Most cinephiles know, more or less, what to expect from a more traditional Sam Raimi movie. Now, it is possible that Raimi’s trademarks and go-to style choices are not everyone’s cup of tea. It is also possible that anyone has already grown tired of the director’s signature choices. However, if you are like me, you also keep coming back for more.
Send Help benefits from the solid foundation laid by the writing of Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Blended with Raimi’s signature style and eccentricities, this recipe delivers a wild ride of enjoyment for those always hungry for Raimi’s brand. Now, in the past, Raimi has dabbled in other styles and had to tone down his sensibilities to fit the properties, particularly in his Spider-Man trilogy and other experiments where he wanted to prove himself beyond his initial Evil Dead entries. Anyone who loves the Evil Dead movies, or any movie of his that feels like pure Raimi, is in for a delightfully devilish treat.
Rachel McAdams stars as Linda Liddle, a sweet but also annoying, lonely woman trying to make her mark as a corporate strategist for a company that promises advancement, but has yet to see some real benefits from the fruits of her labor. Changes within her company, and not for the better, make her advancement more difficult, as the spoiled, entitled son of her previous boss takes over the business’s leadership. Once Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien) assumes control, Liddle’s opportunities for advancement seem to get thrown out the door. However, a business trip might give her the chance to prove her worth.
This glimmer of hope gets derailed when the private plane carrying Linda and her associates has a catastrophic event that leaves Linda and Bradley as the only survivors of the plane crash. When the two find their bearings on a tropical island, Linda, a survivalist enthusiast, has the extensive knowledge to help them endure until they can be rescued. However, despite the efforts Linda has made to help Bradley survive, she has a bit of a grudge against her new boss. It definitely doesn’t help that Bradley continues to feel entitled to his status as Linda’s boss.
Now, granted, there have been a few movies that have dealt with this scenario; however, the filmmakers behind Send Help have some darkly comedic, tremendously amusing ideas in mind. The film offers its audience a wonderful mix of humor, horror, suspense, and much of what Raimi fans always devour with great pleasure. If anyone doesn’t like any of the Evil Dead movies or Raimi’s tendency to indulge in what he enjoys, this film is not for you.
I had an absolute blast with just about everything that happens here. Despite the usual derivations that sometimes come from a castaway movie, Raimi’s presentation, with the great writing, makes this entire affair work so well. One of the keys to this film’s success is the performances by the two lead actors, Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. These two perform beautifully and are totally on board with the insanity that often comes with Sam Raimi. The movie never gets too cartoonish because Raimi knew when to pull in the reins when things would take away too much from the gravity of the situations.
There is definitely some deliciousness to be enjoyed in seeing an underestimated character shine in all of the best ways possible. To make things even more satisfying, it pleases me to see an underdog put a petchulant, spoiled baby in power in his place. At the same time, the movie offers realistic commentary on what would happen in the aftermath of such a scenario. The result may be cynical, but it definitely tracks in our real world. I absolutely adored Send Help, and I know that true fans of Sam Raimi will feel the same way.