Sam Raimi’s Send Help Stuns with Twisted Humour and Gore

Sam Raimi, the bloke behind Evil Dead, is back in the director’s chair with Send Help, and early reactions from punters are nothing short of glowing. The survival horror flick, starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, has been making waves after its first press screenings, with many calling out its sharp wit and over-the-top nastiness. Fans of Raimi’s earlier work are especially chuffed, with some even drawing comparisons to his cult classic Drag Me to Hell.

One critic from Film Peak, Griffin Schiller, didn’t hold back, saying,

‘Send Help is a MASSIVE win for the Drag Me to Hell fans!... At times feels like Raimi's sadistic take on Phantom Thread – a karmic undressing of monstrous man-babies in an inverted power dynamic.’

Schiller also reckons McAdams and O’Brien are given the perfect stage to show off their chops, as Raimi pushes the audience to question their sympathies for the two leads, Linda and Bradley.

Standout Performances and Raimi’s Signature Style

Forbes’ Jeff Conway was just as enthusiastic, calling McAdams’ turn a career highlight and praising O’Brien’s work in what he described as an easy crowd-pleaser.

‘Rachel McAdams gives a career-best performance! Dylan O'Brien is so good in this easy crowd-pleaser from Sam Raimi's witty cinematic vision.’

It’s been 15 years since Raimi last helmed a horror film, and his return has been met with heaps of excitement. Bill Bria from Slash Film described Send Help as

‘a deliciously sadistic & demented thriller that only Sam Raimi can deliver…This may very well be the grossest, most disgusting 3D movie yet made.’

Meanwhile, Todd Gilchrist from ScreenRant added,

‘Send Help is a tremendous reminder of how gifted Sam Raimi is at entertaining audiences while tormenting actors. Aided by a fantastic script by Shannon and Swift, Raimi delivers a movie that's smart, suspenseful, and incredibly funny.’

Plot Twists and Power Shifts

Send Help, penned by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, follows Linda, a diligent but overlooked worker, and her cocky boss Bradley. After their company plane goes down, the pair find themselves marooned on a deserted island. The tables quickly turn as Linda, no longer under Bradley’s thumb, takes charge in a fight for survival. The film’s blend of dark comedy and horror, along with its shifting power dynamics, has struck a chord with early viewers.

Raimi’s knack for mixing the grotesque with the hilarious is on full display, and the chemistry between McAdams and O’Brien is getting plenty of attention. The script, packed with sharp dialogue and unexpected twists, keeps the audience guessing about who’s really in control.

Anticipation Builds Ahead of Release

With Send Help set to hit cinemas on 30 January, horror fans are already buzzing. The film’s unique mix of sadism, laughs, and standout performances has set expectations sky-high. If the early reactions are anything to go by, Raimi’s latest is shaping up to be a must-see for anyone keen on a wild ride through horror and comedy.