Send Help — Review
Source: 20th Century Studios
Send Help is a return to form for Sam Raimi, making for a nostalgic, bloody, fun time at the movies. It’s arguably his best film since 2009’s Drag Me to Hell and that’s probably the film this one is most comparable to in terms of tone and style out of all the films in his filmography. It’s messy, predictable, and runs a bit too long, but despite its flaws, fans of Raimi’s signature over-the-top blend of gore and absurdity are in for a good time with this one.
Rachel McAdams stars as Linda Liddle, a hardworking employee in the strategy and planning department at Bradley Preston’s (Dylan O’Brien) company. Bradley is the newly appointed CEO, replacing his father, who planned to promote Linda to Vice President of the company. Once Bradley takes over, he decides to give that role to Donovan (Xavier Samuel) instead, since the two were in the same fraternity in college and play golf together. Right from the start, Damian Shannon and Mark Swift’s clever screenplay makes it easy for us to empathize with Linda as the person who put in the work only to be passed over for the promotion she so rightfully deserved.
Source: 20th Century Studios
On a trip to Bangkok for a company merger, the plane crashes during a storm. Linda and Bradley are the only survivors and wind up stranded on a deserted island. Linda, a huge fan of the television show Survivor, has the instincts needed to keep herself and Bradley alive, so Bradley becomes dependent on the woman he previously mistreated. As a result, the power dynamic shifts and tensions escalate.
McAdams and O’Brien revel in their roles, with O’Brien playing the perfectly loathsome antagonist. He’s so utterly detestable and cruel, almost like a villain straight out of a cartoon. Yet, at the same time, he’s also completely helpless in a way that’s delightfully comical. The screenplay gives McAdams the freedom to completely let loose, and her performance is thrilling and hilariously unhinged. The push-pull dynamic between the two of them keeps the film consistently entertaining, even when the story starts to feel as though it’s spread a tad too thin.
Source: 20th Century Studios
The visual effects are subpar and, at times, can be a bit distracting. But Bill Pope’s cinematography infuses the film with some energy, as does Bob Murawski’s editing. The use of extreme close-ups, crash zooms, and match cuts gives the film a stylistic flair that adds to its campy tone. Danny Elfman’s score heightens the suspense and adds to the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat vibe.
What makes Send Help so enjoyable is that, like many of Sam Raimi’s best films, it never takes itself too seriously. Raimi is a filmmaker who knows how to kick back and have fun, and that sense of gleeful indulgence is baked into every frame. It’s messy, excessive, and often downright ridiculous, but that chaos is part of the appeal. Send Help embraces its own absurdity with blood-soaked enthusiasm, making it an easy win for longtime Raimi fans and a reminder of why his particular brand of cinematic madness remains so entertaining.
Send Help hits theaters on January 30, 2026.
