A Raimi Return
When you see Sam Raimi’s name attached to a project, you expect certain things: inventive camerawork, dark humor, and bodily fluids flying at the screen. Send Help, his latest directorial effort, delivers all of that in spades.
The premise is deceptively simple: Linda (Rachel McAdams), a meek and mistreated employee, and her insufferable boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and wash up on a deserted island. What starts as a survival drama quickly descends into a battle of wills and wits, and eventually pure madness. It’s Cast Away meets Misery with a healthy dose of Evil Dead slapstick.
The Cast: A Tale of Two Monsters
The film hinges entirely on the chemistry between its two leads, and they are fantastic.
- Dylan O’Brien (Bradley): He plays the perfect sniveling, entitled tech-bro CEO. He is the kind of boss who brings a supermodel fiancée to the office and passes over qualified employees in favor of his frat buddies. Watching him suffer on the island is undeniably satisfying.
- Rachel McAdams (Linda): McAdams is a revelation. She starts as a cringe-inducing, socially awkward doormat, but as the film progresses, she sheds that skin to reveal something far more capable—and terrifying. Her transformation from victim to victor (and perhaps villain) is the heart of the movie.
The Raimi Touch: Gore and Gags
This is not a subtle movie. Raimi leans into his trademark “splatstick” style. When Linda hunts a boar, it isn’t a clean kill; it’s a messy, fluid-filled nightmare where she gets doused in blood, mucus, and vomit. The camera zooms, whips, and tilts in that kinetic style that only Raimi can pull off.
The film is surprisingly long at nearly two hours, and the middle act drags slightly as the duo settles into their island routine. However, the tension never fully evaporates because the power dynamic is constantly shifting. Linda, an avid reader of survival books and watcher of Survivor, thrives in the wild. Bradley, useless without his corporate status, withers. Watching him forced to beg for her sushi (made from fresh catch with island “sauces”) is a delicious role reversal.
The Twist: No Good Guys
What elevates Send Help above a standard survival thriller is its refusal to make anyone a hero. Bradley is a monster of capitalism and ego. But Linda? Linda might just be a monster of a different variety. As the story unfolds, we learn she “helped along” her abusive husband’s death and deliberately hides from rescue boats because she prefers her new life of dominance.
It’s a mean-spirited movie in the best way. It posits that civilization is just a mask, and when stripped away, we are all just animals fighting for the top spot.
Send Help: Send Help is the best horror/thriller of January 2026. It is gross, funny, and tense, anchored by two stellar performances. While it might be a bit too long and the ending may alienate those looking for a traditional "good guy wins" resolution, it is a must-watch for fans of Sam Raimi’s darker, weirder work. – Asmodeus
Spoiler Breakdown: The Island Madness
Warning: Major Spoilers Below
If you’ve seen the movie, let’s talk about that wild third act.
1. The “Rescue” Gone Wrong. The turning point of the film is when Bradley’s fiancée and a local guide actually find them. Linda, realizing her paradise (and her control over Bradley) is about to end, leads them on a “shortcut” up a cliff. In a moment of cold calculation, she lets them fall to their deaths—and even helps the process along with a rock to the guide’s head. It’s the moment she crosses the Rubicon from survivor to serial killer.
2. The Fight in the Mansion In a bizarre but fitting twist, Bradley discovers a billionaire’s vacation home on the other side of the island (explaining where Linda got her supplies). The final showdown takes place here, with Linda taunting him over the intercom like a slasher villain.
3. The Ending: The Monster Wins. Bradley tries to manipulate Linda by professing his love, but the ruse fails. Linda reveals she emptied the shotgun he tries to use on her, then beats him to death with a golf club. The film ends with Linda “rescued,” famous, and wealthy, telling her survivor story to the world while hiding the truth (and possibly swallowing the fiancé’s engagement ring to hide the evidence). She wins. The monster wins. And honestly? It’s a perfect ending for this nasty little fable.
