By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
After a string of mediocre to poor theatrical releases, here comes a professional grade, quality production that hits all the right notes. “Send Help” is Sam Raimi’s return to the horror genre, but it is more of a psychological thriller with clever twists and turns that make for a rewarding, heart pounding ride. Led by the outstanding acting of Rachel McAdams, this is a compelling story that only improves as it progresses.
A plane crash leaves only two survivors stranded on a deserted island. One is Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams), who happens to be a superfan of the “Survivor” reality series and has been avidly studying survival skills in preparation for the show. The other is her boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), who has constantly ridiculed and devalued Linda. However, with his injury from the crash and inability to contribute anything to their survival on this island, he must now rely on Linda to take the lead and keep them alive. The shift in power and lingering animosity between the two make this new dynamic anything but amenable, shaping into an inevitable contest of wills.
For Sam Raimi, this is a return to a genre that launched his filmmaking career in the 1980s and early 90s with “The Evil Dead” and subsequent sequels. As he did with those cult classics, he achieves a perfect balance of gripping suspense and pure entertainment through comedy that ensures viewers have a good time. He blends this captivating tension between the main characters with a darkly comic campiness that is underscored by his trademark infusion of goofy gore that has audiences gripping their armrest one moment and succumbing to shocking laughter the next.
There is nothing overly complex regarding the plot, but Raimi uses meticulous attention to detail that sustains a high level of cleverness filmgoers will appreciate. As a psychological tug-of-war is waged, Raimi keeps viewers guessing how the story will be resolved, resulting in a faster paced thriller that maintains viewer investment. Complementing this is the cinematography he employs, alternating between wider scenic shots and tighter, character-focused framing that provide more emotional intimacy. He also uses night scenes, rainy shots, and deepening shadows to elicit a sense of perpetual danger. To top it off, this is the eighth time Raimi uses the talents of four-time Oscar nominated composer Danny Elfman, and he captures mood shifts through the music exquisitely as he typically does.
As for the acting, Rachel McAdams puts on a master class with an unshackled performance that leaves the audience breathless. The veteran Oscar nominee (“Spotlight”) gets to flex her acting muscles like she’s never really done before, shifting from an unkempt, disheveled yet brilliant social pariah to an authoritarian survivalist. Before the plane crash, she depicts her character as being unable to read a room, creating cringey socially awkward moments that align with her almost detestable appearance that makes the nose wrinkle in anticipation of body odor. After the crash, she displays a subtle upward shift in confidence, allowing her character to flourish with expertise in her element, and her appearance ironically follows suit, becoming more appealing under the harsh conditions. The increased confidence comes out in her line delivery as well with a commanding tone that brooks no argument. Her mesmerizing transitions are a treat to behold and elevate the quality of this film.
Dylan O’Brien is also convincing as the mean boss used to being in a power position over people, flaunting his arrogance and demeaning subordinates like Rachel’s character. So, it adds a flavor of humor and justice when the tables are turned and that power is stripped away from him. He doesn’t provide as much depth and backstory to his character like Rachel does, however, making his performance shallower and more one-dimensional. Still, he shows solid on-screen chemistry with McAdams that translates to believable interactions and growing distrust between the characters.
We have our first must-see film of 2026, and it’s one of those unique movies you’ll feel the urge to rewatch to catch all the subtle details you might have missed the first time. “Send Help” is a purely entertaining thriller with Rachel McAdams adding the exclamation mark. If a cross between “Misery” and “Cast Away” with a sprinkling of “Horrible Bosses” sounds appealing to you, this will be a guaranteed blast.
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