In late 2019, Columbia Pictures announced they would be producing a new movie with frequent collaborator Sam Raimi. Written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon, of Freddy vs. Jason fame, the film eventually landed at 20th Century Studios. For the lead role, Raimi cast Rachel McAdams, with whom he worked on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Opposite her would be Dylan O’Brien, who starred in the Maze Runner trilogy and provided the voice of Bumblebee. With a relatively low $40 million budget, filming started in February 2024 in Los Angeles, Sydney, and Thailand. Raimi recruited three of his most frequent collaborators: cinematographer Bill Pope, editor Bob Murawski, and composer Danny Elfman. Despite some disagreements between Raimi and O’Brien, filming wrapped in April 2024, two years before its release. After premiering at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Send Help opened in theaters in January 2026.
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Rating
Synopsis
Having worked as a corporate strategist for years, Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) is anticipating a promotion. Her former boss promised her a VP position once his son, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien), took over as CEO. Unfortunately, Bradley gave the role to one of his golfing buddies and plans to demote her to a low-level position. Linda confronts him, and he begrudgingly has her accompany him on a flight to Bangkok to finalize a company merger. Unfortunately, the plane suffers an engine discharge and crashes, killing everyone onboard except Linda and Bradley. While Bradley’s stuck with a bad leg, Linda has masterful survival skills and sets up a shelter and supplies. Now, Linda’s in charge and Bradley has to do what she says, much to his chagrin. Can they work together to survive, or will they tear at each other’s throats before anyone can send help?
Review
January is typically seen as a dumping ground for movies studios have no faith in. Knowing that, it’s remarkable just how good Send Help is, and it makes you wonder why it wasn’t released sooner. Raimi hasn’t directed a proper horror film since 2009’s Drag Me to Hell, which was almost 20 years ago. This film reminds us why he’s considered a master of horror, particularly in his sensibilities and filmmaking style. Granted, it takes a while for his style to come through, which could be intentional, reflecting the mundane office setting. But soon, you get his signature motifs: extreme close-ups, whip cuts, POV shots, cartoonish violence, and even Bruce Campbell. Still, these wouldn’t be possible without Pope and Murawski, who worked with Raimi on Darkman, his Spider-Man trilogy, and more. Also, Danny Elfman delivers another excellent score, blending playful and sinister elements.
While there are several actors here, most of the focus is on Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. They both crush their roles: McAdams as the seemingly meek but strong Linda and O’Brien as the stereotypical jerky boss. Seeing them at odds with one another is fantastic, especially as the power dynamics switch between them. Many of us have a horrible boss we’ve wanted to see get their comeuppance, so watching this is cathartic. However, there comes a point in the film where you start to wonder if Linda’s actions are justified. Granted, the film doesn’t portray Bradley as sympathetic, but you wonder whether he deserves the hell he endures. The film is an excellent showcase of their talents, both their comedic timing and their physicality. Sure, the whole “eat the rich” theme is nothing new, but the way it’s done here is uniquely satisfying.
As enjoyable as the movie is, some flaws keep it from being a modern classic on par with Raimi’s best. While there’s plenty of practical blood and gore, there’s some dodgy CGI that sticks out like a sore thumb. Also, there are so many obvious set-ups that you can see from a mile away. For instance, Linda warns Bradley not to go beyond a certain area because there are tons of poisonous plants. Once she mentions it, you think, “Gee, I wonder if someone’s going to go there despite being warned not to?” Without going into spoilers, the movie goes off the rails in the last 15 minutes or so. With a runtime slightly under two hours, parts of the film drag, but the pacing is still tight. Overall, despite its flaws, Send Help is a wonderfully deranged thriller with two great performances and plenty of Raimi’s flair.
Send Help is in theaters.
Where to watch Send Help (2026)
