Sam Raimi returns to R-rated filmmaking after 26 years with “Send Help,” a darkly comedic thriller that transforms workplace rage into gleefully violent entertainment.
The film reunites Raimi with Rachel McAdams, who previously starred in his “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
This time, she plays Linda Liddle, a socially awkward but brilliant analyst trapped in a toxic work environment—until a plane crash strands her on a desert island with her worst nightmare.
What follows is part survival thriller, part revenge fantasy, and entirely satisfying.
When Workplace Toxicity Meets Desert Island Survival
Linda has spent seven years crunching numbers and creating impressive reports for Preston Industries, a consulting firm drowning in boys’ club culture. Her analytical genius made her indispensable to the CEO, positioning her perfectly for promotion to vice president.
Then Bradley Preston takes over his late father’s company and everything changes. Bradley, played by Dylan O’Brien, promotes his frat brother Donovan after just six months at the company—despite Donovan passing off Linda’s work as his own.
The workplace dynamics are painfully familiar. Bradley interviews women based on appearance while hinting at sexual expectations, never mind his engagement to Zuri, who delights in flaunting her enormous diamond ring at Linda.
The Plane Crash That Changes Everything
Franklin, Bradley’s advisor portrayed by Dennis Haysbert, advocates for Linda by suggesting she attend a crucial Bangkok meeting. Bradley reluctantly agrees, barely concealing his contempt.
On the company jet, Donovan discovers and shares Linda’s audition tape for “Survivor”—she’s obsessed with the reality show and watches it religiously with her pet parrot. The guys erupt in mocking laughter.
That’s their first mistake. Their second? Refusing to wear seatbelts because they think seatbelts are woke.
When violent turbulence tears a massive hole in the fuselage, Linda—buckled safely—watches as her tormentors are sucked out into oblivion. One particularly gruesome death involves a tie catching on jagged metal, causing the body to repeatedly slam and splatter against the plane window.
Linda’s response? She calmly pulls down the window shade, obscuring the carnage. It’s reportedly the biggest laugh in this delightfully mean-spirited film.
Power Dynamics Reversed on Paradise Island
Linda washes up first on an uninhabited island. Days later, Bradley appears—barely alive.
After nursing him back to health using surprisingly extensive survival knowledge, Linda faces continued disrespect. Bradley still treats her like dirt despite completely depending on her skills.
She reminds him of reality: without her expertise, he won’t survive long enough for rescue. Bradley’s ego requires serious humbling before accepting orders from a woman he previously dismissed.
The film transforms into a two-hander with constantly shifting allegiances. When rescue seems unlikely, things escalate from tense to hilariously grotesque.
A bloody battle between Linda and a wild boar provides what critics call the first major thriller sequence of 2026.
A Screenplay That Blends Satire With Horror
Screenwriters Damian Shannon and Mark Swift crafted something unique—a cross between Lina Wertmüller’s controversial 1974 desert island satire “Swept Away” and Stephen King’s “Misery.”
They exchange Wertmüller’s class warfare for workplace politics while maintaining the battle-of-the-sexes framework. The power dynamic shifts, but the desert island setting remains crucial.
Raimi’s return to R-rated territory feels like a homecoming celebration. His previous film “Drag Me To Hell” pushed PG-13 boundaries to their absolute limit with gruesome imagery.
“Send Help” follows a similar pattern—focusing on a female protagonist in increasingly dire circumstances. Both titles should be taken completely literally.
Performance Chemistry and Visual Transformation
McAdams and O’Brien demonstrate strong chemistry throughout, though O’Brien shines brighter as a hissable villain than when appealing to Linda’s compassion. McAdams excels during island sequences when power dynamics favor her character.
Casting presents one minor challenge: convincing audiences that Regina George from “Mean Girls” is a frumpy office loser. McAdams’ office scenes don’t quite achieve the intended cringe factor.
One running joke particularly delights critics—as time passes on the island, Linda inexplicably becomes more radiant and gorgeous while Bradley deteriorates into a Robinson Crusoe-esque figure.
Reflecting Real-World Job Market Frustrations
“Send Help” joins other recent brutal thrillers exploring job-related trauma. Real-world anxieties about unemployment and toxic workplace environments seemingly fuel this emerging trend.
The rage expressed onscreen resonates as understandable and potentially cathartic. Audiences live vicariously through characters’ vengeance.
Schadenfreude feels pleasant when Linda’s tormentors face consequences. But Raimi understands that our lizard brains find even greater stimulation in extended, graphic carnage—then subverts expectations by having Linda block our view at the climactic moment.
Final Verdict
Critics rate “Send Help” three out of four stars, praising its delightfully mean-spirited tone and satisfying revenge narrative. The 113-minute R-rated thriller carries a warning that squeamish viewers will need an S.O.S.
The film screens at AMC Boston Common, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, and suburban theaters.
For audiences craving cathartic workplace revenge wrapped in pitch-black humor and Raimi’s signature visceral style, “Send Help” delivers exactly what its title promises—though perhaps not in the way characters expect.