Final Thoughts
Drag Me to Hell is a masterclass in blending psychological horror with grotesque, supernatural terror. The ending cements its status as a modern horror classic by defying conventions and leaving the audience with a sense of dread. Christine's fate is a stark reminder that some curses cannot be outsmarted-only endured. Whether interpreted as a moral lesson or simply a brutal twist, the finale ensures the film lingers in the viewer's mind long after the credits roll.