Rachel McAdams again teams up with Sam Raimi for a survival thriller where the deadliest thing on a deserted island might be the stranded woman and her ungrateful boss.
By: Craig Allan
Three and a half stars. See it.
In Send Help (SH), director Sam Raimi teams up with his Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness (2022) actor McAdams to argue that the jungles of the corporate world are no match for the real jungle. One of the true masters of the horror genre, Raimi makes a film that, while not quite a return to his absurdist horror origins, is an accessible, thriller-like movie. With a script from Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, Raimi stretches the plot to make the movie work as a feature-length film. Despite this, SH is a fun thriller with some good twists and another solid performance from the frequently underrated McAdams.
SH centers on Linda Liddle (McAdams), a secret survivalist living her daily life as an underappreciated, awkward and unliked office worker. When she is passed over for a promotion by the new owner of her company, the son of the founder, the petulant and snarky Bradley Preston (Dylan OāBrien), she is given a token opportunity to prove herself on a business trip to Bangkok, Thailand. On the way, their plane crashes, with Linda and Bradley being the only survivors to reach a deserted island. Stranded with no help on the way, the power dynamic between Linda and Bradley changes, with Bradley now in need of Linda, who is in her element on this harsh, unforgiving island.
I saw this movie in 3D, and while I normally donāt like 3D, and was skeptical that a film with such standard visuals like this would not be just another 3D cash grab, Raimi was able to make the technology work. This didnāt feel like a normal 3D movie where you forget you are wearing glasses after 10 minutes. Raimi is able to make the technology noticeable in multiple scenes throughout the movie. Raimi here proves that 3D technology isnāt necessarily bad if the person behind the camera knows how to use it.
Despite being a film that feels very much outside of his usual fare, Raimi incorporates many aspects of his directorial style into this film. Things like the brutal killing of a boar or a zombie-like creature popping up in a fantasy sequence feel very much like his absurdist horror films, like The Evil Dead and Drag Me to Hell. Though this is not the typical Raimi film, it has his style all over it. Itās nice to see that Raimi can still be versatile even after so many years.
It helps that Raimi has a clever script by Shannon and Swift. The movieās twists make you question certain situations, but when they are unravelled, you will be kicking yourself for not realizing what was happening. Without spoiling it, it is entertaining that Linda is seen reading survivalist books, but also watches The Survivor; she becomes so invested that she sends in an audition tape to compete on the show. This is interesting because Survivor is not about surviving the elements, but the people who backstab and lie to get to the end.
McAdams is truly one of the most underrated actors of our generation. The way she can play both a mousy loner and a survivalist badass is a range few actors can pull off. Much like with Bradley, she has to carry the film most of the time. While OāBrien does do a good job as Lindaās weaselly, conniving boss, it is McAdams who shines. The movie does not let the audience truly know the violent nature of Linda, indicating that she has always been a survivor and not the submissive woman her comfy attire and sensible shoes make her out to be.
The movie does suffer from some pacing issues, though. There is only so much story you can tell with two people on a deserted island. The movie’s ending could also use a little bit more narrative heft, as it does end a bit abruptly. Despite this, SH is still a fun, bonkers ride that teaches what everybody should learn in high school: never discount the awkward girl.