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‘Send Help’: An Analysis of the Eye-Gouging Scene(s) in Sam Raimi’s Breakaway Horror-Comedy Hit

Posted in Essays, Favorite Films, Features with tags Dylan O'Brien, horror, movies, Rachel McAdams, Sam Raimi, Send Help on 05/26/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Just two weeks ago, we raved about the best movie of the year so far, Sam Raimi’s Send Help. But just as we can’t stop rewatching the deliriously entertaining horror-thriller-with-a-smile, we keep finding more in-jokes (or Easter eggs, if you prefer) with each subsequent viewing.

The most obvious one is the golfing motif, which is not unlike the collectible coin/button storytelling device that Raimi used in his last great horror-comedy, Drag Me to Hell. (The Bad Penny still maintains the latter flick is the better of the two discussed here.) Just as the coin/button completed the narrative circle of Drag Me to Hell with a sinister smirk, Raimi similarly introduces the golf club and brief discussions about golf at the very beginning and very end of Send Help.

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Favorite Films: Did You Catch These Easter Eggs in ‘One Battle After Another’?

Posted in Essays, Favorite Films with tags Benicio del Toro, Leonardo DiCaprio, movies, One Battle After Another, Sean Penn on 02/15/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Do we still have to say “spoiler alert”? Then fine: spoiler alert.

Here are observations from someone who has watched the best movie of 2025 too many times:

1. Let’s start with the obvious: Leonardo DiCaprio has said in interviews that he loosely based his character, nicknamed “Ghetto Pat,” after “The Dude” – or “El Duderino,” if you’re not into that whole brevity thing – from The Big Lebowski. For one, both Pat and Jeffrey Lebowski are essentially confused throughout the duration of each movie.

2. Both characters have goatees, occasionally tie back their hair and dress similarly with bathrobes, flannel and sunglasses. (HalloweenCostumes.com actually sells a “Big Lebowski The Dude Bathrobe Costume for Men.”)