The Wasteland Reviewer

Send Help (2026) Written Review

Are we ready for the return of Sam Raimi to the horror genre? His efforts in this genre have been consistently excellent with The Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell. But Raimi has not made a lot of films in the last 15 years with only Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness being his only major project. But Raimi finds himself going back to his horror roots with this new survival film, Send Help. Rachel McAdams is a quirky, survival enthusiast who survives a plane crash with her younger, disrespectful boss portrayed by Dylan O’Brien. Stuck on a desert island, they must learn to survive with all types of dangers around each corner…including themselves. 

Does Raimi bring all his style and personality to this new survival horror film? If you have ever seen a Raimi film, then you know all the bold choices he makes as a director. He brings all those bags of tricks to Send Help and it is for the better. Raimi and cinematographer Bill Pope push the audience’s comfort levels with some aggressive close-ups of screams, blood, guts, and all things gross. The body horror in the film is top notch with plenty of blood, dehydration, and mutilation rearing their demented heads. The camera moves in exaggerated and engrossing ways that gives the film a heightened feel like so many of Raimi’s iconic films. A POV shot of a wild boar channels the deadites of The Evil Dead in such a nostalgic way. There are crash edits and bold imagery spliced together that will push the audience’s buttons in such twisted and fun ways. There are horrific images, brutal deaths, and plenty of laughs in that demented Raimi way of horror/comedy storytelling. The delight cherry on top of the experience is the dynamic Danny Elfman score that ties the atmosphere and experience together. 

Does the screenplay from Damian Shannon and Mark Swift rise to the manic energy of Raimi’s direction? What works so well for Send Help is the relatable set-up. So many of us have been overlooked, taken advantage of, and manipulated at work which makes us empathize so deeply with Linda Liddle. She is quirky, sweet, hardworking, and delightfully awkward. Her fascination with survival books and shows is quite fun and fateful as well as her ending up on a deserted island. Her boss is a young, elitist, arrogant, and childish jerk, Bradley Preston, who gets a rude awakening on that island. Their dynamic has so many layers and plenty of tension that propels this narrative forward. Linda’s need to keep this status quo spiral and adds some compelling layers to her journey. There are also some fun twists and turns in the film as well that challenge the audience and who they root for. Bradley’s journey is one full of potential and pitfalls that helps muddy the moral waters (in a good way) as the narrative progresses. The sharply written dialogue gives Raimi plenty of dark comedic ammunition to throw around. The film delivers such delightful punctuation to this experience that it will give you a wonderful mix of smiles and nervous laughter.

How does this duo anchor the experience down? Rachel McAdams…national treasure. This woman is a powerhouse with her comedic chops, character work, and physicality. She starts the film with such an unflattering presentation, and she sells this character work with a fully earnest and committed performance (somehow hiding a true bombshell behind nervousness, awkwardness, and a frumpy look). As she gets into her element on the island, we witness a buffet of varied dynamics that McAdams delivers with all of them. She radiates with confidence as she feels increasingly comfortable with this new life on the island. That confidence and her beauty shines through. You also witness moments of unhinged rage as she goes toe-to-toe with a wild boar (while being drenched in all the blood imaginable). There are quite a few moments where her tension comes to a head with Dylan O’Brien and they collectively light the screen on fire. Speaking of…O’Brien is delightfully devious, repulsive, and arrogant. That laugh….it says it all. The character work is quite impressive as he is someone you immediately hate and are disgusted by. But O’Brien brings just enough nuance to almost trick you (and Linda) into connecting with him. McAdams is the true star of this bonkers experience, but O’Brien is excellent being her dancing partner. 

Does Send Help offer Raimi a big win in his return to the horror genre? This thrilling, funny, and biting exploration of the female experience in the world place is a wonderful ride. The commentary hits and Raimi still challenges the audience with a twisted and more complex experience as well. The blood, laughs, and intense moments make this a memorable and propulsive experience. From its horrific plane crash to its bloody climactic brawl, Send Help delivers the goods.