Review: ‘SEND HELP’ Is a Wild, Brutal, Crowd-Pleasing Ride
Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien in ‘SEND HELP’ (Courtesy of 20th Century Studios)
Sam Raimi is back — and in a big way. Over a career that has moved from horror to superhero films and now back again, Raimi has only continued to grow more confident behind the camera with each new project. SEND HELP has even debuted with a higher rating than Spider-Man 2 (2004), which may be a bit of a stretch, but it doesn’t change the larger point: this is a stellar theatrical outing. SEND HELP is the kind of movie that reminds you why going to the theater is still such a vital experience. Loud, fast, brutal, and surprisingly funny, this film thrives on momentum and audience reaction, delivering a high-energy ride that rarely lets up. From its opening moments, the film establishes a clear mission: entertain first, overdeliver on chaos, and never take itself too seriously — and it largely succeeds on all fronts.
In the film, A woman (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss (Dylan O’Brien) become stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. They must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it's a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. Sounds like a fun time, right? It is. At its core, SEND HELP operates as a tightly wound genre hybrid, blending violence with a light sense of humor. If there is one thing that Raimi understands, it’s that brutality works best when contrasted with levity. This makes the moments of shocking violence land hard, but they’re often followed by perfectly timed comedic beats that keep the experience from becoming exhausting. The tonal control is one of the film’s greatest strengths, allowing it to feel extreme without tipping into nihilism.
Performances across the board are committed and game, with the cast fully embracing the film’s heightened reality. Rachel McAdams is the best I have seen her in years and this might be the best performance I have personally ever seen of O'Brien. Neither appears embarrassed by the material (I mean it’s their jobs not to), but they seem like they are genuinely having a great time, something that is always nice to see. The chemistry is clear and sometimes that is going to be where the audience is tricked on the direction the film actually goes. The two bring enough grounding to anchor the chaos, while the supporting players, who don’t last very long at all, play enough of a set up, especially for McAdams. Even when characters make questionable decisions, the actors sell them with conviction, keeping the audience engaged rather than frustrated.
Technically, SEND HELP punches above its weight. The action is staged with clarity, allowing viewers to easily track the geography of each sequence, while the cinematography maintains a gritty aesthetic that perfectly suits the film’s tone. If the film has a weakness, it’s that it occasionally prioritizes spectacle over depth — though even that feels more like a stylistic choice than a true shortcoming. Character backstories aren’t deeply explored, but they’re effectively communicated. In fact, we’re given just enough to understand who these people are and why they behave the way they do. The film smartly uses a single, well-placed scene to establish Bradley and Linda, and it works remarkably well. It’s a reminder that audiences don’t always need lengthy, drawn-out explanations; sometimes one strong scene can tell us everything we need to know. Thematic ideas remain largely implicit, but again, this feels intentional. I take it as the film isn’t aiming to be a meditative character study — it’s aiming to be a rollercoaster, and it fully delivers on that promise.
What ultimately makes SEND HELP stand out is its confidence. It knows what kind of movie it is and never tries to be anything else. In an era where many genre films strain for prestige, SEND HELP embraces its identity as a crowd-pleasing, high-octane thrill ride and that honesty is refreshing. Brutal, funny, and relentlessly entertaining, SEND HELP is a total blast and an absolute great time at the theater. It’s the kind of film best experienced with an audience, where gasps, laughs, and cheers become part of the show. For viewers looking to be energized, shocked, and entertained in equal measure, the film more than earns its title.
RATING:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
