Movie: “Send Help”
Release Date: Jan. 30, 2026
Director: Sam Raimi
Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Rating: B
Sam Raimi’s most recent film, “Send Help,” is a pleasant return to form for the director after 2022’s disappointing “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” blending grotesque horror and comedy in the unique way that Raimi has become known for, but at times leaves the viewer wishing for more. The desert island subgenre is approached with a new angle, not simply creating a gorier “Castaway” but feeling more in the vein of the late Rob Reiner’s 1990 film “Misery.”
The film follows under-appreciated office worker and Survivor enthusiast Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) and recently installed CEO Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien) getting stranded on a desert island together. Almost immediately, Preston is disgusted with Linda. He's unable to focus on anything but the remnant of a tuna sandwich on her face during her enthusiastic introduction, which is interspersed with extreme close-ups of both characters.
Despite Linda’s consistently high performance in the office, Bradley passes her over for the promotion promised to her by his father in favor of Bradley’s much less qualified former fraternity brother. Hearing this, she storms into his office to argue her case. With his mind already made up, Bradley feigns consideration and gives her the opportunity to prove him wrong by tagging along to Thailand for the company’s upcoming merger.
Midway through the flight, the plane begins to malfunction and soon crashes just after Linda is humiliated by the men ridiculing her old “Survivor” audition tape. After a hole is blown in the side of the plane, we get our first taste of Raimi’s twisted humor. Washed up on the beach of a desert island, we find Bradley and Linda as the only remaining survivors. Bradley is initially unconscious and unable to walk due to a gash on his leg, while for the first time in her life, Linda is placed exactly where she wants to be after preparing for years.
The dynamic between Bradley and Linda is the highlight of the film, elevating a script that lesser actors would have come up short on. O’Brien plays the womanizer-turned-dependent flawlessly, beginning as totally detestable with his rich-guy cackle but eventually pitiful as he finds himself at the mercy of Linda.
McAdams’s performance as Linda, on the other hand, begins on the pitiful side of the spectrum. She plays a meek and trodden-over character that couldn't be farther from her iconic performance as Regina George in "Mean Girls". But as the film progresses and she finds herself within her element, she goes farther than just being a bit mean. Linda revels in the newfound power she has over her boss, as he flounders in various ways to maintain control over her. But on the island, Linda has complete control with no desire to ever leave. Her comedic skills shine, relishing her newfound ability to control her metaphorically neutered and hurt former boss.
While at times the effects have the glossy-plastic look that comes with many modern films, Raimi's eccentric shot construction and practical effect usage more than make up for the occasional visual shortcomings. Outside of the visuals, the high-energy score by Danny Elfman brings the viewer into the chaotic events occurring onscreen.
However, the film sometimes feels like it’s holding back from the insanity that one expects from a Raimi film. One of the most memorable moments of the film comes fairly early with the pig hunting scene, with the sequence being so over-the-top and disgusting that it leaves the viewer wishing there were more moments that feel so startlingly grotesque. Sometimes feeling that it’s about to go entirely off the wall, the film never quite reaches that point, feeling fairly tame to the film's detriment.
Nevertheless, despite not quite reaching the gruesome extremes that some of Raimi’s previous films and other recent horror films have reached, superb performances that balance comedy and extremely tense moments make “Send Help” a worthy addition to Raimi’s catalogue of horror.