Send Help Review: Sam Raimi’s Survivalist Thriller Delivers And Induces Gags

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You don’t have to be a hardcore fan of Sam Raimi to think is a great film, but it helps.

The director of classics like Evil Dead II, the original Spider-Man trilogy, and Drag Me to Hell truly showcases his signature style in this thrilling survival story. Expect a wildly dynamic camera – sometimes even from the point of view of a boar! – shockingly close-up shots, and an abundance of vividly colored fluids liberally applied to the actors. No other director could so effortlessly make you laugh hysterically and feel utterly repulsed at the same time, and Raimi achieves this balance with remarkable consistency and skill.

Beyond being one of the best genre films of 2026, Send Help feels like a throwback to classic filmmaking, where a strong cast could turn a good idea into a cultural phenomenon. If you enjoyed films like Romancing the Stone or Joe Versus the Volcano, but prefer a bit of edge to your sweetness, you’ll likely love this. The film centers on an office worker stranded on a deserted island with her demanding boss, and it represents a vibrant return to form for director Raimi, reminiscent of his early, independent work. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien give wonderfully bold and often hilarious performances, turning their characters’ struggle to survive into a compelling and spirited clash of personalities.

Sam Raimi’s Three Stooges-Meets-Splatter Sensibility Flourishes

In the film Game Night, McAdams plays Linda Liddle, a hardworking but overlooked employee at a consulting firm. When Bradley Preston (O’Brien, from Twinless) is about to become CEO after his father’s passing, he initially dismisses Linda because of her unremarkable appearance, simple lunches, and tendency to speak in motivational jargon. However, Bradley soon recognizes Linda’s valuable knowledge could help him secure a major deal, so he unexpectedly invites her to join his team – a group of college friends and similar-minded colleagues – on a business trip abroad.

I was shocked when the plane went down! It was on the way to a business meeting, and somehow Linda and Bradley were the only ones who made it, though Bradley was hurt and couldn’t move around much. Luckily, Linda had actually applied for Survivor before, so she really knew what she was doing when it came to building a shelter, finding food, and treating injuries. Honestly, it was frustrating to watch Bradley act so entitled and helpless – he’d already been condescending to Linda at work, and now it was even worse. She clearly had the skills to keep them both alive in this wild place! They didn’t really have a choice but to rely on each other, but old grudges, and even new secrets, started to creep in and put everything at risk. It’s a tense situation, to say the least!

Despite being co-written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who successfully rebooted Friday the 13th in 2009, Sam Raimi’s sixteenth film feels deeply personal and inventive, much like his previous acclaimed work. While the movie is full of genuine emotion—Raimi has become even better at finding it in these kinds of situations—his main focus remains staging exciting, violent, and funny action scenes. His camera work brilliantly captures the energy of his actors, mirroring their enthusiastic performances. Rachel McAdams and O’Brien deliver incredibly uninhibited performances, pushing their characters to new extremes, and Raimi makes sure we don’t miss a single, often graphic, detail – clearly enjoying their commitment.

Rachel McAdams Smartly Resists Making Linda Too Likable

While O’Brien is good in the film, it’s really Rachel McAdams who carries it. It’s not simply that we’re supposed to feel bad for her character, Linda, being ignored by the powerful men around her, but because McAdams brilliantly portrays a character who challenges our sympathy. Despite being capable, Linda’s social awkwardness and constant stream of motivational sayings quickly make her unlikeable – someone you’d appreciate help from, but wouldn’t want to be friends with. McAdams doesn’t shy away from this complexity, which makes Linda a far more interesting and morally gray character when contrasted with the film’s clearly arrogant and entitled villain.

The fact that Linda is so self-contained makes the idea of her being stranded on an island surprisingly appealing—and she’s actually very well-equipped to handle it. This creates an interesting tension when she starts taking charge of her boss, who’s used to being in control. While her physical transformation—glowing skin and beachy curls—might seem far-fetched, Rachel McAdams portrays it convincingly. For the first time, Linda’s optimism and ability to survive aren’t just tolerated, they’re absolutely vital, and that makes all the difference.

Despite convincingly portraying O’Brien’s sense of privilege and expectation that Linda will immediately fall back into a hierarchical dynamic, the character remains difficult to sympathize with, perhaps justifiably so. Even when details emerge that could make him more human, or reveal flaws in Linda’s seemingly selfless nature, it’s hard to feel anything beyond a sense that he deserves his fate. However, O’Brien consistently acts as the villain, and his arrogance earns him every unpleasant and painful experience Bradley inflicts upon him.

Sam Raimi clearly had a blast making this movie, enthusiastically staging over-the-top violence and showering his actors with everything from vomit to bug guts. Despite the often-gritty and intense scenes, it’s surprisingly fun and joyful, walking a line between mean-spirited and genuinely cruel. This film feels like a throwback to classic adventure movies – thrilling, funny, and scary – but with a twist: instead of a love story, it focuses on characters who actively dislike each other. Send Help is a rare and original gem, and it’s so good that you’re left wondering if it should be followed by a sequel, or left alone to maintain its unique perfection.

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2026-01-26 19:59