“Send Help” An Unhinged Survival Horror-Thriller That Will Keep You Guessing

Sam Raimi’s films have been well known for their dynamic visual style, dark humor and just straight out being really entertaining. Some of these well known films that he has either produced or directed include the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Drag Me To Hell,” “Darkman,” “The Grudge” movies (producer), “Don’t Breathe” (producer) and, of course, the “Evil Dead” trilogy.

Now, for the first time in quite awhile, Raimi shows us that he still has what it takes to make a really entertaining movie that’s a great blend of dark humor and survival horror.

In “Send Help,” two colleagues become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. On the island, they must overcome past grievances and work together, but ultimately, it’s an unsettling, darkly humorous battle of wills and wits to make it out alive.

After checking out the trailers for “Send Help” and seeing that this is coming from the one and only Sam Raimi, I had a really good feeling that this movie was going to be a blast … and it definitely is! Sam Raimi, once again, delivers a fun movie that is filled with some great thrills, his usual dark humor and a lot of tense moments.

If you are a fan of most of Raimi’s films and his classic signature style, then you really won’t be disappointed. Through this survival horror flick, there are quite a few moments that feature his typical “gross out” gags that include blood and even boar snot (yes, you read that right). There’s a sequence in the movie where Rachel McAdams’ character (Linda Liddle) is hunting down a boar for food and let’s just say the hunt gets just a little messy at its conclusion.

One thing that really helps make “Send Help” truly stand out are the performances we get from both Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. Both of them do a really great job conveying the tension of being stranded together.

McAdams really delivers a truly great performance as Linda Liddle, which could actually be one of her best performances yet. She brings a lot of depth to her role as she goes from being a downtrodden character to a survivalist who can actually get a little unhinged.

Dylan O’Brien, who is mainly known for the “Maze Runner” movies, also does a great job portraying a boss who’s pretty much a major manipulative jerk who can be a little sympathetic during a few moments throughout the movie. In fact, there are quite a few times in this survival horror flick where you don’t know who to root for to survive.

There are so many moments in “Send Help” that can get really intense, including the plane crash and the hunting boar attack. Even though the CGI used for both the plane and boar is not really the best, it won’t really take you out of those scenes. The many twists and turns in the movie will completely surprise you, including a major twist towards the end and a tense power-play where Linda (in one of her unhinged moments) drugs Bradley with a neurotoxin from an exotic octopus and let’s just say she really torments him for sure!

Overall, “Send Help” is a “gonzo” horror-thriller that blends dark humor with some really extreme moments. It also serves as both a battle of wits and a survival thriller that will give you a good chuckle and keep you guessing right until the very end.

Cast: Rachel McAdams (Linda Liddle); Dylan O’Brien (Bradley Preston); Edyll Ismail (Zuri); Xavier Samuel (Donovan); Chris Pang (Chase); Dennis Haybert (Franklin)

Writer/director: Damian Shannon and Mark Swift (writing duo) (2017s Baywatch; 2009s Friday the 13th; Freddy vs. Jason); Sam Raimi (director) (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Oz the Great and Powerful; Drag Me To Hell)

MPA: Rated R for strong/bloody violence and language   (runtime 113 minutes) 

TRIVIA: While being in development, the project has been described as being a blend of “Misery” and “Cast Away.” This movie also marks Sam Raimi’s first horror movie as a director since 2009’s “Drag Me To Hell.” And, of course, there is a hidden cameo from Raimi regular Bruce Campbell. Let’s see how we can find it!

Make sure to keep on checking my Wyoming County Press Examiner reviews page on Facebook to see what I am working on next and I will also begin revealing on the page the Winter Fest selections I plan on checking out for the Examiner during the upcoming Winter Film Festival!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv9a8mGHumc

• Australian survivalist expert Kylie Furneaux was hired to consult on the film, helping Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien realistically look as though they're actually surviving on a deserted island. She built the camp shelter, various tools, weapons and survival items. She also taught Rachel McAdams how to make fire and collect drinking water.

• The project has been described as being a blend of Misery (1990) and Cast Away (2000) and Lost (2004) and Survivor (2000). Viewers have also noticed elements from Triangle of Sadness (2022).

• The film is dedicated to Scott Spiegel, former classmate and long-time friend of director Sam Raimi and actor Bruce Campbell who would frequently work on their movies in various roles. Spiegel died in 2025.

• Sam Raimi's first horror film as director since Drag Me to Hell (2009).

• Eighth collaboration between Sam Raimi and Danny Elfman, after Darkman (1990), Army of Darkness (1992), A Simple Plan (1998), Spider-Man (2002), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).

• The film was originally announced in 2019, with Sony set to distribute. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony wanted to release the film exclusively on a streaming platform, but Sam Raimi refused. He shopped the project around for years, and 20th Century Studios finally picked it up in 2024, promising Raimi a full theatrical release.