Film Review – Send Help (2026)

      Send Help, 2026.

      Directed by Sam Raimi.

      Featuring Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Emma Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Dennis Haysbert.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Two coworkers find themselves stranded on a deserted island as the sole survivors of a plane crash. On this island, they must confront their past grievances and unite to stay alive; ultimately, it becomes a contest of wills and intellect to escape.

      Whenever Sam Raimi returns to directing, it’s a significant event, particularly in the horror genre. Send Help somewhat aligns with that tradition but leans more towards a psychological slow burn exploring reversed power dynamics on an island in the Gulf of Thailand. One character is inherently cruel, while the other has long pursued job promotions; when their roles reverse, rescue is the last thing on their mind.

      As they are compelled to share details about their histories, two truths emerge: monsters are created, not born, and these individuals, who evidently loathe being in each other’s company, may also be developing feelings for one another, suggesting that their struggle for dominance on the island has morphed into a twisted game. Instead of conforming to contemporary narrative conventions that portray one character as infallible and the clear hero, Raimi scoffs at that idea, implying that both characters are monstrous. Who needs a Deadite when you have a condescending, sexist tech-bro boss and a diligent office worker who is an awkwardly extroverted yet lonely Survivor enthusiast, living out her fantasy after her business trip flight crashes?

      The characters are humorously named Linda Liddie (a quirky yet endearing Rachel McAdams), who works in strategy and planning, and the new CEO, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien, skillfully taking on a role that contrasts with his usual type). He is engaged to a trophy partner portrayed by Edyll Ismail. For reasons unknown, Linda was poised to receive a promotion from Bradley's father just before he passed the company to his son. Instead, that advancement went to Bradley’s incompetent college friend and golfing companion (Xavier Samuel), leaving Linda to handle the numbers and sift through documents for corporate merger loopholes, continuously strung along for that promotion, which would typically be the tipping point for many, but not for someone like Linda. Her breaking point arrives when Bradley and his mocking friends discover her Survivor audition tape and ruthlessly ridicule it.

      The retribution that sets the main plot in motion is both delightfully violent and engaging; however, it’s unfortunate that for nearly an hour, the filmmakers seem unsure of how to proceed beyond engaging in mind games with mostly predictable results. On this island, Linda becomes the authority over the injured Bradley, who wouldn’t survive a day without her. Nonetheless, that won't prevent him from attempting to regain control while simultaneously detesting and admiring her. For Linda, her eventual power over him makes his company bearable and perhaps even desirable.

      Crafted from a screenplay by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, Send Help incorporates Sam Raimi's signature filmmaking elements (such as cameras gliding through the jungle, eyeballs popping, various bodily fluids spraying on characters, and an unexpected moment leading to a masterfully placed jump scare). However, it often feels as if there is a mismatch in style. The middle portion should not be as dull as it is, with the psychological aspects appearing either superficial or predictably setting up the next plot development.

      Additional issues arise from poor CGI (boar hunting should look significantly more impressive) and a sense of repetition that begins to permeate the storyline. Nonetheless, the most glaring flaw in Send Help is that if it had been a concise 90 minutes without awkward pacing or stretching for time until a series of events allowed Raimi to explore his darker, more mischievous sensibilities, it might have succeeded. The film eventually leads to a deviously enjoyable twist. Unfortunately, it requires assistance (either a rewrite or trimming) to fully realize its potential.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder