After a period of blockbuster restraint, Sam Raimi has finally returned to the chaotic, blood-splattered sandbox where he belongs. His latest offering, Send Help, is a rip-roaringly funny, mean-spirited, and deliriously dark survival horror that feels like a spiritual homecoming for the director. It is a film that delights in its own gross-out violence, reminding us that nobody handles a slasher aesthetic quite like the man who gave us The Evil Dead. While the film navigates some choppy waters regarding its narrative structure, Raimi’s direction keeps the engine humming through every beat.
The plot is deceptively simple, serving as a vicious playground for its two leads. When a private flight carrying a corporate executive and his exhausted assistant goes down in the unforgiving wilderness, the power dynamic is immediately tossed into the meat grinder. Dylan O’Brien plays Bradley, a no-good, selfish boss who is the living embodiment of every toxic workplace trope imaginable. Opposing him is Rachel McAdams as Linda, an assistant who has spent years being undervalued. However, Linda possesses a secret weapon: she is a Survivor mega-fan. Having spent hundreds of hours analysing the strategies, social manoeuvres, and fire-starting techniques of the reality show, she is the only one actually prepared for the nightmare ahead.
The result is absolute mayhem. As the two struggle against nature and an escalating series of threats, the film leans heavily into Raimi’s trademarks. It is violent and unapologetically gory, punishing its characters in increasingly inventive ways. The cruelty on display is nothing short of delicious. Raimi wants to see how much these two deeply flawed individuals can endure before they snap. For much of the runtime, it is genuinely unclear who the audience is supposed to root for. Bradley is a misogynistic nightmare, yet his utter incompetence is played for such high-octane laughs that you almost want to see how much further he can sink. Meanwhile, Linda’s transformation into a ruthless game player suggests that she might be just as dangerous as the elements they are fleeing.
McAdams delivers what is easily her funniest performance in years. She plays Linda with a sharp, calculating intensity, treating the life-and-death stakes with a tactical fervour. O’Brien is equally brilliant, leaning into his character’s pathetic nature with a comedic timing that balances the film’s more horrific elements. He nails the role of the horrid boss, making Bradley’s eventual suffering feel like a cathartic, albeit bloody, commentary on workplace misogyny.
The film is not without its minor stumbles. There are moments where it is let down by the script, which occasionally relies on repetitive dialogue to hammer home its social themes. The pacing also feels slightly uneven in the second act, as the transition from survival comedy to pure slasher horror can feel jarring. However, these are minor gripes when weighed against Raimi’s masterful direction. His camera is as restless and playful as ever, turning a jungle into a claustrophobic house of horrors.
Send Help is a sharp, satirical, and wonderfully messy return to form. It proves that when you trap a toxic man and a jaded woman on a deserted island, the most dangerous thing isn’t the wildlife, but the decades of built-up resentment and a very thorough knowledge of reality TV strategy.
Send Help is in UK cinemas 5 February.
